Dear Mr. Aamer,


Thanks for taking time to read my comment and responding to it.

I construed your earlier comment as dealing with the alleged lack of a merciful and kind depiction of God in the scriptures. My response was meant to explain that scriptures do explain the benevolent side of God. That very few people in the history have taken pains to repent on their wrong doings doesn't mean that God was not willing to forgive them. I have to agree with you that at least prima face, homosexuality doesn't seem be the kind of sin that should bring about the total destruction of a people. I think I have to give it some more thought.

The line from the constitution of USA "The pursuit of happiness is an inalienable human right", appears more verbiage than substance to me. Apart from the subjectivity of the word happiness there are other obvious issues with this statement. Take away the religion and its moral code and we are still left with the lofty walls of laws curbing our freedom and pursuit of happiness. Just as a religious code of conduct won't allow us to have homosexual relationship with anyone, the American law won't allow two consenting males to fulfill their strong homosexual urge, in front of, say, first grade students. Take away the law of the land and we are still left with the dictates of nature. Good health demands moderation in food, sleep and daily activity. Good sexual life, quite paradoxically, requires prudence in exhibition of sexual prowess. Good career almost always steals away the best moments of youth from one's life. We all put a hold on immediate happiness to either avoid a misfortune/unhappiness in the future or to achieve some presumed happiness in the future. But surprisingly when a scripture tells us exactly the same thing; to exhibit some moderation and prudence in order to avoid unhappiness and/or achieve eternal happiness, we brand it as retrogressive and strangulating. The only difference here being that the scripture is generally talking about a life not physically provable.

One final comment on the assertion "In the final analysis, it really doesn't matter whether there is a god or not and whether the scriptures are his divine word or not." I disagree. If God exists, then His influence on the universe is not a function of the number of adherents to the scriptures sent down by Him. God, as described in scriptures, can and will continue to govern the universe as and how He may wish and therefore He will be fully relevant to existence of the universe. That a vast majority doesn't believe in Him, merely means that a vast majority would be groping in the dark. Most of the people in my village in Pakistan, have no clue about the force of gravitation. That doesn't make the force irrelevant for that village.

regards,

Inaam A. Rana
DB2 Development - Operating System Services
Phone: 905.413.5168
iarana@ca.ibm.com, Inaam Rana/Toronto/IBM@IBMCA