Muslim Fundamentalists
As compared with European Jews the general
IQ level of Arabs is lower. Muslim Fundamentalists constitute not even
1% of total Muslim population but their Mullahs preach against rationalism
and liberalism. More than 40% Muslims are ignorant and illiterate. And
the surprising thing is that many of such fundamentalists Mullahs are badly
educated. They rely on ancient and out dated books of traditions and interpret
literally the things described in them metaphorically, without deducting
the underlying principle with reason or logic. Their knowledge of Islamic
history and philosophy and even doctrine is garbled. But that does not
mean that there are no authoritative books and outstanding scholars. The
literature about Islamic ideology, history and biographies of Holy Prophet
(sws) and his companions in different languages including English is very
rich and detailed and of high standard.
Moderate Muslims
Enlightened Muslims are in overwhelming
majority and they know that Islam is not opposed to modernism and multi-culturism
and great emphasis is laid in Quran for acquisition of knowledge, kindness,
charity and above all Justice without any discrimination. But organizations
like Alquida and Taliban have tarnished the image of Islam. If we Muslims
have friends like them, we don't need enemies.
Here is an extract from Edward Montet,
'La Propaganda Chretienne et ses Adversaries Musulmans,' Paris 1890. (Also
in T.W. Arnold in 'The Preaching of Islam,' London 1913.)
"Islam is a religion that is essentially
rationalistic in the widest sense of this term considered etymologically
and historically.... the teachings of the Prophet, the Qur'an has invariably
kept its place as the fundamental starting point, and the dogma of unity
of God has always been proclaimed therein with a grandeur a majesty, an
invariable purity and with a note of sure conviction, which it is hard
to find surpassed outside the pale of Islam.... A creed so precise, so
stripped of all theological complexities and consequently so accessible
to the ordinary understanding might be expected to possess and does indeed
possess a marvelous power of winning its way into the consciences of men."
Soft-Spoken, Self-Effacing
Fundamentalists.
As one American journalist said there
are plenty of soft-spoken, self-effacing examples of the fundamentalists.
It isn't a question of style. Nor is the opposite of fundamentalism lukewarmness,
or the tiresome liberal prejudice that the truth always lies somewhere
in the middle. Tolerance and partisanship are not incompatible.
About Christianity he goes on to say that
The New Testament author known as Luke is presumably aware that Jesus was
actually born in Galilee. But he needs to have him born in Judea, since
the Messiah is to spring from the Judea-based house of David. A Messiah
born in bumpkinish Galilee would be like one born in Gary, Indiana. So
Luke coolly invents a Roman census, for which there is no independent evidence,
which requires everyone to return to their place of birth to be registered.
Since Jesus' father Joseph comes from Bethlehem in Judea, he and his wife
Mary obediently trudge off to the town, where Jesus is conveniently born.
Many fundamentalists do not pose danger
to the world peace if they belief that religious duties consist in doing
justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy.
I admire Buddhist and all those fundamentalists and Sufis who preach peace
and love but not hatred.
The Popes Against The Jews
There was a time when books like 'The
Popes Against the Jews': Before the Holocaust by GARRY WILLS and The Vatican's
Role in the Rise of Modern Anti-Semitism by David I. Kertzer were published
and described the Jews as -- eternal insolent children, obstinate, dirty,
thieves, liars, ignoramuses, pests and the scourge of those near and far
. . . managed to lay their hands on . . . all public wealth . . . and virtually
alone they took control not only of all the money.
The discovery of Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947
helped in softening attitude of Roman Catholics towards Jews. A few skeptics
say that these scrolls are fake. That is a collection of about 600 Hebrew
and Aramaic manuscripts, discovered in Jordan, at the northwestern end
of the Dead Sea.
Late Malachy Martin SJ was said to be in
the liaison with Jewish authorities at the Vatican Councils that expunged
criticism of the Jews from Roman Catholic teaching etc. After reading 2-vol
of The Palestine Diary Malachy Martin is attributed of saying to the author
Robert John that if he had known what he now knew from the book he would
not have undertaken that mission. (Robert John. 14 Oct. 2001 as quoted
in a post by Ichee@aol.com)
There was uproar among Jewish people, though
the story depicted in Mel Gibson's movie "Passion of the Christ" gave unbiased
account of the crucifying Jesus Christ. Gibson had to prove that he is
not anti-Semite by tendering an apology to Jewish people for hurting their
feelings.
Anti-Fundamentalists
On the other side, Anti-fundamentalists
are not people without passionate beliefs; they often misconstrue not only
religion but also science and think that human reasoning is infallible.
Atheism is spreading fast in the Western world and the belief in
existence of God is declining. But agnosticism is found among people
born as Christians, Muslims, Jews or Hindus etc. and they believe that
the existence of God can be neither proved nor disproved. Many people have
incorrectly been called atheists merely because they rejected a popular
belief in a particular form of divinity. With the increase in scientific
knowledge and the consequent scientific explanation of phenomena formerly
considered supernatural, atheism has become a less controversial philosophical
position.
