I would like to underline that this blog is generalised and meant as a provocation against some standards (or double standards) there is in the Danish society today regarding religion. I find that despite this blog being focused on Denmark, it is possible to transfer the essens of the blog to any country in the Western world at the moment.
When you have a religious affiliation, you may find it quite difficult getting a chance to share your official opinion without being placed under suspicion. It is for instance difficult being a Muslim, making a stand in the Danish society without being labelled radical and undemocratic in comparison with what is considered Danish values by the majority. This is often evident in the media, where several instances of public stances from people who are well-integrated in Denmark and call themselves Danish, still are being told to “go home to their own country”. However, it is my personal experience that it is not only Islam that is in line of sight regarding demeaning comments on religious worldviews. Because, in Denmark it seems to be “un-Danish” and “undemocratic” to have a religious affiliation. Furthermore, if someone dares to say something about it in public, other’s pull out the “religion is a private thing” card. As if you can express your opinions if they are connected to something the majority of the Danish people find “normal”. However, do you base your values within a Christian framework – or any religion what so ever – you have to keep it to yourself.
At the moment, Muslims are in the middle of the eye of the hurricane because radicalisation is the focus of attention – especially how to stop a radicalisation process. There is a sudden major focus on what Muslims actually think about different subjects. Within the Danes perspective, focus often become more on how to change what Muslims opinions are to be more alike Danish values and democracy in stead of accepting differences of opinions and the freedom of religion and freedom of speech we actually have. Moreover, maybe it is time to realise that the Muslim faith do not have to be so far from democratic values?
In the media Muslims are often displayed as “those people”, “the radical” and in relation to terror. However, maybe instead of pointing towards one minority as the villain, we should discuss an underlying problem that smoulders beyond the surface. Maybe we should talk about the sudden lack of respect for the different, and, in most Danes perspectives, radical worldview which involves an opposite view of the world compared to the Danish values. Maybe we should discuss how many believers more or less intentional oppress what they in reality thinks, because of the fear of being scolded by the majority. Maybe we should leave the utopia that everyone has “freedom of speech” and the idea of Denmark as a manifold society. Instead we should realise that “Danish values” and “democracy” has become the elements of a new religion. The nationalistic imagination of the Dane, who sees religion as a private thing and which shall be abolished when religious people attempts to become accepted as the human being they are by actually share their scopes of opinions. Maybe it’s time to realise that when you fight for freedom of speech, it is naturally that manifold of opinions and religious worldviews radically different than the view of the world that does not necessarily fits with the majority’s image.
Because in the end one question is left: Is it really that bad to have be radically different worldview than most Danes? If a minority of the Danish citizens does not support war, violence, destruction and antidemocratic actions, but still have a worldview radically different from what seems to be the norm, why should this be suppressed? They aren’t doing anything to us. Because we do live in a free country, right?
