Religion is the enemy of civilization
I watched two videos and they drove me crazy so I intended to write about whole religion and my own analysis. Sadly, most people stuck to their inherited religion and they are not even bothering to think about it. When I watched this video The Unauthorized Christians United for Israel Tour and Wiping Israel off the map. They weren’t new or surprising. Why? because I know human stupidity are infinite! but it motivated me to write this article.
Let’s look back and see what really happened. it heated right after 9/11 and highlighted religion as the major source of conflict in current civilization. Oh, wait, I have to clear it here and now, although we, human, are happily using some words like civilized and civilization but honesty humankind just reached to an advanced state in material and some cultural developments but intellectually! I am sure right now there are people who yell at me and say where have you been? haven’t you read anything from philosophers?! Ah, you’re right but I consider whole human population not just some philosophers.
Let me just explain it. In material advancement, for example today we produce notebooks; tomorrow we will produce smart-notebooks. Consumers have always bought products and they have had feedbacks and they have asked for better products. Even people who live in deserts have had their own opinion about products and they asked for something to satisfy their needs. so anyway people has cooperated in material advancement in this so-called civilization.
Can we apply same model to intellectual advancement? No and that’s the whole point. The product of intellectual advancement is intellect which we, human, have made it already but in a wrong way. We can calculate faster and provide more numbers. we can use overloaded information on the net and media broadcasters but this intellectual advancement instead of making more decisive people it has made more followers and apathetic people. people instead of thinking fundamentally are just kinda like to think shallow, specially when it comes to religion (our topic), still we are in surface. Don’t we? I raise this question; What percentage of current world religion’s adherents have thought about their religious symbols like God, prophets, books and so on? let me tell you, for most of them even thinking about this topic is taboo!
A simple basic element of intellect is reasoning which it comes after questioning. how can we ask for intellectual advancement while we run preventive role on people’s head? This so known taboo about religious symbols like God, prophets, books and so on is in the heart of religion which prevents people to think about them and as long as there are preventive methods in people’s life, we couldn’t expect intellectual advancement and as a result more intellects.
Unfortunately I should say it’s just some small fraction of human population is intellectually advanced, The rest were not part of intellectual development process in the past and they are not going to be if they still be followers and submissive.
Just keep in mind as much as scholars try to advance intellect in the society, on the other hand institutionalized religions will try much harder to stop them with their preventive role on people’s mind. This preventive role not only will stop intellectual advancement but also it is very destructive for society as we can see in religious societies which it forces me to write religion is the enemy of civilization. I think so scholars should take more responsibility than before and be more outspoken to crystal clear role of religion on being retarded in intellectual development, with participating in public debates and open discussions specially with religious leaders.
On the other hand, people should study more specially out of their religious borders and research on other religions would help a lot to discover truth which is the source of knowledge and civilization. Also it is objective of this article.
Albert Einstein once said “If something is in me which can be called religion then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it… I cannot imagine a God who rewards and punishes the objects of his creation, whose purposes are modeled after our own — a God, in short, who is but a reflection of human frailty. Neither can I believe that the individual survives the death of his body, although feeble souls harbor such thoughts through fear or ridiculous egotism…”
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The plague of sharia
The more a religion archaic is, the more it rejects any principles of modernity, natural science, and democracy.
Islam has not adopted itself to any Intellectual reforms. It stubbornly remains based on the rules of sharia which were the primitive tribal rules and traditions of pagans of Arabian of 1400 years ago.
No religion, especially non-reformed Islam, would allow freedom of thought and expression. Therefore, democracy and Islam cannot co-exist. Every Muslim state is either totalitarian or autocratic.
Among many ethnic and minority groups, women are the main victims of misogynous rules of such states.
Therefore, in a traditional and patriarchal Islamic society, hijab symbolizes the fact that woman’s right is written on a tiny footnote of the Islamic laws (sharia):
The husband is allowed to marry four wives, plus temporary marriage for an unlimited time (Sigheh).
The husband has the right to beat her wives when they do not obey
(Koran 4:34).
A series of archaic sharia-laws degrades the right and dignity of women.
In such a society, a woman cannot be at the same time an emancipated wife and a good Muslim.
I love how Jahanshah and the rest of the anti-Islamic crowd that kisses up to Western imperialists often cite Qu’ranic verses out of context.
By the way retard, temporary marriage is only practiced by Shi’ites and is condemned by Sunni scholars.
