The world is experiencing a geopolitical change. The battles fought in the Middle East are far less serious than the confrontation between resurgent atheists and believers around the world. Islam, or for that matter, Muslims, are at the forefront, receiving blows and tirades, while Christianity and Hinduism are safe for now. Buddhists creating havoc with Muslim Rohingyas also escapes the attention of the world.
While there are differences in the ranks of Muslim clerics, common believers, and hardliners, the ever agile anti-Islam band is toiling day and night to find faults in the Holy Qur’an and the Hadith. We have websites loaded with information pointing to the so-called errors in the Qur’an and Islam. Such relentless actions of sleepless minds show that theology remains the most important branch of knowledge.
While we go on debating on religion, faiths, and sects, we tend to forget that it is religion that came first as a way of life. It made us think about what’s good and what’s bad. It gave us a sense of morality, vice, virtue, materialism, and spiritualism. It led to other branches of knowledge.
Stephen Hawking – who does not believe in the existence of God – has made some interesting observations on the laws of nature and the concept of God in his book, The Grand Design.
He profusely quoted ancient thinkers and later philosophers, trying to establish the exact state of things regarding laws and power of nature and the ultimate superpower.
It’s interesting to note what ancient thinkers said about reality and other related issues. But, the book is a confusing exercise that tries to bamboozle the common reader with technical elaboration of regular subjects that could have been explained with easier terms. That way, the ideas could have been clearer.
Hunting for the unknown is a genuine thirst of the human mind. But trying to find faults to create confusion and division in the ranks of a religious following is a perverted and damaging exercise. Of late, atheists have been raising their voices.
While in this free world, we have the right to live the way we want and say what we want to say, it also holds true that freedom, secularism, and atheism don’t mean that you are free to do or say anything that your wild imagination drives you to.
You have the right to think, but there are moral and natural guidelines about how you should act. You cannot walk the streets naked creating a nuisance. You cannot set fire to a house. You cannot abuse your power. You cannot promote gambling, prostitution, smuggling, addiction, or drugs that hurt our values.
We must know the dos and don’ts. Relative comparison is not applicable everywhere. Fundamentals are important, on which the society and its edifices are based. In the name of freedom, democracy, and rights, you don’t have the right to disturb the tranquility of a society and individual’s serenity.
Interestingly, the people who try to infuse wrong messages in gullible minds hardly know what they are actually pursuing. The modern trend is – pick out a few lines, interpret those by choice, draw references at convenience, prepare a write-up with a twisted opinion, and give an impression of deep knowledge and research on the issue.
The ignorant minds have actually managed to grip the imagination of the majority; for the human mind always fears the unknown, and subconsciously waits for the unusual inventions of mad minds.
In a broader spectrum, we find the policies and thesis being advanced vigorously about the rise of Muslim militants (ISIS and others in the West Asian region). This leaves one to wonder why exactly the barbaric bloodletting is being staged by the powers.
One thing is common in all fronts – the elimination of the opposition, easy prey being the fleeing women and children. Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Palestine, Israel, and all others in the region are, in a way, involved in conflicts.
The creation of militant groups with new names and emblems is now an easy formula to keep the flame burning and protect a certain community. In this case, the state of Israel is being aggressively protected by the US and allies.
Interestingly, Kurds in different sectors are not being treated equally by the so-called allies. Kurds in Syria and Iraq are now looked upon as friends or foes.
So, battles go on in the minds and on the grounds. The non-fearing souls who promote ideas of religion or Islam-bashing are happily trying to create a new world where religion and morality will find no space. A new generation of “free” people will live in a “free for all” society. We wait for the newer definition of that society.
