Humanity Needs Rationality, Not Religiosity And Rigidity
By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
24 August 2024
The very name of Taslima Nasrin is an anathema to the orthodox and conservative Muslims. She's a pariah to Muslims all over the world, esp. to the Muslims of the subcontinent. But there's no gainsaying the fact that this lady doctor has the courage of conviction and she's irrepressible. It was Taslima who had the courage to describe the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh when men chose to look askance. Her criticism of religion is not confined to criticising Islam. She condemns all man-made faiths. It's all the more laudable on her part to emerge as an atheist because women are genetically programmed to believe in all sorts of religious superstitions, god and scriptures. They dare not question the otiose tenets of faiths and the existence of a concocted god. Here's a famous quote of Taslima:
"The real debate is not between religion and atheism, it's between rationality and superstition."
Taslima Nasrin's quote encapsulates a crucial distinction that goes beyond the simplistic binary of religion versus atheism. She argues that the true debate lies in the confrontation between rationality and superstition. While differentiating religion and atheism can create a perception of opposing worldviews, it fails to address the fundamental underlying issue of critical thinking.
Taslima Nasrin is a Bangladeshi writer, physician, feminist, secular humanist, and activist.
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Nasrin contends that the essential factor is the application of reason and logic in understanding the world, irrespective of one's religious beliefs or lack thereof. By emphasizing rationality as the guiding principle, she highlights the importance of questioning dogmas, superstitions, and unsubstantiated beliefs, ultimately advocating for a more enlightened and intellectually honest society.
Remember, Taslima is not a militant atheist like Wafa Sultana of LA, USA and Irshad Manjhi of Canada. Taslima is a votary of free speech and rationality who has always questioned religious irrationality and patriarchal spirit of all religions, not just of Islam. She's a rebel with a cause who knows the futility of religion and atheism as both are isms. Since religion often appeals to the heart and emotion and not the mind and reason, all sorts of irrational practices and superstitions have become integral to it (faith).
Taslima urges the followers of religions to get rid of irrationality and superstitions by developing a scientific temperament and logical thinking. Her emphasis is on applying prudence (Aql-e-Saleem) which the Quran also advocates.
Living in India, she has not spared Hinduism as well and condemned many superstitions that have sullied its escutcheon. The world, polluted and desecrated by redundant religions and hoary-old scriptures, needs a complete revamp and it could be possible when sane voices like hers should be heard and implemented in letter and spirit. Humanity needs rationality, not religiosity and rigidity.
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Taslima Nasrin was born on August 25.
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism