Bikini Earthquakes
A senior Iranian cleric, Hojatoleslam Kazim Sadighi, allows that women who dress immodestly not only corrupt society but incite earthquakes. Or, as graphically characterized above, bikini earthquakes. It is reported that he intended this to be understood in literal terms.
Most in the western tradition will not take the cleric’s thesis seriously. Some will summarily write it off as pre-scientific superstition. Few will stop to analyze or justify their reaction.
Initially, it appears that the conditions that give rise to earthquakes preceded the arrival of humans. This seemingly precludes any simple cause and effect relationship between human behavior and earthquake activity. In this regard, life is more precarious than some would have us realize. Paradise, on the other hand, appears as if a region not given to natural disasters.
In contrast, Iran qualifies as one of the world’s most earthquake prone countries. The cleric’s warning follows President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s prediction that since a quake is certain to hit Tehran, many of its 12 million inhabitants should relocate. Seismologists have warned for at least two decades that the capital will be struck by a catastrophic quake in the near future.
Not only do we compound the problem by failing to take proper precautions, but by adverse ecological intervention as well. Our contribution to global warming provides a prime case in point, although the extent remains a matter of controversy. Accordingly, the fall of man from grace is depicted as setting humans on a collision course with God’s righteous design. Consequently, there would seem to be at least an element of truth in the cleric’s claim.
We are also reminded that according to Chaos theory small changes in original conditions have disproportionately large results. Then, too, the human defection is depicted as a critical departure.
The cleric’s protest concerning immodest dress is also culturally relevant. For instance, an Arab friend noted the erotic attire of our American students. Upon being reminded of the differences in our cultures, he insisted: "They, nonetheless, mean to incite men by the way they dress." Such concerns no doubt play a much larger role in the negative way westerners are perceived than we realize.
They also contribute to the urgency felt for expanding the influence of Islam. As expressed by one Muslim jurist: "By peaceful means if possible, by force if necessary." The peace of Islam is thus associated with submission, to God and by implication those thought to be his emissaries.
"And now," Sadighi concluded, "if a natural earthquake hits Tehran, no one will be able to confront such a calamity but God’s power, only God’s power. So let’s not disappoint God." However we view matters, we should strive not offend the Almighty.
As relevant to the above discussion, Pain As a Means of Grace (Wipf & Stock) was the first of my three books published this past year, and deals with what is perhaps the prime topic in Christian apologetics—that of human suffering.
Article submitted Thursday, April 29, 2010 & read 329 times.
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