Looking today, here in Riyadh, you do not get that feeling. You see people going to the Masjid and praying, but you cannot feel the motivation. Sometimes I look at them and think to myself that they are programmed , as if ( in my case) waking up and making myself a cup of coffee before my shower, even if I barely can open my eyes.
I hope that this is not the case here, but the way things are in Riyadh, it looks like that this is a solid statement.
The way religion is promoted is by rubbing it in your face and by making you feel guilty about anything that is not conceived as appropriate. Even though what is being corrected is not related to religion.
My theory is that Islam is so integrated in our lives that we, sometimes, the thin line between religion and tradition becomes blurry ( example, the Abaya & the reason for it to be black).
Sometimes it makes me wonder, why when someone who has some or little insight into religion will be automatically questioned about his faith and is he a true believer. Even though you can be discussing something that is not faith shattering (women driving, or better yet a woman who wants to represent herself in an official office).
Why is it that we have guided always , not taught to think? Why do we consider the population sinful when there is so many virtues? Why do we look into ourselves as people who are not allowed to question our basic principles?
If I am wrong, correct me. But if I am right, do not undermine me.
