Odessa
You don't have to be crazy in the this world,but sometimes it helps
Jun/06
2012
2012
Is Being a Religious Zealot a Form of Insanity?
In Germany earlier this week, Orhan Sircasi murdered his wife, Semanur. Neighbors reported hearing Orhan say: “Allahu Akbar Sheytan” (“God is great, you Devil”) while severing her head from her body. (source) Orhan and Semanur's marriage was allegedly arranged and the couple had six children. The murder was shortly after Semanur confronted Orhan for his long-term affair with another woman with whom he had two children.
Now Orhan is in the funny farm and he may not be held criminally responsible for his crime.
I am surprised that more attorneys don't use this ploy for their Muslim and other religious extremist clients. How can a devote Muslim be responsible for his actions against his disobedient wife? Or his daughters that dishonor him? Obviously Allah compelled him (I say him because in these cases it is mostly a "him") to do it. And because Allah made him do it he was "nuts". I'm not sure I disagree that religious zealots aren't total bonkers, I think they are. But they should not get a pass.
It's bull crap that this man might get away with it since he is "insane". His calling God good and his wife a devil proves that he thought he had God on his side. Maybe he shouldn't do his time in prison if he is nuts (there was some allegation that he took meds for psychotic illness), but a rubber room would suffice. I just think guys like this need to be kept away from society. Far away. He should never see the light of day. If this guy can cry to God when he kills his wife and shows no remorse, he is capable of anything and doesn't belong in society.
2 comments
Comment from: u235 [Member] 
Oooh this is a tough one. It's so hard not for a moderate to view religious zealots as anything other than insane, but does it give them a legal right to harm other people? Clearly no. But what about voting? Caring for their kids? Or serving as a juror? That's all gray. Personally anyone who can't answer for their own actions isn't an adult and shouldn't treated as one. But how and where to draw the line (before they hurt someone) is a tough call.
06/06/12 @ 18:06
Comment from: Roulette [Member]
Personally, I think it's easy to take the acceptance of religious belief as a form of irrationality. Most people have it in small doses, which is why they can believe something that can only be accepted by faith. These zealots you speak of have just take a longer walk down that road.
They have turned over all responsibility for their actions to their deity of choice, who conveniently says that everything they do is moral and justified.
It's part of my long standing problem when people ask me about the source of my moral values. People like Orhan never question their morality because they believe it to be divinely inspired. "Abraham, go kill your son. Just kidding! HAHA it was a test!" Those aren't the words of a source of morality, but the insane beliefs of a psychotic.
Should Orhan be locked away in a funny farm? Probably so. The rest of his life seems like a good time frame. Sadly it didn't come BEFORE he murdered his family. Or maybe God forgot to say just kidding this time.
They have turned over all responsibility for their actions to their deity of choice, who conveniently says that everything they do is moral and justified.
It's part of my long standing problem when people ask me about the source of my moral values. People like Orhan never question their morality because they believe it to be divinely inspired. "Abraham, go kill your son. Just kidding! HAHA it was a test!" Those aren't the words of a source of morality, but the insane beliefs of a psychotic.
Should Orhan be locked away in a funny farm? Probably so. The rest of his life seems like a good time frame. Sadly it didn't come BEFORE he murdered his family. Or maybe God forgot to say just kidding this time.
06/07/12 @ 05:58
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