Top Islamic scholar issues 'absolute' fatwa against terror

As an old (imperfect) Christian, it is sadly familiar to hear Islam struggle with its ideas of the truth, the sources of
"Truth," and one another. It is the same way with Christians, and with Jews, and every other major religion.

Each has its competing factions -- each with its own version of "Truth" and "heresy." And each, in its time, has dealt cruelly with the less-powerful who defy the teachings of the more-powerful among them. "Civil War" -- that ugliest of oxymorons (self-contradicting terms) -- is perhaps more typical within religions than within countries.

There are Christians who preach "jihad" ("Holy War") and "living by the sword." But there are Christians who preach peace, instead.

There are Jews who preach dominance over others, by violence -- and there are Jews who preach humility, charity, and peace.

And so it is with us all, All God's Children, All Man's Religions.

Within every great faith -- Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and all the rest -- there are great factions separate from each other, with very different beliefs and values.

And within each faction, there are usually various denominations, or diverse leaders, each preaching slightly differently. And in each synagogue, each church, each mosque or temple or any other house of worship, even under a common leader, there are individuals (even individuals of good heart and earnest faith) who do not agree on all important issues of their religion.

And it comes from one universal truth: that "No one knows 'The Truth' for certain" (except those who are truly, and willfully, wrong).

No one (except those who are easily led astray) knows for sure whom to trust as a guide.

No one can exactly interpret all of The Book, with certainty and precision, in all of the difficult questions of the modern world -- a world for which early writers of Scripture had not even an adequate vocabulary.

God has chosen to give us room for mystery, in life, about the exact details of right and wrong. And God has chosen to give us each a mind, and an ability to discern -- but only imperfectly -- the Truth.

It would seem that God / Jaweh / Allah / the Great Spirit has put before us a test, to see how we CHOOSE to believe.

For, in the end, we all choose our faith.

Some people (perhaps out of poverty of childhood or spirit) choose to believe religious ideas that make them materially rich.

Some people (perhaps from deprivation, loss, suffering or humiliation) choose to believe religious ideas that gratify their physical desires, or the demands of vanity.

Some people (for any of the reasons mentioned, and more) choose to believe religious ideas that allow them the pleasures of malicious violence and dominance over others.

Some (perhaps out of fortune, or out of misfortune, or perhaps out of exceptional training) choose peace, humility, and gentle, quiet service to others.

It is my best guess, as to the Truth, that the Higher Power that sees all, sees into our hearts, like a gardener watching his plants, and lets them grow as they will, and then decides who is -- from among them -- desirable company for Himself in Heaven.

I suspect he lets us choose to be cruel or kind, so that He may discern with certainty our character -- or at least have that as evidence to confront us with in Judgement -- and then will select or reject our companionship, accordingly, in Eternity.

With that expectation, I am motivated to restrain my vicious impulses, and struggle to humble myself before my fellow man, and serve. As Jesus taught: "What ever you have done to the least of these [other people], you have done it to me." I try to see Jesus -- to see God -- in each Man, each Woman, each Child, and to live respectfully, humbly and generously in their presence.

I am human; I do not always succeed. My fear, selfishness, vanity, arrogance, impatience and anger have sometimes poisoned my relations with others. But I struggle, each day, to be a kinder man, and hope that God finds a basically decent man behind it all, and forgives, and accepts me, when the time comes for Judgement.

And I hope He will find a spark of desirable Humanity in us all, and somehow make room for us all in his presence. Whether He will, or will not, I cannot say -- but it seems the most generous and respectful vision of God that I can imagine. And doesn't faith call on us to trust God, and respect Him?

Sadly, some people (particularly from cruel environments) see a cruel God as a father-figure to be respected, imitated, and aspired to -- so this may be a limit to the usefulness of such a vision. But perhaps a wiser man than I can find a way to tie it all together, so that peace and mercy will be the way forward for us all.

I wish the best, and "God speed" to all who try for this. And for the rest, I wish a better heart, a safer future, and God's forgiveness -- as I do for myself.

