There are instances that one may use faith to accept things, and other cases where observable facts must settle the issue. Religion in general relies, if not exclusively, at least primarily on faith. When you challenge a religious person about the reality of religion by saying, “I have to see it to believe it,” he may respond, “You have to believe it to see it.”
And when it comes to something of such great import as religion and its implications, I am hesitant to believe it first and hope to see its redeeming qualities later. Believing people’s claims without supporting evidence runs counter to reason. Simply because someone believes something, that does not make it so. Even when over a billion and half people claim they believe Islam is the handiwork of the supreme creator and his book is the eternal charter of goodly life for all of mankind, I am not swayed.
In the final analysis, beliefs are private experiences and may have full validity for one individual, but others should not be expected to accept them unquestioningly. A person suffering from schizophrenia, for instance, may have conversations with all kinds of extraterrestrials and report seeing them. The individual may be fully and honestly convinced that his experiences are real. Yet his faith in the reality of his experiences does not constitute a proof of reality to those who are unable to verify them.
With respect to religion, one may be willing to accept its usefulness based on constructive roles it may play in serving society, without the need to be shown that it is indeed a mandate of life from the Supreme Being. Religion, at the very least, must have some tangible redeeming qualities. The Iranian’s ancestral religion, the Zoroastrian faith, was meritorious, for it preached three simple, yet extremely vital dictums of life: good thoughts, good speech, and good deeds.
Judaism, irrespective of the contention that it is a divine religion, introduced the greatly valuable Ten Commandments to civilize us. Christianity championed practices such as love and charity. Islam, by contrast, lacks any redeeming qualities. The book of Allah is a manual for violence, divisiveness and hatred. We see the proof of Islam’s lacking merit in the nonstop daily horrific acts of Muslims, all justified based on Islamic scripture.
Simply because someone claims he is a divine messenger and his preaching are those dictated to him by a creator called Allah, that is not sufficient for us to abandon the observable proof needed and simply accept the claim even though the claimant and his message have inflicted great harm to mankind from day one to present.
Many people adhere to religion because it provides them with comfort and a compass in life. It is these assumed benevolent features of religion that confer upon it a special status. Yet concern with religion overreaching has led societies to enact safeguards against that possibility. Some, for instance, feared that Christ was a rebellious Jew aiming to challenge the ruling Romans. Perhaps to assuage this fear, Christ emphatically proclaimed, “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” To this day, there are those who still believe that the Christ was a mere social revolutionary.
In the case of Islam, there is no ambiguity at all. The mosque and the state were one and the same from the very start. During his lifetime, Muhammad embodied in his person all three branches of worldly secular governance — the legislative, the judiciary and the executive — as well as the religious domain. As a messenger of Allah, he transmitted Allah’s laws, adjudicated according to those laws, and implemented Allah’s design. He also prescribed a set of religious instructions for the spiritual life of the faithful.
Radical Islam
As I have many time stated, there is no such thing as “radical Islam.” I have refused to accept several organizations that seek to combat or expose the antics of “radical” or “extreme” Islam, because I know that it is not extremism that is causing the violence…it’s mainstream, typical, normal, traditional, specified, canonical Islam.
Islam is an out-of-control fire, and the jihadists are its arsonists. The generality of Muslims do their part by spreading throughout the world and setting up the conditions that would welcome the arsonists, feed and shelter them, and support them in igniting the Islamic fire.
Frank Anderson says
Please accept a sincere compliment for your clear, direct, concise writing.
I am an unaffiliated religious wanderer. It seems that no community finds my company particularly rewarding or attractive. Over 50 years ago I started asking questions. I believe the first question was answered to my satisfaction, but absolutely admit that I cannot prove my answer to anyone else.
In the course of my wandering I learn at every opportunity either what I should or should not follow. I think analytically religion is in substance mass production mental health treatment. It can be used for good or evil. Only when enough liberty is allowed can it be for good. Please continue your thoughts.
