DOUGLAS MODIG.SE

CAST THE FIRST STONE

In collective oriented societies the Capital Punishment in form of stoning has been existing long before the Lex Talionis, (An Eye for an Eye) was expressed in the Torah. The individual who endangered the normative reproduction pattern and thus threatening the clan, the tribe, the family or group, or hinting at any form of individualism was seen as anomalistic and deadly disloyal.

We have every reason to believe that this sinister canon (popular law) has been in existence long before 5000 years B.C. when the world was believed to have been created according to the Old Testament. Perpetual revenge and blood feuds and vendettas stretching over centuries (!) are still part of formerly nomad or transhumance cultures as found in the Balkan (Albania, Greece inter alia) to Sicily and Italy and in milder forms on the Iberia Peninsula. Crossing the Mediterranean they are in full force but for somewhat other reasons.

In a habitat with severe living and survival conditions this may be understood from a survival instinct context. One single member could jeopardize the productive unit, adapted to the ecological niche and may result in extinction. The modes of killing has been a popular field of development throughout history and the technically improved methods introduced by the Babylonians were welcomed and embraced by Europe, implemented enthusiastically by the colonialist during the expansive three decades until Reason, with roots in the 18th century, put a stop to most vulgar and horrifying execution brutalities. It has become sophisticated and now days leaves no trace thanks to the impressing torture skills developed in Latin America in the late seventies and the eighties, by assistance of physicians and psychologists.

The contemporary "stoning" in the West, possibly the oldest way of killing another human by public consent, does not mean throwing stones physically per se, but mobbing and persecution of the deviant, be it physically, mentally, emotionally or sexually. The media promoted outing of celebrities or decision makers may virtually destroy people who differ from social and political codes, although, paradoxically, people are being encouraged to develop self sufficiency, uniqueness and strive to satisfy the personal desires and blindly havoc-king to achieve personal goals according to capacity.

Stoning, as a punishment, as above mentioned, is older than most religions and, if closely scrutinized, seen paradoxically as an abomination in spite of frequent use. Starting late in the development of global religions we get a notion from the Ten Commandments which stipulates Thou shall not kill to the teachings of Jesus from Nazareth, Cast the First Stone and the numerous Asian peace oriented religions such as Buddhism, Jainism and African Lemba and many more, to the secular conventions and agreements on the Human Rights, lays the foundation on which we look with horror to what took place in Somalia a couple of years ago, when a thirteen year old girl witnessed a rape and was stoned to death by the Somali police force, resting, allegedly, on the Sharia Law, having had the audacity to tell publicly what she had witnessed a construction gradually built up by theocrats by convenient amendments and adjustments (Idjnads) after the death of the Prophet.

The adaptation of the superstructure of the developing cultures has had a deceptive impact on Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The Church fathers of Christendom decided what parts of the remnants of holy scriptures which served their purposes and gospels were promptly excluded, thus altering the authentic teachings of the original oral tradition and message. During the centuries amendments in forms of endless restrictions and demands of obedience and submission in all secular matters were made in the name of God and Christ, with very little or no substance equaled in the oldest sources. The pattern of development of two of the dominant religions, Christianity and Islam, are astonishingly similar in their adaptation to secular power, be it executed by theocrats or royal houses. The flexibility of embracing pagan cosmology and rituals may have been more evident in colonialist Christendom whereas present day Islam has a vivid tradition of reflecting the society in which it is to expand regarding anything from using the Internet to dress codes.

Burning women, especially intellectually gifted ones, at the stake, a plague which spread epidemically over the Old World principally during the 17th century as a result of the contagious Jesuit Inquisition exterminating everything that did not match the dogma, spilling over to the various Creeds of Christendom is yet another proof of religion going overboard and perverting the core of the initial messages or gospels. I strongly believe that we can be convinced that the Nazarene never expected that He would be called upon while colonialist staged genocide in all parts of the world in His name.

Buddha sayings give no indications of permission to turn out the light of life, nor do any of the many faceted syncretist religions of the Middle East and Asia Minor. Obviously there is no automatic connection between religion and the secular modes of reproduction, which makes it confusing. By using the dialectic method of understanding the dynamics of development of the austere and severe misuse of power in the name of God even makes "sense", seen from a scientific point of view, but Buddhism, inter alia, proves otherwise.

A theocracy, such as contemporary Iran, is a construction beyond our comprehension but was present in the Old World until the 18th century when secularism gained acceptance. The obvious strive to control people mentally, politically and socially by calling upon God was as much a reality in Europe and predominant normative mindset of the early Middle Ages enforced by the expanding hunger for power by the Papists and not unknown to the icy reformers such as Calvin.. To legalize killing by referring to the Divine Being still justifies coldblooded murder whether it is on an electric chair in the US or a possible stoning in Iran, Somalia or Sudan. Death Penalty still exists, although God has been substituted by the Government and the State in leading "democratic" power centers and not erased in the normative mindset of ordinary people at all.

Structural violence as seen repeatedly where domestic laws allow authorities to use deadly violence against their own countrymen are constantly on the agenda. Killing Tunisian rebels running amok in the streets of Tunis will have no punitive repercussions. The measures taken by "states" and "nations" when questioned or openly defied are regarded as national affairs unless a third nations interest is at stake. Then benevolently the third part and its allies may arrive with well armed troops to "pacify" and indulge themselves in the general turmoil. Thus civilians, whether rebellious or not, will die, be it in Thailand, while we are sunbathing at the beaches or in Haiti when hunger generated riots occur. It has become so commonplace, in spite of Humanitarian Laws protecting civilians, that we raise no eyebrows at killings on a massive scale.

Nobody can be indicted unless a scapegoat must be found to appease the opponents once the turbulence has slowed down. We regard it as a phenomenon of poverty and oppression and rest assured that this will never take place in our part of the world. Twenty years have gone by since Yugoslavia was torn to pieces. Inside the federate Russia, between her hostile neighbors and Belarus killings of civilians take place on a daily basis. We do not intervene. We are installing cameras in every possible corner or doorway in our private war against terrorism. And we are all within our rights. The fundamentalists are acting on a Holy Mission (Jihad) and so are we but without God on our side, since he was expelled from Reason and Know How several decades ago.

The right to execute any human being, no matter what the pretexts may be, has become so perverted and as a phenomenon so commonplace that we hardly have the guts or the energy to react. The atrocity by which the Jihadists such as Boku Haram, ISIS, Al.Qaeda, Al Shabaab and other madmen practice are being described the Old testament and long before. Mercy, grace, forgiveness and compassion have been known equally long.

  Islam, which is pro forma an expansionist religion gives itself the right to take over what does not belong to it. Islam, however, do not recognize nations and are expected to expand until the whole world is a global Umma is a sharíalegal order which cannot be regarded as anything else but threatening. I do not care much for the defense from pious and peaceful Muslims because if they remain peaceful they will be equally attacked and butchered by their fellow Muslims, whether it be sunni or shia. 

Well, once thy´re done with us, they´ll turn on each other. The demolition of Muslim holy sites by Muslims shows that the self inflicted Armageddon will stop at nothing.

I was brought up to respect all creeds. What Muslim Jihadists are presently engaged in has nothing with respect to do. Fear. Let fear rule the world. What a lovely message...

Douglas 2015