Salaam, Shalom, Peace

This should be the space reserved for ...Very Best Judge, to follow "Judge" and "betterjudge," but I will jump back in anyway. : )

Clever note, and fair satire. My Newsvine name "betterjudge" was not meant disrespectfully, and occured before I'd ever seen your Newsvine name, "Judge-574295"; my pompous-sounding Newsvine name is an embarrasing result of a collection of errors, when signing up late one night (half asleep) -- and I sincerely doubt it is an appropriate name for me -- but it's too late to change without possible great complications.

A very nice, and very considered comment.

Thank you.

My only problem, a small one, is that it assumes to assume choice where in actuality choice is rare. That is true historically, and even if we have the impression in some countries today that choices are available, it is an illusion.

That tentative conclusion won't make anyone happy. It doesn't make me happy. The happiest people are those who don't have any confusing choices to make...

Judge, I think you've come up with an important observation or two, that I had overlooked.

For one, I am an American, a person raised in a land of great religious freedom and diversity. I am, perhaps, spoiled by a staggering wealth of religious variety and opportunity, far beyond what is available in most of the world. I have choices that, I must admit, may not be available (or known) to others in other parts of the world.

But I do believe that, even within areas of limited religious variety, there remains a great diversity within that narrow list of options.

It seems that every religion, in its way, offers excuses for selfishness and hostility, while also calling for generosity and humility -- leaving a person to decide, for themselves, which way they will direct most of their energies. In so chosing, I believe people "choose their religion."

The happiest people are those who don't have any confusing choices to make...

I believe you are on to something, here. There is a related old saying that "ignorance is bliss."

I know people who like to believe that they have no power in this world -- and are thus free from any sense of moral responsibility, any obligation to "make the hard choices" in life -- to do good, rather than evil; to give, rather than acquire; to serve, rather than abandon; to forgive, rather than resent; to tolerate, rather than destroy; to love (with all that love demands of a person), rather than hate (with all that hate allows a person to do).

In clinging to the sense of futility, fatalism, one makes it easier to live a simpler, easier life of selfishness, shallowness, and convenience. "I can't do anything about it, so I'll just do what works for me."

That seems to be the popular mindset of much of my own countrymen, as well as the legendary fatalism of much of the rest of the world, including in the lands of Islam.

And where life is hard, no doubt it is easier, more rational (in Earthly terms), perhaps, to take that view.

Thank you for your insight.

Salaam, Shalom, Peace.

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WorldviewsClipping...!Top Islamic scholar issues 'absolute' fatwa against terror
News Type: Event — Seeded on Wed Mar 3, 2010 12:22 PM CST
Article Source: National Post
world-news, terrorism, islam, jihad, fatwa, scholar
Seeded by alkimija
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A prominent Islamic scholar denounced terrorism in London, England, yesterday, issuing a fatwa he hopes will persuade young Muslims to turn their backs on extremism.

Dr. Tahir ul-Qadri said there were no "ifs or buts" about terrorism, adding he wanted to convey the message that acts of terrorism cut people off as true followers of Islam.

"They can't claim that their suicide bombings are martyrdom operations and that they become the heroes of the Muslim Umma [the wider Muslim community]. No, they become heroes of hellfire, and they are leading towards hellfire," he said. "There is no place for any martyrdom and their act is never, ever to be considered jihad."

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{"commentId":12699065,"authorDomain":"alkimija"}
alkimija
Dr. Qadri says his fatwa, which declares terrorists and suicide bombers to be unbelievers, goes further than any previous denunciation.

"This is the first, most comprehensive fatwa on the subject of terrorism ever written," said the scholar, who has written about 350 books on Islamic scholarship and is a scholar of Sufism, a long tradition within Islam that focuses on peace, tolerance and moderation.

"I have tried to leave not a single stone unturned on this particular subject and I have tried to address every single question relevant to this subject."

