People have, in the course of history, committed heinous crimes in God's name and continue to do so - most of us are just too lazy or ignorant to challenge their distortions and lies.
Does any religion teach imperialism, greed and aggression? Or are the teachings of religions being twisted by the power hungry for material gains?
Jesus (peace be upon him) taught that you should turn the other cheek when someone hits you, and that you should love your enemies. Why don't the war-mongers ever quote this? Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught that killing one innocent human being is like killing all humanity. He prayed for those who stoned him till he bled from head to toe. Why don't the terrorists emulate this? I am sure Buddha, Sri Rama, Zarasthura must have taught tolerance and forgiveness too. Why aren't these teachings ever quoted by politicians and terrorists and war-mongers and the hate brigade?
Do religions support imperialism and political conquests? Should we take this answer from modern day conquerors, politicians and terrorists or should we go back to the teachers' lives?
Jesus (peace be upon him) did not have a roof over his head when he walked on this earth. Moses (peace be upon him) wandered homeless with his people for ages. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) left Makkah, his home city, fleeing the persecution of polytheists. His household used to starve for months on end, and they did not even have enough means to light a lamp the day he passed away. Sri Rama from India lived for 14 years in a forest, giving up his kingdom for his principles. Buddha renounced his kingdom in search of the truth.
If we lived like these people, taking little, giving much, would we dropping bombs on each other, occupying foreign landsfor greed, destroying each other? I don't think so.
To people who say that religion is a cause of conflict, I say it is not. The ignorance of religion is.
If all of us understood the true teachings of religions, there would be no one left to support those who attack humanity in God's name.
Islam Christianity Interfaith Dialogue Peace God
8 comments:
Well said!
Farrukh, you have written what I wanted to write :-)
I do agree with the dictionary meaning of 'nation' and 'race'. What I meant to say is that there are a considerable number of people, that too influential and powerful people who give those two words a different meaning.
I have been denied a job as an Editor, because of the colour of my skin and 'wrong' nationality. *sighs*
For enduring peace, we humans have to learn to respect everyone -- all God's children.
I think people like you should write more, so that the readers in the West can be educated and we can build an awareness with regard to respect for Islam and Islamic values.
Peace brother.
DXB Muslim: Welcome to my blog and thanks for the comment.
Dear Sans: In fact YOU too have written what I felt I should write. I can understand how you must have felt at after that Editor episode.
Gandhi Ji was thrown from a train in South Africa for the colour of his skin - look at what that led to!
The silent majority of all people in the world are peaceful, well meaning human beings, people like you and me.
Problem is, we just sit and watch as our world is torn apart by few hate mongers and war profiteers.
Good post, Farrukh. I'm glad I came across your blog. Your posts are well written and prescient.
Thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog.
Farrukh, hope you have seen this.
Pulitzer prize winner in illegal US custody
True!
Not in God's name but yet in god's name...
I always wonder,Farroukh,that it feels so wonderful to accept and love but feels so terrible to codemn and hate;yet people are so masochistic they would still do the latter!
Welcome Bindu,
I think this happens because the more vocal people aren't the ones who spread love and peace. They are the hate mongers.
The poets, the mystics are the quiet variety.
This needs to change.
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