In response to Religion and Control, someone posted: Well said, Samiya. But are not the writers of scriptures also 'leaders' and those who chose to follow the scriptures being followers?
Answer: Indeed, yet like in all things in our world, each has the potential for the good, for the bad, and for somewhere in between the spectrum.
I believe that the prophets were divinely inspired, bringing the same message, the scriptures were originally pure guidance from God, but later on, individuals in these groups decided that they were 'holier than thou', and sought control, establishing themselves as holy leaders [priest], morphing the message to suit their needs, and gullible people just went along and became their followers.
Nearly all major religions' original texts contain glimpses of the divine message of a single deity, piety, charity and love for all. Even hinduism's most sacred text, the Vedas, speaks of one God, of the grave sin of joining others in the worship of the One God, of sacrifice, of eating meat, etc. That the hindu religion as practiced today is of a pantheon of gods, worshipped and prayed to, appears totally contradictory to the message of the Vedas. I haven't read the holy book of the Zoroastrians, but when I visited the ruins of Persepolis, had I not known that this palace belonged to a Zoroastrian king, I would have thought that the proclamations engraved on the walls and pillars had an Islamic background, so similar it was to our beliefs and practices. Abraham and Moses preached of One God, the Torah of the Jews, contains the same message. The ten commandments resonate that common message. The Bible contains verses about the one and only God.
Have collected some web links below.
Regards,
Samiya
References:
Bible: http://www.submission.org/god-bible.html
Ten Commandments: http://submission.org/God/ten.html
Do Jews pray like Muslims: http://www.submission.org/jews.html
Zoroastrian faith: http://www.avesta.org/
Hindu faith and monotheism: http://www.hinduwebsite.com/onegod.asp
http://www.satyavidya.org/component/content/article/53-vedic-vitamins/126-there-is-only-one-god
Persepolis: http://www.persepolis3d.com/frameset.html
http://www.cais-soas.com/index.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCwxJsk14e4&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIPHEb9lWXA
Persepolis Inscriptions: http://www.livius.org/pen-pg/persepolis/persepolis.html
Ka'abah of Zoroaster: http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2008/12/kaabah-of-zoroaster.html
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Religion and Control
A comment about religion: religion provided both social, cultural and legal regulations to boot. man's greed has had to have societal constraints, as far back and before written history. religion just added another aspect of the controls over people as they gathered into early societies, the society being the basic form of protection against other men, wild creatures and things that go bump in the night. I still sprinkle salt all around my doors and windows, to keep out the roving wood willies that patter about in the dark of night!!!!!
My Response: Humans who are greedy, and seek to control, indulge in tyranny... they use all possible resources: political, economic, ideological to that end. Religion becomes yet another tool in the hands of these tyrants. We have been blessed with many things, and guidance is one of them. Some people then took on the role of the leaders [priests] of these religions, and others chose to become their followers. It is not the fault of guidance, the onus lies on those who seek to control and those who choose to follow.
My Response: Humans who are greedy, and seek to control, indulge in tyranny... they use all possible resources: political, economic, ideological to that end. Religion becomes yet another tool in the hands of these tyrants. We have been blessed with many things, and guidance is one of them. Some people then took on the role of the leaders [priests] of these religions, and others chose to become their followers. It is not the fault of guidance, the onus lies on those who seek to control and those who choose to follow.
What really matters?
Response to a longish post (added after my response) making a few points about fanaticism, Muslims and Islam
Answer:L, as is evident from what you've posted, fanaticism has more to do with the individual than with the religion. As long as we keep confusing the religion and the people, the eternal and the temporal, the divine and the human, we will continue this endless debate. Does it matter what kind of person a muslim, christian, jew, parsi, pagan, witch, hindu, atheist or whoever is? Does that in any way affect my eternity? If I am raised up after death, if there is to be a reckoning, will it really matter what others said or did? I will be responsible for my own beliefs and deeds as an individual. If my eternity depends on my beliefs, then I'd serve me best by sorting through the available texts and honestly trying to find the truth to the best of my abilities, faculties and resources. I cannot and shouldnot take my religion from the practice and philosophies of others. I must come to my own conclusions based upon the wealth of information provided to me by all those around me, from the written and the oral, the studied and the experienced, and critically evaluate, using my conscience and intelligence. Denying the hereafter based upon my wish not to be judged, blaming God for things we don't really understand or have full knowledge of, judging others and stereotyping them, won't really help me. My focus should be on the religion, not people. I'm mortal and so are others. We all bid our time and pass away... that seems to be about the only certain and common thing in our lives. We did not choose to be born, we did not choose which family, society and culture to be born and bred in, we did not choose to have to eventually die, hence we also will not have a choice in whether we want or not to be ressurected and judged, nor would we have a say about being granted eternal life. What I do know is that if I could be created first, I can be recreated again. My existence confirms that creation is possible, and genetics tells me DNA stores information. If humans can come up with so much science, don't you think the Creator has far superior methods of recording and preserving information? If Google can map the world, if satellites can see and record what goes on inside rooms, why can't I believe that God is aware of and recording all my thoughts, intentions and actions? If plants can grow from seeds, why can't I be grown back some day? There are so many signs in my immediate environment confirming the message of the scriptures, it would indeed be fulite and foolish to ignore them in the wish that it should not be so. God may not need me, but I certainly do need Him. He has blessed me with the Earth to dwell upon, he provides me with food to satiate my hunger, water to drench my thirst, air to breathe, people to care for and be cared by, colours in nature to brighten what my eyes look at, eyes and ears to look and hear, intellectual capacity to perceive and understand, and I would do poorly if He were to bless me with any less. I owe Him gratitude, and my heart thanks Him.