{"commentId":12699065,"threadId":"804828","contentId":"3973976","authorDomain":"alkimija"}
8!#1 - Wed Mar 3, 2010 12:23 PM CST
{"commentId":12700056,"authorDomain":"hampton"}
larrrs
I've been hearing a couple of different things about this guy-supposedly responsible for some very harsh Sharia in Pakistan(?); I actually don't know, anybody else? I also am wondering why somehting like this has to be so large (600 pgs.)very curious to learn what more about this when I get more time.

{"commentId":12700056,"threadId":"804828","contentId":"3973976","authorDomain":"hampton"}
5!#1.1 - Wed Mar 3, 2010 12:52 PM CST
{"commentId":12700638,"authorDomain":"kpr37"}
kpr37
I also am wondering why somehting like this has to be so large (600 pgs.)

I have been looking for his fatwa, can't find it(all I found was a review).I found his web site, and he has a tafsir, on-line, not much different that most.

So I went to some Islamic sites,just to see what they were saying.

I find funny that no one is pointing out, that if this fatwa is necessary, terrorism as practiced in the modern world is allowed in Islam. As the four classical schools teach.

http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?251567-London-Tahir-ul-Qadri-to-release-600-page-fatwa-against-terror&p=3744660

boy that made me laugh so hard, hehehe, well said dear brother, we have palace scholars that say whatever to the tune of the oppressive order/ruler/domination or to suit their tastes, even if it would take them to write up whole treatises and articles bringing nothing new. Such people are not scholars and one should not give them any importance, rather they should be ignored and forgotten, and support should be directed instead to the real scholars who have given up their abodes and luxuries, and on the ground everyone knows about them and who have made themselves famous in eyes of both of their foes and friends for their gigantic deeds and actions.

{"commentId":12700638,"threadId":"804828","contentId":"3973976","authorDomain":"kpr37"}
4!#1.2 - Wed Mar 3, 2010 1:11 PM CST
{"commentId":12700762,"authorDomain":"alkimija"}
alkimija
Depressing to see that he isn't being taken seriously and is being condemned.

{"commentId":12700762,"threadId":"804828","contentId":"3973976","authorDomain":"alkimija"}
5!#1.3 - Wed Mar 3, 2010 1:15 PM CST
{"commentId":12701069,"authorDomain":"kpr37"}
kpr37
(all I found was a review).

http://www.minhajbooks.com/english/bookid/376/Fatwa:-Suicide-Bombing-and-Terrorism-by-Shaykh-ul-Islam-Dr-Muhammad-Tahir-ul-Qadri.html

Depressing to see that he isn't being taken seriously

I don't think he is serious.

I think it's all just for western consumption. But I reserve the right to change my mind, after I've read it. You would think it (his fatwa) must be readily available.

the search continues

{"commentId":12701069,"threadId":"804828","contentId":"3973976","authorDomain":"kpr37"}
4!#1.4 - Wed Mar 3, 2010 1:24 PM CST
{"commentId":12701538,"authorDomain":"uncle-milty"}
*This space left blank*
kpr37 #1.4 - Wed Mar 3, 2010 1:24 PM CST

the search continues

Good luck. It's supposedly 600 pages.

Found a YouTube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4P7VoVjsuo

{"commentId":12701538,"threadId":"804828","contentId":"3973976","authorDomain":"uncle-milty"}
5!#1.5 - Wed Mar 3, 2010 1:37 PM CST
{"commentId":12702763,"authorDomain":"kpr37"}
kpr37
Good luck. It's supposedly 600 pages.

I started yesterday after posting this comment, on another seed.This is what I was looking for in his fatwa.

there are some verses in the Qur'an that are used to justify terror,or the killing of non Muslims

http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/quran/009.qmt.html

I looked up the web site for Minhaj-ul-Quran and they have a tasfir, or an explanation of the Qur'an, so that it is better understood. How does it differ from the classical tasfirs. or Quranic commentary's, Lets see.

http://www.irfan-ul-quran.com/quran/english/contents/sura/cols/0/ar/1/ur/1/ra/1/en/1/sid/9/

Surah 9 verse 5, a new a more morerate Islam ?