StellaSaidSo says
‘…religion is in substance mass production mental health treatment. It can be used for good or evil. Only when enough liberty is allowed can it be for good.’
Well put, Frank.
Frank Anderson says
Stella, that is what I have observed and concluded. Others may differ. Still others could find such practical analysis troubling because it challenges their simplistic notions. But that is the reason a lot of my clients may not have liked me; but they hired me and generally followed my advice anyway.
You have seen and probably will see again my sharing a Rabbi’s teaching about The Exodus 1) Things change; 2) The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jesus does not want any of His Children to live in ANY form of slavery, including mental domination or physical domination. We each have minds and should use them to think.
FYI says
About that Exodus….want I think REALLY happened…tell the Rabbis.
The Israelites:….are we there yet..are we there yet..are we there yet..?
Moses;arggh Enough already!meshuggah!
The Israelites:{short pause}…. are we there yet..are we there yet ..are we there yet..?
G_D ENOUGH! Here…here’s some manna for you..stop complaining..will ya?
The Israelites yum yum yum yum {long pause}…are we there yet ..are we there yet .. are we there there yet..?
G_D and Moses….Grrrrrrr
Music sung by Israelites in the background {Desmond Dekker song…”Me… Israelites..get up in the morning,slaving for bread sir..so that every mouth can be fed….poor,poor me, Israelites…aah”
Sorry I can’t help it:my humor is God-given and Jewish-Irish…..
Frank Anderson says
FYI, in spite of what some Jews think of me, I love what I learned in the company of Jews.
From a Rabbi friend of over 20 years: Why didn’t Moses go into the Promised Land? Because after 40 years of dealing with complaining Jews he didn’t want to.
The wisdom and plain, direct sense of Jewish teaching is overwhelming. To my sadness, the application of that wisdom by the local Jewish community is disappointing. After more than 20 years it was time to move on. My best wishes to them and to you. TO LIFE!
Lydia Church says
Please see comment below addressed to skeptics.
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Lydia Church says
Please see my lovely comment below addressed to skeptics.
( ;
Lydia Church says
Please see comment below addressed to skeptics…
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Lydia Church says
Ooops, not sure why this comment came up multiple times.
Sorry about that!
Amil Imani says
Thank you so much for the kind words. You have showered me with honor.
Frank Anderson says
When I pay a compliment it is well earned. You earn mine by your excellent writing. Please continue.
CogitoErgoSum says
As long as Muhammad was alive Islam had the ability to change. If Muhammad came out with a new verse that conflicted with an old verse of the Quran, he would simply say that Allah was providing something even better. All faith that Muslims have for the Quran being the truth rests solely on Muhammad and Muhammad said that nothing else about the word of Allah could be trusted because men had corrupted all earlier sources of the truth and he was the one last source of the truth. Interesting that Muhammad required at least four witnesses before believing a woman’s claim of being raped and yet he expected everyone to believe every word he said without additional corroboration or evidence. He thought everyone else was likely to be a liar because he was the biggest liar that ever lived.
PRCS says
“Interesting that Muhammad required at least four witnesses before believing a woman’s claim of being raped and yet he expected everyone to believe every word he said without additional corroboration or evidence.”
Yes, interesting. Extremely interesting.
CogitoErgoSum says
Muslims say to follow Muhammad’s example. Well, Muhammad didn’t trust other people to tell the truth. I don’t trust that Muhammad is telling the truth. I’m following his example. What’s the problem?
CogitoErgoSum says
And as for needing four witnesses to prove rape, how convenient it is for the emulator of Muhammad to find a place without a single witness to his act and rape a woman. It’s a perfect rule for a rapist and, according to the “trusted” sources of Islam Muhammad did his share of raping. A woman’s testimony is worth half that of a man too. What a disgusting person to pick for your role model.
PRCS says
Assuming that Islam’s “prophet” actually existed.