I've posted a few times explaining the islamic and muslim perspective of some of the issues raised in your post. Following are the links to some of them, in case you'd like to check them out.
http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2009/11/muslims-science-and-nobel-prize.html
http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2009/11/verses-regarding-war-holy-quran-ch-9.html
http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2009/09/infinite-punishment-for-finite-act.html
http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2010/01/on-god-delusion.html
http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2010/03/holy-quran.html
http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2010/03/comments-on-islam-muslims-terrorism-and.html
Post: What makes a fanatic tick?
It all boils down to one fundamental negative ( among the myriad) trait of human beings.. Jealousy/Envy. The Mexicans have a word for it.. envidia.. jealousy & envy all rolled into one & it is a despicable state of affairs (mind set). Jealousy is the fuel which oils & lubricates & keeps in motion the machinery of the muslim fanatic.
With a healthy, well balanced mind there is remorse & shame & guilty consciences... these are foreign concepts to the muslim fanatic & their lunatic craving for jihad..holy war.. For obvious reasons they will never admit to this fact so they usurp & distort religion to justify their treachery. It doesn't require rocket science to see that an all loving good "allah' would never command its 'children' to harm another. And of course with the west sticking it's nose in many muslim countries affairs the fanatic has even more of an excuse to attack the west. But if the west was entirely removed from muslim countries the hatred and attacks would not cease therefore pointing out the true reasons behind the fanatics stimulation.. envidia in the extreme. Are all muslims fanatics? Of course not but as you know one bad apple can spoil... Fact.. the majority of muslims are for all intense and purposes illiterate. They therefore are not educated as concerns the woof & warp of other countries. These people are gullible & most impressionable.
I do say however that "common sense" does not require an education. Why then the fanaticism? Well first off you've have those who do know whats what and are quite simply filled with envivia. Then you have those who've seen famil & friends die & are lead to believe the west was responsible.. these very ones who are living without purpose and in dire poverty.. This is the fertile ground where the real evil fanatics seek their recruit.. the lost & lonley, poor & grief stricken,.. they are ripe for hatred, thye are seeking someone, somthing to blame & the real fanatics know just which buttons to push. In addition as usual divide and conquer techniques enforced upon people just barely struggling to survive who live every minute in fear and being bombarded with false negative propaganda what hope is there of the ' truth' ever reaching these people when any truths that might per chance circulate are denounced as lies by the manipulators whom the people have ever reason to fear. All have seen whats happens to those who protest..The Truth? Whose truth? Facts I have actually seen are my truths..the elite in the muslim countries live lavishly...while they disseminate untruths to the people about the west.. that the west is their enemy.. that their dire unbearable existence is due to the activities of the west. This smoke screen is very effective especially to a people who can't afford the luxury of getting, in any way shape or form, to the truth of the matter, they whose only goal in life is getting enough to eat and getting thru this day alive..They haven't time for analyzation ferchrisakes! One of the sheep isn't going to round up the rest of the flock. The only efficacious activity that will accomplish some sort of honest, fair enlightenment is "EDUCATING" the people.. guns will never alter anything. But war is good business for the western munitions manufactures & the many who profit indirectly (trickle down effect) from the wars. I say your average run of the mill muslim could get along just fine with your average run of the mil westerner with out the power elite in both camps stirring up the hatred between the two with disinformation & a barrage of lies & dirty tricks. Then there is this thing religion... Unfortunately many henious acts since the beginning of time have been perpetuated in the name of religion. A few deceitful individuals/groups desire, for their own selfish ends, a particular scenario which will allow them to get/have their way. They use religion as the instrument to get their dirty work done. Saying to the people the koran says death to the unbeliever.. the koran says this or that.. anything to further the cause of the bully! The sheepish, uneducated, inexperienced, afraid people are helpless to believe anything else... To the delight of the few who would rule them. Divide & conqueor & brainswash & intimidate with fear... Sadam was only too well aware of these ever so efficacious tactics. Just as mentor/philosopher Machevalii said to his student prince's " do whatever you wish for there is only one in a million who will stand up against you". In all honesty so are the western leaders manipulating their sheep however their tactics are less brutal and much more subtle but nevertheless they employ underhanded tactics upon their subjects.. obviously a certain amount of control is necessary to ward of total chaos. Yes it is a tender balance & I prefer the western style
