Religion is a slightly sensitive topic and not everyone is comfortable discussing it. Different people have different belief systems, but today we're not going to be talking about the believers. Instead, we'll be talking about those who say they do not have a religion. Before you start labeling me as a narrow minded Muslim extremist, hear me out. Today's blog is not about why everyone should believe in God. I am a strong believer in "You have your religion, and I have mine" (Surah al Kafiroon). Actually, this has nothing much to do with God; it's just a brain-itch I have when people say they do not have a religion.
This is not because I have come from an oppressed background and am fresh off the boat into a glamorous city life. Nor is it simply because I got head lice. No. That's not it. Let me try to explain my brain-itch better.
Every high school or university student will know and accept that their real life saver was never coffee or tea. It was Wikipedia. Even thought we were told time and time again that it is not considered a reliable source, most of us are guilty of getting information off Wikipedia and then trying to find 'reliable' sources to put down as a reference. Let's take a look at Wikipedia's definition of religion: Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems and worldwide views that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values.
Now lets take a look at this picture that I got off one of those Facebook pages that are so addictive that you have to keep clicking 'next' until you have finished viewing all the 945 images:
Here's another website's (it was one of the first four sites that came up on a Google - I didn't dig too deep) defining religion: "Religion originates in an attempt to represent and order beliefs, feelings, imaginings and actions that arise in response to direct experience of the sacred and the spiritual. As this attempt expands in its formulation and elaboration, it becomes a process that creates meaning for itself on a sustaining basis, in terms of both its originating experiences and its own continuing responses."
And now let's look at another addictive Facebook page image:
See the connection? If you do, you probably get 99.9% at school. On the odd chance that you didn't, let me elaborate. Religion is basically a collection of values, morals and beliefs. So when someone says that they are not religious, but instead are spiritual or follow their own morals, that's a bit confusing because being spiritual or having morals is what religion is! You can't say you do not have a religion in that case because you actually do since that is what the definition of religion is. Even if you say you do not have values, morals or beliefs - not having them still forms a collection of not having (put your abstract thinking caps on). Therefore, nobody, despite of their beliefs or non-beliefs, can say they do not have a religion, because even not having a religion is a religion in itself!
I am a follower of Islam. For all that matters, I could say I am a follower of Hakuna Matata. I think that it's not the name of the religion that's important. It's acceptance of the values, morals and beliefs of the religion that is important and frankly, I can't think of a better title than Islam (which means peace) for what I believe in, so I will stick to it.
I should probably clarify (again) that I am not trying to promote any particular religion or the belief in God. Like I said above, we have been taught to respect our beliefs and the beliefs of others (Surah al Kafiroon). If I have offended anyone with my brain-itch, I am really sorry. That was never my intention.
Before you say you don't have a religion again, give it some technical and abstract thought.
Sources:
This is not because I have come from an oppressed background and am fresh off the boat into a glamorous city life. Nor is it simply because I got head lice. No. That's not it. Let me try to explain my brain-itch better.
Every high school or university student will know and accept that their real life saver was never coffee or tea. It was Wikipedia. Even thought we were told time and time again that it is not considered a reliable source, most of us are guilty of getting information off Wikipedia and then trying to find 'reliable' sources to put down as a reference. Let's take a look at Wikipedia's definition of religion: Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems and worldwide views that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values.
Now lets take a look at this picture that I got off one of those Facebook pages that are so addictive that you have to keep clicking 'next' until you have finished viewing all the 945 images:
Here's another website's (it was one of the first four sites that came up on a Google - I didn't dig too deep) defining religion: "Religion originates in an attempt to represent and order beliefs, feelings, imaginings and actions that arise in response to direct experience of the sacred and the spiritual. As this attempt expands in its formulation and elaboration, it becomes a process that creates meaning for itself on a sustaining basis, in terms of both its originating experiences and its own continuing responses."
And now let's look at another addictive Facebook page image:
See the connection? If you do, you probably get 99.9% at school. On the odd chance that you didn't, let me elaborate. Religion is basically a collection of values, morals and beliefs. So when someone says that they are not religious, but instead are spiritual or follow their own morals, that's a bit confusing because being spiritual or having morals is what religion is! You can't say you do not have a religion in that case because you actually do since that is what the definition of religion is. Even if you say you do not have values, morals or beliefs - not having them still forms a collection of not having (put your abstract thinking caps on). Therefore, nobody, despite of their beliefs or non-beliefs, can say they do not have a religion, because even not having a religion is a religion in itself!
I am a follower of Islam. For all that matters, I could say I am a follower of Hakuna Matata. I think that it's not the name of the religion that's important. It's acceptance of the values, morals and beliefs of the religion that is important and frankly, I can't think of a better title than Islam (which means peace) for what I believe in, so I will stick to it.
I should probably clarify (again) that I am not trying to promote any particular religion or the belief in God. Like I said above, we have been taught to respect our beliefs and the beliefs of others (Surah al Kafiroon). If I have offended anyone with my brain-itch, I am really sorry. That was never my intention.
Before you say you don't have a religion again, give it some technical and abstract thought.
Sources:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion
- http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_defn3.htm
- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Clouds-In-My-Coffee/166854740007560
- https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=455333804492984&set=a.166856763340691.44056.166854740007560&type=1&permPage=1
This is essay material!
ReplyDeleteThat means a lot coming from an awesome person like you! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you.