Oh really? I’m sure I might need to inform Benazir Bhutto, Asma Jehangir, and Hina Jillani on that. Oh how they have been fooled!?!?!?!
Wow, reading this truly opened up my eyes. You have made quite the discovery. I now see that religion is the root of every single problem on earth, and that this “civilization” thing is going to be destroyed by religion if we don’t do something about it.
Really, this is quite stupid. You have said nothing original or new, not to mention anything that is either historically or theoretically accurate. I am an atheist myself, but I have not made a religion out of it. Apparently you have.
Well that certainly smashes his whole thesis that religious dogmatism inhibits intellectual development and the advancement of civilization! What a brilliant counter-argument, Danial!
As a Baha’i I can only sit back and shake my head. This is exactly what the Baha’i Faith addresses. I have just confirmed once again, that a Baha’is sense of religion and its place in the World is categorically different from every body else’s.
Here are some good Baha’i quotes that will open your mind and make you think about our little “sect”.
A major source of conflict and disunity in the world today is the widespread opinion that there is some basic opposition between science and religion, that scientific truth contradicts religion on some points, and that one must choose between being a religious person, a believer in God, or a scientist, a follower of reason and culture.
The Bahá’í teachings stress the fundamental harmony of science and religion. This view derives from the belief that truth (or reality) is one. For if truth is indeed one, it is not possible for something to be scientifically false and religiously true. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá expressed forcefully this idea in the following passage:
If religious beliefs and opinions are found contrary to the standards of science, they are mere superstitions and imaginations; for the antithesis of knowledge is ignorance, and the child of ignorance is superstition. Unquestionably there must be agreement between true religion and science. If a question be found contrary to reason, faith and belief in it are impossible, and there is no outcome but wavering and vacillation.
The very diversity of the human race is, in fact, a means for creating a world based on unity rather than uniformity. It is not by the suppression of differences that we will arrive at unity, but rather by an increased awareness of and respect for the intrinsic value of each separate culture, and indeed, of each individual. It is not diversity itself which is the cause of conflict, but rather our immature attitude towards it, our intolerance and misconceptions of others.
`Abdu’l-Bahá expressed this viewpoint in the following passage:
Should any one contend that true and enduring unity can in no wise be realized in this world, inasmuch as its people widely differ in their manners and habits, their tastes, their temperament and character, their thoughts and their views, to this we make reply that differences are of two kinds; the one is the cause of destruction, as exemplified by the spirit of contention and strife which animates mutually conflicting and antagonistic peoples and nations, whilst the other is the sign of diversity, the symbol and the secret of perfection, and the revealer of the bounties of the All-glorious.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Divine Art of Living
In the last three decades, Islam has become a more visible tool of politics as a religion, not only in Iran and Middle East, but also in Western Europe and the United States.
Greater attention to Islam has has been the job of human rights- organisations in the importer of political Islam.
Only a few decades ago, Muslims were virtually invisible in Europe and America. Today, not only because of increased immigration in the religious landscape of the West, but also a growing politicised aspect of Islam is the main obstacle of their integration. Mosques and Islamic centres are in European and American the symbols of Muslims’ social and political isolation.
To yaman:
Maybe you need reasoning based on history, it’s ok. I understand you.
I knew that my article conider offensive to religious people or people with strong religious ties. it’s ok.
TO Jahanshah:
Thanks for Islamic point of view.
To Omid:
Religious people justify religion as a necessity for human prosperity. Right?
So the same applies to every religion and yours too.
Bahai religion is very young almost 150 years so we can’t discuss about it at the moment. We can discuss Bahai religion impact on societies, intellectual development and the advancement of civilization when
1. Bahai religion is not in minority.
2. Bahai believers would have more power than nowadays. (or more active)
You cant bash the religion, only the religious people.
When you put something pure into something dirty, it too appears to be tainted. But, nonetheless it was clean to begin with.
I am not even thinking to bash anything. For me, it’s an open discussion and am willing to hear new ideas and learn.
what’s dirty? people or religious people?
Because I don’t think so God (peaceful and kind one, not the one that always kill people) consider their creatures dirty!!
Exactly. It is the mullas, priests and religious leaders who foul up most things. (sigh)
Jahanshah, I don’t think you are in any position to go around commenting on the status of American Muslims, since American Muslims are highly educated, extremely wealthy, and integrated into the American psyche. Why don’t you go take a look at Keith Ellison and tell me that mosques and Islamic centers are the symbol of social isolation.
