A 'True' Religion Is An Oxymoron
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
16 May 2024
"Aqaed Vaham Hain, Mazhab Khayal-e-Khaam
Hai, Saaqi
Azal Se Zehn-e-Insaan, Basta-e-Auhaam Hai,
Saaqi"
-Sahir Ludhainavi
(All customs and rituals are illusions, faith
is a futile thought / Right from the beginning of civilization, the mind of man
has been a bag of garbage / useless things)
One reader
believes that those who criticize 'true' religions lack seriousness and are not
deep thinkers. Only those who're shallow, indulge in religion-bashing. Great!
First of all, let me know, what's a 'true' religion? Isn't it an oxymoron like
'happily married'? You're either happy or married! To cut the matter short, all
religions are false and fabricated.
The problem
with an average Muslim mind is that however 'educated' and 'evolved' it may be,
it cannot go beyond the precincts of Islam and continues to labour under the
delusion that it's the only 'true' faith. Those who're 'educated' Muslims and
seemingly liberal, may condescendingly say that other faiths are also 'true'
but deep down it's their Islam that's the only true faith to them. So, whenever
Islam is criticised, these faithfuls get worked up.
Now coming
back to the validity of any faith, it's your hardened religiosity that
strengthens your belief. That's why, any damn plausible and specious
explanations to religious beliefs and verses are true and sacrosanct to such
religiously yoked and enslaved people. This behaviour is prevalent among the
followers of all bogus faiths but disturbingly obvious among the Muslims.
Why're you
obsessed with religion/s? Can't you become a good human sans it? Can't you lead
a morally upright life without god and religion? Why do you require crutches?
Haven't you
read and heard what all faiths have done to humankind? If you think that
someone's criticism of religions is ad nauseam, why shouldn't all faiths be
condemned repeatedly? To quote Salman Rushdie, " Ad nauseam is desirable
only when a religion is criticised because no amount of condemnation is enough
in this case."
We're
living in the 21st-century. We cannot regulate our lives by the ethos and
dictums of centuries old faiths that lost their utility aeons ago.
Think
universally. I might sound pontificating but it's what humanity needs for
survival in a religiously surcharged world. Look at India and look at the
rapidly increasing religiosity of otherwise docile Hindus. Aren't Muslims
insecure? You may say, " I'm not." Okay, but your brethren are.
Stop
criticizing those who criticize all faiths. They've a universal vision and are
not hidebound like the majority of devout Hindus, Muslims, Christians among
others.
----
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.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/religion-oxymoron/d/132324
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