CogitoErgoSum says
PRCS, yes, but we have plenty of little emulators of the “imaginary” Muhammad running around. They assume he existed and they keep him “real.” You can’t draw a harmless picture of Muhammad but you sure can try to make yourself look and act like him through rape, murder and terror. If making him “perfect” is not idol worship, then nothing is. At least Christians who worship Jesus are honest enough to admit he’s their god. Muhammad speaks for Allah and is the only source of information about Allah and is to be believed without any questions or demands for proof ……… please, give me a break. Muhammad is the true god of the Muslims. Allah is the one who never existed.
PRCS says
“Muhammad is the true god of the Muslims. Allah is the one who never existed.”
True. Allah surely is Muhammad’s sock puppet.
Walter Sieruk says
The writer of this above article is right on the mark when he explained “Simply because someone believes something does not make it so.” That statement may apply to unquestioning faith in all the doctrines of the different religions around the world. Nevertheless that statement may apply ,even more when it comes to a person putting all of his or her faith in Islam. With all the strange and far -fetched teachings of Islam . Many imams and mullahs if asked a question about the truth of Islam by a Muslim mosque member . More times than not the Muslim cleric will reply ” Such things should not even be doubted , questioned or even asked” That reply is not an answer. Such an “answer” of blind faith and folly is strong reminder of the wisdom found and printed by Benjamin Franklin in his periodical POOR RICHARD’S ALMAMACK it reads “To see by the eye of faith to to shut the door of reason.”
In contrast to a Muslim cleric,if a Christian who is a church member goes to his pastor with some doubts concerning the truth found in the Bible .More time than not the pastor will engage a type of investigation with that person the specific Bible question that the he or she has doubts about. If the pastor replies with an “answer’ similar to that of a Muslim cleric than that pastor might be unfit to had a leader of that or any other church . For in the Bible the reader is informed “A simple man believes every word he hears. A clever man understand the need of proof..” Proverbs 14:15. [N.E.B.]
Amil Imani says
THANK YOU very much.
Walter Sieruk says
Near the end of this above article the writer truly declared “there is no such this as “radical Islam.”
Likewise the terms “Radical Muslim” and “Islamic extremist” in contrast to the term “Moderate Muslim” are actually Western terms and not that well known in the Islamic Middle East. This is because what In the Islamic mindset in the Muslim Middle East as well as in Indonesia and other Muslim controlled country what the non-Muslims of the Western nations view as “radical and “extremist” the Muslims of those places in the world see as “Normal” and even Devout and committed to the Cause of Islam”. Likewise they view those who Westerns see as “Moderate Muslims” those of the Islamic worldview and non-devout and non –committed Muslims. The violent jihadists even see them as “hypocrites.” Therefore, this explains the jihadist chant of those jihad-minded Muslims in different Islamic terror organizations. When they chant out loud “Death to infidels and hypocrites.” Meaning Death to people who and not Muslims and people who are non- jihadist Muslims.
Walter Sieruk says
The top and chief main essay the author ,rightfully keyboarded “Simply because some believes in something does not make it true.” That statement is ironically proven to be true by the behavior of the the different Muslims i have attempt to to discuss Islam with ,as by comparing and many even contrasting Qur ‘an based doctrines of Islam with Bible based doctrines of Christianity . For example, one Muslim agreed to have a discussion then few day later he blatantly replied “No , i don’t want to talk with you about anything ” Other times other Muslim agreed to meet with me to have that discussion . Still the very next week they just avoided me. Those times do reflect and article I had read in another site which exposes the many errors of Islam. For it read “The Muslim clerics strongly teach the Muslim in the mosque to avoid those who might ask critical questions about Islam.”.. Likewise , about a year later I spoke to a man who converted from Islam to accepted Jesus as his Savior and God, In other words he left the house of Islam and became a Christian..This former Muslim, now a Christian man told be the most likely someone in the mosque told them “not to meet with me or speak to me again”
This is very interesting ,for if something ,as this this case Islam, can’t be intelligently discussed , debated or stand up under investigation then that should show that it may be so very weak and fragile that cant hold up under the light of scrutiny then the most be something wrong with it.