Comparing how European and American Muslims live is apples to oranges, my friend.
Hmm. I find myself in agreement with Danial.
There is a vast difference between European and American Muslims, simply because American Muslim immigrants have no choice but to work hard to survive, while European Muslim immigrants can survive without work.
The attitudinal differences are completely based on economic opportunities.
Danial:
Muslims in the west after 9/11 are isolated and specially after Salman Rushdie’s Islamic outrage and Ayaan Hirsi Ali storey, nobody easily buy Islamic ideology.
Dear Fariborz:
I would be happy if you read my post (I thank god for the suffering!) that agree with your post!
and continue it at Allah; the idealogist of Arab-jewish wars?
then let me know your comment!
regards,
Dear Lord,
My Pleasure and thanks for giving me chance to read your posts.
I wish you could copy your article here, for everyonw to read.
my comment about your article is:
It’s true and the name of sureh is The Table or The Table Spread (it’s not food).
And why for reading and understanding Quran, you don’t need anything else but Quran itself, the answer lies in Quran:
The Quran is totally sufficient for the genuine believer for the following reasons:
1) The Quran is not in need of an annex since it is complete:
“The word of your Lord is complete in truth and justice” 6:115
2) The Quran is not in need of an explanatory supplement since it is clear and is not ambiguous:
“A.L.R. These are the signs of the clear book” 12:1
“We have made it (the Quran) easy to understand and in your own tongue (language) may you take heed.” 44:58
3) The Quran is not in need of a correction manual since it is perfect and harbours no contradictions:
“A.L.R. This is a book whose verses have been perfected” 11:1
4) The Quran is not in need of a step by step guide since it is fully detailed:
“Shall I seek other than God as a source of law, when He has revealed to you this book fully detailed?” 6:114
And the Quran commands all Muslims to follow the Quran Alone, this command is found in numerous verses, the following are examples:
“These are God’s revelations that We recite to you truthfully. In which Hadith other than God and His revelations do they believe?” 45:6
“Shall I seek other than God as a source of law, when He has revealed to you this book fully detailed?” 6:114
And the Quran confirms that the only duty of Muhammad is to deliver God’s message, and not to teach any other teachings:
“The only duty of the messenger is to deliver God’s message” 5:99 (also in 5:92, 16:35, 16:82, 24:54, 29:18, 42:48, 64:12)
The Quran also confirms that Muhammad was commanded not to teach any other teachings, otherwise he would incur severe punishment from God:
“It (the Quran) is a revelation from the Lord of the universe. Had he (Muhammad) uttered any other teachings, We would have grabbed him by the right, and We would have severed his Wateen (Major artery of the heart), none of you could have helped him.” 69:43-47
Muhammad was made to swear that the only revelation he received from God was the Quran. The following verse confirms that all what is known as (Hadith Qodsy) are lies that the prophet is innocent of:
“Say (O Muhammad) what is of the greatest testimony? Say: God is the witness between me and you, and this Quran has been inspired to me, that I may warn you and whomever it reaches” 6:19
I find its reaction even more interesting.
By the way, the Koran is not anti-Zionist, to anyone who implies that. The Kingdom of Jews is Israel, to which God has given them the right to:
Nor is it anti-Jewish or anti-Christian, because as this Surrah clearly states:
A Muslim scholar also states:
So all of this crazy talk on Muslims hating Jews because “their religion told them so” is baseless.
The bible appears to have more violent passages than the Quran, click to view the source.
Dear Fariborz:
I used your great answers in my weblog in a post ( Quran vs. Quran ), with regard to copyright!
you could read it!
Lord, to answer some of your questions:
The Quran is specifically here to test our patience and faith. If it was as easy as God showing us “the way” and opening our eyes to the “Truth,” to which the Prophet has revealed, then what would be the use of Islam? The Quran makes it clear that it’s here to “guide” us but it grants a choice. It doesn’t literally force you into doing anything, such as the Hijab. In the Quran, it’s stated that you should cover your “bosoms” (i.e, breasts). It’s a mistranslation in English when “hair” is anywhere mentioned in the Quran – in the Arabic language, I challenge anyone to find me a passage which does as much as mention “hair,” let alone force a woman to wear it.
Although the choice of religion (or the lack there of as the case may be) has consequences, you must at least appreciate that there is an option. Consider this argument by a Sheikh:
Thus:
It shows that there is a choice in Islam, granted by the Quran.
There are bunch of verses which is not support your idea and Mufti ideas.
Dr. Mufti used the Koran to support his ideas, I also posted an example of verses that preach the opposite of what you are making it seem. Are you denying that these verses are in the Koran?
By the way, stop bolding every single response. You’re ruining the layout.
No sir, no one is dirty. It is the scriptual teaching of a particular religeon that is dirty. When a mullah or a bunch of muslims stones a young women to death, freely beats wife with an excuse of disobedience I respect them as true believer.Who am I to blame when a believer follow the teaching of his or her faith literally. So if we need to expose a religeon we have to attack the teaching and teacher of scripture.No, not all religeon brought disaster to humanity.
For the shake of argument let me compare Baha’s faith, islam and christianity. If you follow the teaching of Baharullah or gospel of christ literally you become mother Terisa,Gandhi, Mandella, Martin Luther King. On the other hand if you follow the teaching of professor Muhamad
literally every possiblities you become Khomeni,Ahmadinajad,Nasarallah,Hisbollah Aljawhari,Mullah Omar,Abu musa al zarkwai, the great messiahs of islam of our time.
Hi all, watch the video of Wafa Sultan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYB4pG3kHIY&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wPglHZQf-0&mode=related&search=
Dear Esra:
I didnt mean really what the use of Quran is. I think every muslim knows what it is.
And every muslim knows that there is no obligation in accepting Islam; just as theory (but believe or not its just like a joke for us if we ever see one muslim accept another muslim to change his religion; he may kill him or judge him by another mean!)
All my article was about the uselessness of Quran interpreting, and in my approach I used that questions too but I didnt really want to ask what the Quran use is.
By the way thanks for your commment!
In support of your statement I am quoting
a noble verse from noble Quran
Masterpiece message from a crazy guy
Allah. Esra, you missed it.
Actually no, that doesn’t go against my statement. I am talking specifically about Christians and Jews. Where is either mentioned in your verse?
Remember Islam is only religeon strongly
man-friendly.What’s wrong in it.Just you need double king size bed to handle comfortably.
HAHAHAH. I love this.
However, you have to understand the historical context of that… “agreement,” let’s call it. The aim was tribal reproduction, as in “the more, the merrier.” It was a strategy for the further extension of the faith, and it’s certainly not just Muslims who do this. Remember that polygamy also exists in some Christian households, despite it being illegal in many countries.
Sometime the believer behaves so naive.You right it is not mentioned in the verse. Most probably the verse delivered specifically for dogs, pigs and roaches. They stubbornly refuses to believe.
Esra’a:
The promise of the Hereafter, is
the Day of Resurrection; it means after their death, Allah will gather them.
And you missed most angry part of it:
Anti – Christian verses in Quran:
Allah orders to abduct non-Muslim women in retaliation:
And how Muslims justify fighting (in any form) with Christians and Jews:
(Also they consider Muslim who are friends with christians and jews, as traitor)
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Read the story and join to solve it: Allah; the idealogist of Arab-Jew wars?
Well if bahais are so enlightened then why do they still reject homosexuals
why do they insult,persecute, and not allow gays to participate in the religion?? is there a loving open minded quote for that???
Omid T (Iran/USA) Wrote:
As a Baha’i I can only sit back and shake my head. This is exactly what the Baha’i Faith addresses. I have just confirmed once again, that a Baha’is sense of religion and its place in the World is categorically different from every body else’s.
Here are some good Baha’i quotes that will open your mind and make you think about our little “sect”.
A major source of conflict and disunity in the world today is the widespread opinion that there is some basic opposition between science and religion, that scientific truth contradicts religion on some points, and that one must choose between being a religious person, a believer in God, or a scientist, a follower of reason and culture.
The Bahá’í teachings stress the fundamental harmony of science and religion. This view derives from the belief that truth (or reality) is one. For if truth is indeed one, it is not possible for something to be scientifically false and religiously true. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá expressed forcefully this idea in the following passage:
If religious beliefs and opinions are found contrary to the standards of science, they are mere superstitions and imaginations; for the antithesis of knowledge is ignorance, and the child of ignorance is superstition. Unquestionably there must be agreement between true religion and science. If a question be found contrary to reason, faith and belief in it are impossible, and there is no outcome but wavering and vacillation.
