Obedience vs. Autonomy

The above picture depicts an Iranian woman being stoned to death after being convicted of adultery. Sounds like something from centuries ago, right? No. This actually happened in the summer of 2008. Seriously. Naturally, I thought of this incident while reading Shahla Haeri's piece, "Obedience versus Autonomy: Women and Fundamentalism in Iran and Pakistan". Haeri discusses the relationship between the two concepts and how they fit into legal gender relations. Though "obedience is a cornerstone of the Islamic vision of a just social order", through it, a "wife cannot legally be autonomous" and therein lies the problem. Needless to say, many women's rights activists have become involved in campaigns to stop such brutal treatment against women and men. For example, Shadi Sadr has been leading a camapign in Iran since 2006 to stop stoning as a punishment.

New American Fascism?

Though the West is considered a predominantly Judeo-Christian society, in recent years we have seen an overwhelming rise of 'Eastern' spirituality. Typically non-Western religions are now growing in popularity with Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism all in the top five most prevalent religions in America. Other spiritual practices taken from Eastern spirituality are also hugely popular, even trendy. From yoga (Hinduism), to vegetarianism (associated with Jainism) what began with the New Age movement in the '70's has now saturated Western society. So, what is the "New Age Movement"? Well, it's "a collection of Eastern-influenced metaphysical thought systems, a conglomeration of theologies, hopes, and expectations held together with an eclectic teaching of salvation, of "correct thinking," and "correct knowledge." It is a theology of "feel-goodism," "universal tolerance," and "moral relativism." " Has this been good for America? Dr. Carl Raschke says no. He describes the New Age Movement as "the marketing end of the political packaging of occultism...a breeding ground for a new American form of fascism." I think it's easy to find fault with Raschke's argument: how does religious choice (for New Age-ers are encouraged to 'shop around' for the religious practices most comfortable for them) equate with fascism? Perhaps Dr. Raschke should look at the other end of the spectrum (namely, the Christian conservatives who condemn this religious movement as satanic) whose "political packaging" was virtually declaring war on an entire religion. A religion which happens to include almost a billion people by some estimations.
Ultimately, who wants to say no to "feel-goodism"?