http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=9&tid=20750tasfir Ibn Kathir, the verse of the sword and the Quranic commentary from surah 9 verse two, ending with verse six

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l2pJv_m1WAthis video,is about Qur'anic abrogation

Ibn Abbas ( http://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=2&tTafsirNo=73&tSoraNo=9&tAyahNo=5&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2 )

tasfir Ibn Abbas only has verse five

I'm not seeing, alot of difference

infidels, they are so gullible

allah akbar

of course we should never take anything,out of context

Allah akbar in context.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRGSarW0NAk

it's only by linking the verses (out in the open, for all to see) that he thinks have been wrongly understood, can he begin to reform, the violent jihadis in our midst.

{"commentId":12702763,"threadId":"804828","contentId":"3973976","authorDomain":"kpr37"}
4!#1.6 - Wed Mar 3, 2010 2:12 PM CST
{"commentId":12708258,"authorDomain":"kpr37"}
kpr37
it's just not on line.

All I can find is this.

http://www.minhajbooks.com/english/control/btext/cid/8/bid/376/btid/1983/read/txt/Detailed%20Contents:%20Suicide%20Bombing%20and%20Terrorism.html

and I will say, it does look encouraging.

If I find the entire fatwa, I will post it here.

{"commentId":12708258,"threadId":"804828","contentId":"3973976","authorDomain":"kpr37"}
4!#1.7 - Wed Mar 3, 2010 5:32 PM CST
{"commentId":12710474,"authorDomain":"hampton"}
larrrs
Thanks for the link kpr; I can only hope that this is what it looks like. There was an article here not so long ago that was describing three differing ways to view the divide in Islam. The one that seemed to strike a chord with me was one that described Islam as being in a state of civil war. This most assuredly will ratchet up this divide.

{"commentId":12710474,"threadId":"804828","contentId":"3973976","authorDomain":"hampton"}
4!#1.8 - Wed Mar 3, 2010 7:38 PM CST
{"commentId":12750946,"authorDomain":"nonStitiousZealot"}
nonStitiousZealot
kpr ,

That link in #1.7 shows a serious lack of logic or consistency .
Eg. :

Section 2: The Punishment of torturing and killing the Muslims

1. Killing a Muslim is a greater sin than destroying the whole world
2. Killing a human is like disbelieving
3. The massacre of Muslims is a blasphemous act
4. Like polytheism, murder too is the greatest wrong
5. Bloodshed is the greatest of all crimes
6. Those burning the Muslims by explosions and other means belong to Hell
7. Those burning the Muslims are debarred from the fold of Islām
8. No act of worship by the murderer of a Muslim is acceptable
9. Those who torture the Muslims will face the torment of Hell

{"commentId":12750946,"threadId":"804828","contentId":"3973976","authorDomain":"nonStitiousZealot"}
3!#1.9 - Fri Mar 5, 2010 4:06 PM CST
{"commentId":12752016,"authorDomain":"kpr37"}
kpr37
I would have noticed and commented on them (LOL)

Like polytheism, murder too is the greatest wrong

As a Pagan, I look for the word "Polytheism", and that's not what I read yesterday.

I dont feel Paganism, is the same as murder. And have a little problem with those who do (LOL)

I don't know what to say ?

could it have been updated ?

at one time it started, with a list of Questions about morality

what I see now,seems to take a pro terror position.

I think I have a David Horowitz article, with a copy paste of that link (in my email), saying something else.

I will be back.

I'm going to look.

{"commentId":12752016,"threadId":"804828","contentId":"3973976","authorDomain":"kpr37"}
2!#1.10 - Fri Mar 5, 2010 5:04 PM CST
{"commentId":12752599,"authorDomain":"kpr37"}
kpr37
http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/03/03/yes-there-are-moderate-muslims-and-here-is-one/ well he acknowledges about half way down that this article, is updated.and I can't find the questions about morality anywhere. ??