Bertrand Russell regarded religion as a
disease born of fear and as a source of untold misery to the human race.
The most vocal critic of religion Richard Dawkins writes, “
Theology is a field in which obscurantism
is the normal path to success, and a favorite trick is to insist that religion
has its own 'dimension(s)', completely separate from those of science;
science and religion are about different kinds of truth and you cannot
use the criteria of one to judge the other; religion answers those questions
which are outside the territory of science.
On the other hand many scientists regard
religion as meme as miraculous cure and achievements have been possible
with the individual’s own power of faith. Religion’s role in enforcing
moral standards for the good of society is also acknowledged by many social
scientists but few thinkers like Ludwig Feuerbach, The Essence of
Christianity Opines, “Whenever morality is based on theology, whenever
right is made dependent on divine authority, the most immoral, unjust,
infamous things can be justified and established.”
Fundamentalism In The Westernized Countries
Almost all the Western countries are well
developed not only in industrial and technological fields but also in education,
art and literature. The importance that is given their own country on justice,
multiculturalism, freedom of speech etc. is admirable. Despite over 90%
literacy rate the development of petty and unrealistic prejudices in some
segments of population in supposedly most liberal and most developed secular
societies is not surprising because of inherent weaknesses in human nature.
That appears to be reason why GBW said:
"You are all fundamentalists with a top
dressing of science. That is why you are the stupidest of conservatives
and reactionists in politics and the most bigoted of obstructionists in
science itself. When it comes to getting a move on you are all of the same
opinion: stop it, flog it, hang it, dynamite it, stamp it out. "_George
Bernard Shaw
The belief that secular and democratic
State is ideal for peace and progress needs to be reviewed. Secularism
and democracy cannot guarantee good governance, law and order or progress
and prosperity. That is merely a method for the transfer of power according
to popular mandate allowing maximum participation of the electorate. Everything
depends upon the character and ability of the leaders elected!
Good democracy is said to be commensurate
with good education, class, wealth, and occupational convergence. Quite
a few Western scholars lament that less-than-perfect democracy has been
achieved. Some think that the cure for evils of democracy is more democracy.
But my view is that there should be stricter qualifications for the candidates
as well as the voters. Jerks, prostitutes, criminals and convicted persons
should be debarred from voting. John F. Kennedy said; "The ignorance of
one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all."
Ignorance, illiteracy and poor civic sense
among the masses obscure the democratic values and prevent election of
the right candidates. That is why democracy has not been as beneficial
in Asia and Muslim countries as it has been in the West. But the
West does not owe its progress and prosperity solely to secularism and
democracy. It was the attitude of their people towards work, law and order,
mutual cooperation, exploration, education, research and training that
has contributed in over all progress in all spheres including sports, literature,
leisure besides trade, industry and commerce as well as science and technology.
But their material progress has not been without loss of spirituality to
some extent and morality to great extent.
Power
Many social scientists agree with Bertrand
Russell that the fundamental concept in social science is Power, in the
same sense in which Energy is the fundamental concept in physics. But regrettably
few politicians do not realize that the power has only one duty-to secure
the social welfare of the People.
Joseph S. Nye Jr. dean of the John F. Kennedy
School of Government at Harvard University discusses American supremacy
and how long it will last. The United States has unprecedented military
power, but the sword alone won't ensure American preponderance in the long
term, he argues. "If the United States wants to remain strong, Americans
need to pay attention to our soft power" -- our ability to attract others
to our way of life and get them to want what we want, Mr. Nye argues. "Soft
power arises in large part from our values," he writes.
Many American intellectuals have been critical
of such unrealistic Foreign policies but their voice does not reach the
American masses in the din of rhetoric of selfish politicians. For instance
Noam Chomsky, U.S. linguist, political analyst (and a Jew) has plainly
ascribed the terrorist attacks on US as the reaction to imperious foreign
policy.
"U.S. international and security policy
… has as its primary goal the preservation of what we might call "the Fifth
Freedom," understood crudely but with a fair degree of accuracy as the
freedom to rob, to exploit and to dominate, to undertake any course of
action to ensure that existing privilege is protected and advanced."_Noam
Chomsky
Agnosticism
A trend for agnosticism is emerging in
many countries. People like Thomas Jefferson say, "Question with
boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must
more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear."
In the developing world, however, people
do not deny existence of God and divine beings, but religious obligations
are generally neglected. Secret doubts about existence of God lurk in the
minds of many except when in adversity they pray to God or Goddesses for
help and fulfilling their wishes. That helps them to cope with stress and
strain and to find solution for their problems.
Shah N. Khan
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