In this specific case something is wrong with Islam.
Rarely says
And exactly how does a muslim’s blind faith in islam differ from your blind faith in Christianity?
CogitoErgoSum says
Rarely, by what it teaches.
CogitoErgoSum says
That is to say, it’s not faith that should be the focus; it’s what you place your faith in. To me faith is like breathing. It’s something everybody does to stay alive. The thing that matters is what it is that are you breathing into your lungs.
gravenimage says
Agreed, CogitoErgoSum.
Walter Sieruk says
To Rarely, to answer your question. Many Muslims will not read Christian publications or any type of Christian literature .Nor will many of them read criticism of the Qur ‘an or discuss their faith with Christians who ask critical questions
By contrast. I’m very wiling to , and have many time reads Muslim publications as well as literature of other non- Islamic and non- Christian religions. Likewise , I have read publications literature criticize Bible Also I have no shyness to discuss matter of faith with a person ,be he or she a Muslim or a J.W or a Mormon of there other religion. If that person asked me a critical question that baffles me . I’ll research and pray and so far I discover the answer to that specific question .Then I go and inform that person of the answer that discovered to the critical question .
Maybe or maybe not this reply to your sort of “What’s the difference ?” question .might be helpful, than again, it might not.
James Lincoln says
Walter,
Your approach to religion is that of a normal, clear thinking individual.
The vast majority of Muslims do not approach religion in this manner.
That’s why we have the problems with Islam that we do.
Frank Anderson says
J.L. to approach islam in a clear thinking manner is to consider that the “final, perfect, complete and unchangeable” is not final, not perfect, not complete, and is changeable. In the face of a death sentence for thinking, asking and challenging, what should be the expected response? Why are currently popular muslim “reformers” not recognized as failing to be candid? In islam, it’s “MY way or the graveyard.” To be a muslim one cannot be anything different. Is there anything I don’t see?
James Lincoln says
Frank,
You have clearly stated the dilemma that Muslims face if they dare to challenge Islam in a Muslim majority country:
If they go public with their challenges, be it moderation/reformation/or complete rejection of Islam, they face a death sentence.
You are correct, the popular Muslim reformers are not being candid.
At the current time, in a majority Muslim country, the only pragmatic response would be to reject Islam privately. It would at least be a start in the right direction.
Frank Anderson says
J.L. I know there are a number of people who have rejected and escaped islam. I cannot name most of them; and humbly apologize for my failure. The two I can name, and whose books I have read, are Mark Gabriel, Ph.D and Wafa Sultan, M.D. They are worthy of respect and admiration, along with all others who tell the truth and act.
James Lincoln says
Frank,
For the people mentioned, who have rejected and escaped Islam, they have my highest possible respect and admiration.
I assume that the two individuals referenced were able to escape to a safe country.
I will certainly seek out their writings.
I wish them “Godspeed”.
gravenimage says
Frank, these are heroes of mine.
Here is Wafa Sultan, in my “Heroes Against Jihad” series:
http://photobucket.com/gallery/user/gravenimageartist/media/bWVkaWFJZDoyMDQyNDAyNA==/?ref=1
(Click on the image to see the whole picture)
Frank Anderson says
GI, I tried without success to post the books by Spencer, Gabriel and Sultan and a brief comment about each. For some reason it didn’t make it.
The 2 best books to know for yourself about islam, and know there is more to learn are Spencer’s Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam and the Crusades, for its brevity and well organized concise presentation, Gabriel’s The Unfinished Battle: Islam vs. the Jews, for his personal knowledge and authority on the subject.
Sultan’s book for her courageous description of what she saw under “normal” islam in A God Who Hates.
There are many excellent books by many fine authors. I think these 3 are a good place to start and see the reason we need to learn and know more.
Frank Anderson says
Rarely, without wishing to be discourteous, and without trying to write a hard to read paragraph a page long, I suggest as a friend of Christians and Jews, that Christians do not generally aspire to kill, enslave, steal, rape, plunder, destroy. . . While I disagree with part of their teaching and cannot honestly call myself a Christian, I recognize both because of my personal experience with them and what I learn from history that a whole lot more good has come from Christians than islam.
In terms of contributions making the world better both technological and theological, Jews are great. Their most important teaching that I think is related to your question is, “There are NO perfect humans.” All of the great people in the “Old Testament” had some imperfection. God allowed them to do great things anyway.
Rarely says
Frank.
I always (almost, anyway) appreciate your comments and tend to agree with you most often.
My question here was intended simply to illustrate that faith in any religion is still faith. That man’s faith in islam may be just as strong as a devout Christian’s faith is in Christianity. “Faith” is still “faith” and not easily shattered. It also takes on the dogma of the religion which is almost certainly flawed. Fundamentalists of any religion give my nerves a jolt.
That said let me be clear – islam is just plain wrong. Period. But islam is not wrong because Christianity (or any other religion for that matter) is right or the “true” religion even though it may be. Islam is just plain wrong.
Even so, the “my faith is better than your faith” argument just goes in circles and accomplishes nothing except irritating the person being talked to. It is the use of that argument I attack as being less than useless.
I agree that more good has come from Christianity than islam but islam did not set a very high bar. It is highly possible that both the Incans and the Druids did more good.
Frank Anderson says
Rarely, we are not that far apart. Faith, as opposed to knowledge, is a part of all life, not just religion. We take friends on faith. We get married on faith, We take jobs and clients on faith. One of the lectures in Freemasonry, which Hitler cursed in the same breath as Jews, says “Faith ends in knowledge. Hope ends in fruition. But Charity extends beyond the grave. . .” (NOT a secret).
The third teaching of wisdom I received the first day I visited a Jewish community was to “ask every question repeatedly.” The truth has absolutely nothing to fear from questions. Each time the question is answered it is still in this lifetime a human answer containing some measure of error and deception. The only time the answer will be complete is when we see God. Until then if we do not want to be frozen in ignorance afraid to act, we must act on incomplete knowledge, or faith.
There are some really “off the wall” unthinking dangerous people running around; and not all of them are muslims. I went into a partnership on faith. For a year, I put 85 percent of the money in while my partner took 50 percent out. I got married on faith. She got married to me on faith. When she found out that I was not going to help steal large sums of money and was going to have far less to give her, we split. The only risk-free environment is the grave. I have been legally dead for about 2 hours. Before I was revived I had a dream that still haunts me while at the same time assuring me that I have nothing to fear in death. But, I believe there is a good reason for us to be here. And it is purely a matter of faith that I cannot prove. Keep asking your questions until you find YOUR answers.
Rarely says
Frank.
Exactly. We are closer than you think.
To be continued…
Frank Anderson says
That certainly does not offend me. We continue and learn. God smiles.
gravenimage says
Interesting exchange, Frank and Rarely.
revereridesagain says
‘Believing people’s claims without supporting evidence runs counter to reason. Simply because someone believes something, that does not make it so… In the final analysis, beliefs are private experiences and may have full validity for one individual, but others should not be expected to accept them unquestioningly.”
Thank you, Amil, for such a sane and respectful commentary! If only more people understood this, not as many of us would have to go through life feeling expected to apologize and defend ourselves from other peoples’ claims that there is something wrong with us if we do not share their supernaturalist beliefs.
StellaSaidSo says
+1
Amil Imani says
Thank you, Sir, for your kind words.
Lydia Church says
For the skeptics:
SEEK, AND YOU WILL FIND!
1. There has to be a God, or nothing would exist. I don’t care how ‘slowly’ or ‘quickly’ it happened, the fact that anything is here, including us, is an outright miracle. Nothing comes from nothing. Something cannot come from nothing. It is a miracle which can only be from God. There is much scientific proof of the case for a Creator for any willing to do the research.
2. Everything is not meant to be tangibly observed. There is a good reason for this. A hint is that no one speeds when the cops are around. You are who you truly are when you think no one is looking.
3. We have been given just enough to sense that there is more. There is definitely more than the material, natural, physical world. There is a supernatural spirit world beyond our dimension. You don’t have to listen to any personal experiences, just go along on one of those sessions where they cast out demons or at least research that area. The evil side as well as the good side are realer than you and me right now and we see the symptoms of these at war played out on earth since the beginning till now.
4. For personal testimonies, well we all have a conscience about right and wrong. Guilt comes when we do wrong. Some have even a thirst and hunger for spiritual things and begin seeking God and spiritual truth. I was one of those and the search lead me to God and an experience that was not just ‘in my head.’ God is still doing miracles today and that is also a very good area to research. But beware as the devil can also perform signs and wonders through the occult. Anyway, it’s all real. The truth is found in the Christian Bible. I pray that as many as possible find it. The consequences are real, whether one wants to deny them or not.
5. Nothing in the Christian faith contradicts reason or truth, just the opposite. Only some things are meant to be by faith. I encourage people to do research in all these areas as we have nothing to fear from discovering truth.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7; 7-8
I just want everyone to know the love of God that satisfies the heart and soul like nothing else can!
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Frank Anderson says
L.C., you and I agree with very little if any exceptions concerning what you have written. But I think while we agree, it is better for others to find and accept these answers as their own in their own way and time. They might see something we are missing. They might also in their examination help us in ours. There is plenty of room in God’s world for discussions, questions and doubt. That’s why we have minds. And that is where we differ from muslims.
A really treasured meditation is titled Doubt, on page 711 of the Gates of Prayer used in the early 1990’s. It starts with, “Cherish your doubts; for doubt is the handmaiden of truth. . .”
gravenimage says
With respect to religion, one may be willing to accept its usefulness based on constructive roles it may play in serving society, without the need to be shown that it is indeed a mandate of life from the Supreme Being. Religion, at the very least, must have some tangible redeeming qualities. The Iranian’s ancestral religion, the Zoroastrian faith, was meritorious, for it preached three simple, yet extremely vital dictums of life: good thoughts, good speech, and good deeds.
Judaism, irrespective of the contention that it is a divine religion, introduced the greatly valuable Ten Commandments to civilize us. Christianity championed practices such as love and charity. Islam, by contrast, lacks any redeeming qualities. The book of Allah is a manual for violence, divisiveness and hatred. We see the proof of Islam’s lacking merit in the nonstop daily horrific acts of Muslims, all justified based on Islamic scripture
………………………..
Spot on, Mr. Imani. By their fruits you shall know them.
Carol the 1st says
Amil’s last paragraph warrants great attention – especially since he’s personally seem Islam come to full fruition in his home country, Iran:
“Islam is an out-of-control fire, and the jihadists are its arsonists. The generality of Muslims do their part by spreading throughout the world and setting up the conditions that would welcome the arsonists, feed and shelter them, and support them in igniting the Islamic fire.”
In Canada we often see smooth, happy muslima faces. And why not? Everything seems to be going like a well-planned free ride and they’ll naturally be the first to share the spoils. But you can see that just below the surface there’s organized calculation and a roiling element seemingly awaiting its turn. You sometimes catch it in the cold eyes of the numerous healthy, young males.
Frank Anderson says
Carol, when in history has a muslim conquest been prevented? What did it take? The confidence and arrogance being displayed today in your observation is no different to me than that displayed by the Storm Troopers (SA) after January 30, 1933 until the Night of the Long Knives. I do not have answers that I can present or defend. I hope the collective minds and wisdom of the people here can join to find answers before all is lost to totalitarians of any label. This is a fight to end or prevent the end of civilization..