{"commentId":12752599,"threadId":"804828","contentId":"3973976","authorDomain":"kpr37"}
2!#1.11 - Fri Mar 5, 2010 5:43 PM CST
{"commentId":12754788,"authorDomain":"hampton"}
larrrs
Must have been to hard-core for the fundies huh. Should have known it was too good to be true. I f nothing else it is enlightening; obviously a god can change their prophets mind if the kitchen starts getting too hot.

{"commentId":12754788,"threadId":"804828","contentId":"3973976","authorDomain":"hampton"}
2!#1.12 - Fri Mar 5, 2010 8:34 PM CST

{"commentId":12713383,"authorDomain":"Roybean"}
Judge-574295
It is real. This guy is very prominent and influential in Pakistan, according to my reading. And yes, Larrs, he was the driving force behind Pakistan's blasphemy laws, a crime that is punishable by death.

I commented and linked on another seed of this article. While this should be welcomed, and may his influence be great, etc., the skepticism is expressed best in the comments of Muslims of other sects.

Basicallly...who does he think he is? We were against terrorism first. Everybody is against terrorism. Nobody thinks terrorism is justified by Islam.

But universally, the conclusion is that he will have no influence with people who disagree. But, he SHOULD renounce terrorism. What could be the drawback?

As to the blasphemy laws, as usual, the drawback is in promoting the influence and the audience, and continuing to increase the size of the audience, grateful that he finds mass murder to be wrong, and overlooking the fact that he will always be trying to improve the deficiencies of non-Islamic based laws among his followers in non-Muslim countries. But in nearly all Muslim countries, draconian is NOT draconian when it comes to blasphemy. There are only degrees of draconian. So when we plead for Muslims to "listen to this man," we shouldn't wonder later that they do. The Pied Piper thing.

But just as we ...or some of us...worry about concessions to militant demands affecting in obvious or less obvious ways, like....a news outlets' avoidance of troubling issues that might offend Islam, in Pakistan there are concessions by the less militant, and by what seems a softer, gentler Islam, by Sufi Scholars such as this man, they are still trying to minimize the confrontation with militant Muslims of intolerant movements...the Taliban, and between others, Deobandi, Berelvi, in Pakistan.

Usually this is facilitated by condemning common enemies. Like us.

{"commentId":12713383,"threadId":"804828","contentId":"3973976","authorDomain":"Roybean"}
6!#2 - Wed Mar 3, 2010 10:32 PM CST
{"commentId":12714582,"authorDomain":"betterjudge"}
betterjudge
As an old (imperfect) Christian, it is sadly familiar to hear Islam struggle with its ideas of the truth, the sources of
"Truth," and one another. It is the same way with Christians, and with Jews, and every other major religion.

Each has its competing factions -- each with its own version of "Truth" and "heresy." And each, in its time, has dealt cruelly with the less-powerful who defy the teachings of the more-powerful among them. "Civil War" -- that ugliest of oxymorons (self-contradicting terms) -- is perhaps more typical within religions than within countries.

There are Christians who preach "jihad" ("Holy War") and "living by the sword." But there are Christians who preach peace, instead.

There are Jews who preach dominance over others, by violence -- and there are Jews who preach humility, charity, and peace.

And so it is with us all, All God's Children, All Man's Religions.

Within every great faith -- Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and all the rest -- there are great factions separate from each other, with very different beliefs and values.

And within each faction, there are usually various denominations, or diverse leaders, each preaching slightly differently. And in each synagogue, each church, each mosque or temple or any other house of worship, even under a common leader, there are individuals (even individuals of good heart and earnest faith) who do not agree on all important issues of their religion.

And it comes from one universal truth: that "No one knows 'The Truth' for certain" (except those who are truly, and willfully, wrong).

No one (except those who are easily led astray) knows for sure whom to trust as a guide.

No one can exactly interpret all of The Book, with certainty and precision, in all of the difficult questions of the modern world -- a world for which early writers of Scripture had not even an adequate vocabulary.

God has chosen to give us room for mystery, in life, about the exact details of right and wrong. And God has chosen to give us each a mind, and an ability to discern -- but only imperfectly -- the Truth.

It would seem that God / Jaweh / Allah / the Great Spirit has put before us a test, to see how we CHOOSE to believe.

For, in the end, we all choose our faith.

Some people (perhaps out of poverty of childhood or spirit) choose to believe religious ideas that make them materially rich.
Some people (perhaps from deprivation, loss, suffering or humiliation) choose to believe religious ideas that gratify their physical desires, or the demands of vanity.
Some people (for any of the reasons mentioned, and more) choose to believe religious ideas that allow them the pleasures of malicious violence and dominance over others.
Some (perhaps out of fortune, or out of misfortune, or perhaps out of exceptional training) choose peace, humility, and gentle, quiet service to others.
It is my best guess, as to the Truth, that the Higher Power that sees all, sees into our hearts, like a gardener watching his plants, and lets them grow as they will, and then decides who is -- from among them -- desirable company for Himself in Heaven.

I suspect he lets us choose to be cruel or kind, so that He may discern with certainty our character -- or at least have that as evidence to confront us with in Judgement -- and then will select or reject our companionship, accordingly, in Eternity.

With that expectation, I am motivated to restrain my vicious impulses, and struggle to humble myself before my fellow man, and serve. As Jesus taught: "What ever you have done to the least of these [other people], you have done it to me." I try to see Jesus -- to see God -- in each Man, each Woman, each Child, and to live respectfully, humbly and generously in their presence.

I am human; I do not always succeed. My fear, selfishness, vanity, arrogance, impatience and anger have sometimes poisoned my relations with others. But I struggle, each day, to be a kinder man, and hope that God finds a basically decent man behind it all, and forgives, and accepts me, when the time comes for Judgement.

And I hope He will find a spark of desirable Humanity in us all, and somehow make room for us all in his presence. Whether He will, or will not, I cannot say -- but it seems the most generous and respectful vision of God that I can imagine. And doesn't faith call on us to trust God, and respect Him?

Sadly, some people (particularly from cruel environments) see a cruel God as a father-figure to be respected, imitated, and aspired to -- so this may be a limit to the usefulness of such a vision. But perhaps a wiser man than I can find a way to tie it all together, so that peace and mercy will be the way forward for us all.

I wish the best, and "God speed" to all who try for this. And for the rest, I wish a better heart, a safer future, and God's forgiveness -- as I do for myself.

Salaam, Shalom, Peace

{"commentId":12714582,"threadId":"804828","contentId":"3973976","authorDomain":"betterjudge"}
3!#3 - Thu Mar 4, 2010 12:24 AM CST
{"commentId":12727404,"authorDomain":"Roybean"}
Judge-574295
This should be the space reserved for ...Very Best Judge, to follow "Judge" and "betterjudge," but I will jump back in anyway. : )

A very nice, and very considered comment.

My only problem, a small one, is that it assumes to assume choice where in actuality choice is rare. That is true historically, and even if we have the impression in some countries today that choices are available, it is an illusion.

That tentative conclusion won't make anyone happy. It doesn't make me happy. The happiest people are those who don't have any confusing choices to make. Religion doesn't give people any choices, really. We can choose between good and evil. Now there's an example of bias built into the poll.

Before a person of religion ever figures out "free will," he has already been taught about good and evil. And about rewards for making the right choice. The right choice, with a pat on the back, is.....Islam, Catholicism, Judaism...etc.

Then, every good Christian, and every good Muslim, as examples, might be straining his brain on great questions within the framework of his religion. He ...me...will not stray too far. Though it might seem that he is walking dangerously close to Satan among his own, and he may be recklessly brave, of foolish, among his own, the only thing that draws attention to outsiders is that his questions are questions at all.

But even where there is an apparent greater choice of beliefs, much of that apparent choice is evidenced in arguing against widely established beliefs, so that the discussion and any impetus for discussion is STILL about and related to the parameters of religious beliefs. Even where America sends soldiers to fight and die, which is a pretty basic and very consequential form of argument, we are not arguing secular values, we are choosing the best or the least harmful form of another set of religious beliefs, in our eyes.

Devolving momentarily to a political comment, "our eyes" are the eyes of people we choose based on how pretty they are, and the smoothness of their words.

And even if someone dedicates his life to opposing everything about the religion of his ancestors, he is doing more to promote that religion than any priest, preacher, mullah, rabbi, etc, because the line he thinks he draws is drawn by that religion. He spends his life taking about nothing else except the religion he hates. All religions are thankful for such people. The motivation for the anger is not "choice" either.

So we are free to babble, and babble freely. In the end will have come and gone. There are some who will freely "choose" to become adherents, based on simple messages and a desire for simple messages of peace and love. More often, based on the failure of one to seem as simply about peace and love compared to the other.

But the real impact is from the people who preach the simplicity of peace and love, having studied and focused and dedicated their lives to understanding the simple message of peace and love for forty or fifty years, so they could become scholars of simple peace and love.

When they write an 800 page explanation of the simplicity of peace and love, it will not be read except by those who matter, or by those who know who matters.

That's not us.

{"commentId":12727404,"threadId":"804828","contentId":"3973976","authorDomain":"Roybean"}
4!#3.1 - Thu Mar 4, 2010 2:34 PM CST

{"commentId":12737923,"authorDomain":"betterjudge"}
betterjudge
This should be the space reserved for ...Very Best Judge, to follow "Judge" and "betterjudge," but I will jump back in anyway. : )

Clever note, and fair satire. My Newsvine name "betterjudge" was not meant disrespectfully, and occured before I'd ever seen your Newsvine name, "Judge-574295"; my pompous-sounding Newsvine name is an embarrasing result of a collection of errors, when signing up late one night (half asleep) -- and I sincerely doubt it is an appropriate name for me -- but it's too late to change without possible great complications.

{"commentId":12737923,"threadId":"804828","contentId":"3973976","authorDomain":"betterjudge"}
2!#4 - Fri Mar 5, 2010 2:15 AM CST
{"commentId":12737971,"authorDomain":"betterjudge"}
betterjudge
A very nice, and very considered comment.

Thank you.

My only problem, a small one, is that it assumes to assume choice where in actuality choice is rare. That is true historically, and even if we have the impression in some countries today that choices are available, it is an illusion.

That tentative conclusion won't make anyone happy. It doesn't make me happy. The happiest people are those who don't have any confusing choices to make...

Judge, I think you've come up with an important observation or two, that I had overlooked.

For one, I am an American, a person raised in a land of great religious freedom and diversity. I am, perhaps, spoiled by a staggering wealth of religious variety and opportunity, far beyond what is available in most of the world. I have choices that, I must admit, may not be available (or known) to others in other parts of the world.

But I do believe that, even within areas of limited religious variety, there remains a great diversity within that narrow list of options.

It seems that every religion, in its way, offers excuses for selfishness and hostility, while also calling for generosity and humility -- leaving a person to decide, for themselves, which way they will direct most of their energies. In so chosing, I believe people "choose their religion."

The happiest people are those who don't have any confusing choices to make...

I believe you are on to something, here. There is a related old saying that "ignorance is bliss."

I know people who like to believe that they have no power in this world -- and are thus free from any sense of moral responsibility, any obligation to "make the hard choices" in life -- to do good, rather than evil; to give, rather than acquire; to serve, rather than abandon; to forgive, rather than resent; to tolerate, rather than destroy; to love (with all that love demands of a person), rather than hate (with all that hate allows a person to do).

In clinging to the sense of futility, fatalism, one makes it easier to live a simpler, easier life of selfishness, shallowness, and convenience. "I can't do anything about it, so I'll just do what works for me."

That seems to be the popular mindset of much of my own countrymen, as well as the legendary fatalism of much of the rest of the world, including in the lands of Islam.

And where life is hard, no doubt it is easier, more rational (in Earthly terms), perhaps, to take that view.

Thank you for your insight.
Judge-574295,

You words are, as before, a fascinating and compelling read.

Best wishes,

Salaam, Shalom, Peace.