control over the muslim style. In the west the people, as can be proven, enjoy more freedom than exists in the muslim world. The women are not so brutally treated in the west as in the muslim world.. this is one of my biggest bones of contention. Why even the men in muslim societies who are brutally dominated exercise the same vicious tactics on "their" women.. yes "their" women.. Thus though they abhor the hand that punishes & holds them down & severly brutally restricts them they "HYPOCRITICALLY" are guility of the same vicious behavior towards their wives & children! Do unto to others as you would have them do unto you is a non existent concept! You can to some extent see a similiar behavior pattern in the west. Western Psychologists will tell you that children raised in abusive families often abuse their own children. The barbarian seed in the human runs deep. Somehow the west has evolved a less unfair, brutal outward civilization though the seeds are there perhaps somewhat dormant. Fear of reprisal is the only thing that restrains many westerners. The muslim world has no monopoly on brutality & unfairness..History is replete with human treachery.. It is the old struggle between good and evil.. which one will ultimately prevail. A people ultimately get the governance they deserve............... Sad but the guy in the street vehemently dislikes being bullied by his 'superiors' hoowever he does not want these ' bully' tactics outlawed lest he not be able to (git dis) " discipline " his own brood! And none dare call it treason!
Answer:L, as is evident from what you've posted, fanaticism has more to do with the individual than with the religion. As long as we keep confusing the religion and the people, the eternal and the temporal, the divine and the human, we will continue this endless debate. Does it matter what kind of person a muslim, christian, jew, parsi, pagan, witch, hindu, atheist or whoever is? Does that in any way affect my eternity? If I am raised up after death, if there is to be a reckoning, will it really matter what others said or did? I will be responsible for my own beliefs and deeds as an individual. If my eternity depends on my beliefs, then I'd serve me best by sorting through the available texts and honestly trying to find the truth to the best of my abilities, faculties and resources. I cannot and shouldnot take my religion from the practice and philosophies of others. I must come to my own conclusions based upon the wealth of information provided to me by all those around me, from the written and the oral, the studied and the experienced, and critically evaluate, using my conscience and intelligence. Denying the hereafter based upon my wish not to be judged, blaming God for things we don't really understand or have full knowledge of, judging others and stereotyping them, won't really help me. My focus should be on the religion, not people. I'm mortal and so are others. We all bid our time and pass away... that seems to be about the only certain and common thing in our lives. We did not choose to be born, we did not choose which family, society and culture to be born and bred in, we did not choose to have to eventually die, hence we also will not have a choice in whether we want or not to be ressurected and judged, nor would we have a say about being granted eternal life. What I do know is that if I could be created first, I can be recreated again. My existence confirms that creation is possible, and genetics tells me DNA stores information. If humans can come up with so much science, don't you think the Creator has far superior methods of recording and preserving information? If Google can map the world, if satellites can see and record what goes on inside rooms, why can't I believe that God is aware of and recording all my thoughts, intentions and actions? If plants can grow from seeds, why can't I be grown back some day? There are so many signs in my immediate environment confirming the message of the scriptures, it would indeed be fulite and foolish to ignore them in the wish that it should not be so. God may not need me, but I certainly do need Him. He has blessed me with the Earth to dwell upon, he provides me with food to satiate my hunger, water to drench my thirst, air to breathe, people to care for and be cared by, colours in nature to brighten what my eyes look at, eyes and ears to look and hear, intellectual capacity to perceive and understand, and I would do poorly if He were to bless me with any less. I owe Him gratitude, and my heart thanks Him.
I've posted a few times explaining the islamic and muslim perspective of some of the issues raised in your post. Following are the links to some of them, in case you'd like to check them out.
http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2009/11/muslims-science-and-nobel-prize.html
http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2009/11/verses-regarding-war-holy-quran-ch-9.html
http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2009/09/infinite-punishment-for-finite-act.html
http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2010/01/on-god-delusion.html
http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2010/03/holy-quran.html
http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2010/03/comments-on-islam-muslims-terrorism-and.html
Post: What makes a fanatic tick?
