Sunday, November 8, 2009

In the name of God

I believe that good people are those who always remember God in what ever they are doing.

However, in the last few months the news media have reported about some people who mentioned the name of God to justify their actions so as to make people believe in what they have said and done.

On 17 July 2009, two suicide bombers claimed to be acting in the name of God blasted themselves at two hotels in Jakarta i.e. J.W Marriot and Ritz-Carlton, killing nine innocent people and wounding more than fifty people.

Last Thursday and Friday, Chief of Police Investigation Agency Commissioner Gen. Susno Duadji who was suspended for his alleged involvement in the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) case, appeared before the House of Representative and swear to God that he never receive a Rp. 10 billion commission for helping businessman Budi Sampoerna to cash US$. 18 million from ailing Bank Century.

Similar statements mentioning the name of God have also been made by the recently resigned Vice Attorney General H.A Ritonga and former Deputy Intelligence of the Attorney General Wisnu Subroto in denying their involvement in similar KPK case.

For detailed media reports on the above, please click here, here, here, here.

The above shows that people, who ever they are and whatever their intentions are, tend to mention the name of God.

14 comments:

ame said...

It's interesting, isn't it? To see how people use name of "God" like a toy.. Maybe they swear as the name of "God" like as the name of "BMW"

Thanks for sharing :) nice post !

Unknown said...

Ame,

Ha ha ha (lol). I like the way you say it. Thank you for your kind words, and have a nice week end.

Anonymous said...

Using God in that way is more like blasphemy than anything else.

colson said...

Would have liked to have made myself such a smart and instructive observation.

It's telling. Both about the peculiar reduction of the word "God" to a kind of certificate attached to something else, as well as about the (lack of) substance the concept of God has for some of those who call themselves believers.

Unknown said...

Duckham,

You can say that.

Unknown said...

Colson,

Yeah, some people have their own way in trying to prove themselves.

Rob Baiton said...

Harry...

It is always worth a shot; playing the God card, that is! For those that believe in God, then to utter demi Allah or demi Tuhan might be the icing on the cake so to speak with respect to truth.

However, it is not all that different is it from people wanting to perform the sumpah pocong, is it? It was not all that long ago the Prita Mulyasari was offering in court to perform a sumpah pocong with a view to convincing the court that she did not have the intent to defame RS Omni International when she sent the email.

(I wonder if Roy Suryo would do a sumpah pocong to prove that he is a telematics expert? :D)

Unknown said...

Rob,

Maybe it's because of the system, whereby every public officials were sworn in by saying: Demi Tuhan YME; also stated in courts' verdicts.
The purpose is very good i.e. to make sure that they would do their job based on & always remember God, therefore they can be expected not to do bad things. I think that in other countries God is also mention in similar ceremony

Rob Baiton said...

Harry...

Slightly different context, swearing an oath of office on a Koran or a Bible and uttering the name of God in support of a proposition.

I do not have a problem with swearing an oath on any holy book, assuming that is what ones to do. I am not all that religious, so perhaps I would be better off affirming the commitment to act in a particular way.

That was more the point, rather than a comment on the system of swearing oaths of office.

Unknown said...

Rob,

Yes the most important for those officials is confirming their commitments, while the swearing is merely ceremonial.

oigal said...

Just wondering? Does this mean the people who called God as a witness to their honesty, if later found guilty are prepared to accept Sharia punishment instead of secular punishment?... Might be interesting watch a few of the crocodiles trying to start their BMW and Mercedes with no hands.

Better press for Sharia than whipping teenage girls.

Unknown said...

Stump,

I supposed that's what would happen if the Sharia law is valid here.

oigal said...

Harry..probably not..seems in Aceh only the poor suffer the wrath

Unknown said...

Stump,

You are right, Sharia law in Aceh is not aimed at corrupt officials but only on certain element of society (i.e. the poor)