The very diversity of the human race is, in fact, a means for creating a world based on unity rather than uniformity. It is not by the suppression of differences that we will arrive at unity, but rather by an increased awareness of and respect for the intrinsic value of each separate culture, and indeed, of each individual. It is not diversity itself which is the cause of conflict, but rather our immature attitude towards it, our intolerance and misconceptions of others.
`Abdu’l-Bahá expressed this viewpoint in the following passage:
Should any one contend that true and enduring unity can in no wise be realized in this world, inasmuch as its people widely differ in their manners and habits, their tastes, their temperament and character, their thoughts and their views, to this we make reply that differences are of two kinds; the one is the cause of destruction, as exemplified by the spirit of contention and strife which animates mutually conflicting and antagonistic peoples and nations, whilst the other is the sign of diversity, the symbol and the secret of perfection, and the revealer of the bounties of the All-glorious.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Divine Art of Living
I have been a Christian for many years. Only in this last year have I begun to question my beliefs. I find too many flaws with Christianity and religion all together. Now I am more of an Unbeliever. I do not believe in Christianity because it can not be proven. I do not believe in evolution because it can not be 100% proven.
I only provide this information as a bases for my “beliefs” which help to make my point that this next comment comes from a more neutral point than anything.
If you are going to write an article, please work on your grammar and proof-read it. Nothing turns away readers or those who question their beliefs and are seeking others point of views like a poorly written article. If, however, the reason for this extremely bad grammar is due to some automatic translation feature and the original article was written in another language, please ignore my attempt at constructive criticism.
We all have our own separate Beliefs, founded in various religions, because we are individuals. It only makes sense that a situation such as this would produce various ways to praise OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, the Creator. I think my Beliefs are correct as much as you do yours.
“Everyone thinks he’s right. And some of us are so convinced that we’re even willing to fight to the death for what we believe. And with all that conviction, sincere as it may be, we keep digging ourselves in, and making that [hole] deeper and deeper, because in the final analysis, if everyone is right, then no one is right.
So what’s the answer? Don’t be so sure of your beliefs. Don’t be so quick to jump to your belief, because what you believe may not be as true as you first thought. Have the courage to filter your beliefs through the filter of common sense. Don’t take your preconceived beliefs and try to justify them rationally. Instead, use rationality to come to your beliefs . . . And whatever doesn’t make sense, have the sense to let it go. . . And if we don’t get our heads straight, it will only get worse.” -Nissim Dahan
I do not want to force anyone to believe as I do. Then it would not be your will, it would be my will. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior. You may not. Whether you choose to believe or not is your decision, not mine. I have put my ’Beliefs’ through the ’Filter of Common Sense.’ Have You? We all are not going to have the same convictions about ‘Divinity‘, the same religion, or even the same beliefs about a common religion. Wanting to kill someone because they do not believe as I do, on anything, is not good. I should have the patience and tolerance to accept the fact we do not agree. Common sense.
Furthermore, there are bad elements in every religion, culture, and nation. I can not say one religion, culture, or nation is bad because of some and not all. Thus, not all Muslims are bad when a few do wrong; not all Christians are bad when a few do wrong; not all Middle-Easterners are bad when a few do wrong; not all Americans are bad when a few do wrong; etcetera. Plus I can not blame the people for what their government does. We all, worldwide, have bad politicians, bad bureaucrats, and bad military leaders. And the same is true as before. All are not to be blamed for the actions of some. Common sense.
So what is the answer? I personally agree we must stop ‘Extremism.’ Such things as killing, fighting to the death, and forcing your will upon others are extreme. I also personally agree with the ‘Golden Rule’ which should be common sense:
“Do unto others as you would have done unto you.” -Jesus Christ
We all will not agree on everything; we must accept that situation. So let people decide for themselves what is currently best for themselves. If someone wants to do something that does not affect you, then let them do it. You may not agree with what they are doing , but let them. OUR HEAVENY FATHER obviously does not want to control us. I believe we must follow that example. Do not force your will on someone else. If their actions will not affect you, then let them. Not advocating hedonism, let their will decide what is best for them. Common sense.
I’m not forcing my will on you. Why are you forcing your’s on me? May OUR HEAVENLY FATHER’s Will Be Done.