It all boils down to one fundamental negative ( among the myriad) trait of human beings.. Jealousy/Envy. The Mexicans have a word for it.. envidia.. jealousy & envy all rolled into one & it is a despicable state of affairs (mind set). Jealousy is the fuel which oils & lubricates & keeps in motion the machinery of the muslim fanatic.
With a healthy, well balanced mind there is remorse & shame & guilty consciences... these are foreign concepts to the muslim fanatic & their lunatic craving for jihad..holy war.. For obvious reasons they will never admit to this fact so they usurp & distort religion to justify their treachery. It doesn't require rocket science to see that an all loving good "allah' would never command its 'children' to harm another. And of course with the west sticking it's nose in many muslim countries affairs the fanatic has even more of an excuse to attack the west. But if the west was entirely removed from muslim countries the hatred and attacks would not cease therefore pointing out the true reasons behind the fanatics stimulation.. envidia in the extreme. Are all muslims fanatics? Of course not but as you know one bad apple can spoil... Fact.. the majority of muslims are for all intense and purposes illiterate. They therefore are not educated as concerns the woof & warp of other countries. These people are gullible & most impressionable.
I do say however that "common sense" does not require an education. Why then the fanaticism? Well first off you've have those who do know whats what and are quite simply filled with envivia. Then you have those who've seen famil & friends die & are lead to believe the west was responsible.. these very ones who are living without purpose and in dire poverty.. This is the fertile ground where the real evil fanatics seek their recruit.. the lost & lonley, poor & grief stricken,.. they are ripe for hatred, thye are seeking someone, somthing to blame & the real fanatics know just which buttons to push. In addition as usual divide and conquer techniques enforced upon people just barely struggling to survive who live every minute in fear and being bombarded with false negative propaganda what hope is there of the ' truth' ever reaching these people when any truths that might per chance circulate are denounced as lies by the manipulators whom the people have ever reason to fear. All have seen whats happens to those who protest..The Truth? Whose truth? Facts I have actually seen are my truths..the elite in the muslim countries live lavishly...while they disseminate untruths to the people about the west.. that the west is their enemy.. that their dire unbearable existence is due to the activities of the west. This smoke screen is very effective especially to a people who can't afford the luxury of getting, in any way shape or form, to the truth of the matter, they whose only goal in life is getting enough to eat and getting thru this day alive..They haven't time for analyzation ferchrisakes! One of the sheep isn't going to round up the rest of the flock. The only efficacious activity that will accomplish some sort of honest, fair enlightenment is "EDUCATING" the people.. guns will never alter anything. But war is good business for the western munitions manufactures & the many who profit indirectly (trickle down effect) from the wars. I say your average run of the mill muslim could get along just fine with your average run of the mil westerner with out the power elite in both camps stirring up the hatred between the two with disinformation & a barrage of lies & dirty tricks. Then there is this thing religion... Unfortunately many henious acts since the beginning of time have been perpetuated in the name of religion. A few deceitful individuals/groups desire, for their own selfish ends, a particular scenario which will allow them to get/have their way. They use religion as the instrument to get their dirty work done. Saying to the people the koran says death to the unbeliever.. the koran says this or that.. anything to further the cause of the bully! The sheepish, uneducated, inexperienced, afraid people are helpless to believe anything else... To the delight of the few who would rule them. Divide & conqueor & brainswash & intimidate with fear... Sadam was only too well aware of these ever so efficacious tactics. Just as mentor/philosopher Machevalii said to his student prince's " do whatever you wish for there is only one in a million who will stand up against you". In all honesty so are the western leaders manipulating their sheep however their tactics are less brutal and much more subtle but nevertheless they employ underhanded tactics upon their subjects.. obviously a certain amount of control is necessary to ward of total chaos. Yes it is a tender balance & I prefer the western style
control over the muslim style. In the west the people, as can be proven, enjoy more freedom than exists in the muslim world. The women are not so brutally treated in the west as in the muslim world.. this is one of my biggest bones of contention. Why even the men in muslim societies who are brutally dominated exercise the same vicious tactics on "their" women.. yes "their" women.. Thus though they abhor the hand that punishes & holds them down & severly brutally restricts them they "HYPOCRITICALLY" are guility of the same vicious behavior towards their wives & children! Do unto to others as you would have them do unto you is a non existent concept! You can to some extent see a similiar behavior pattern in the west. Western Psychologists will tell you that children raised in abusive families often abuse their own children. The barbarian seed in the human runs deep. Somehow the west has evolved a less unfair, brutal outward civilization though the seeds are there perhaps somewhat dormant. Fear of reprisal is the only thing that restrains many westerners. The muslim world has no monopoly on brutality & unfairness..History is replete with human treachery.. It is the old struggle between good and evil.. which one will ultimately prevail. A people ultimately get the governance they deserve............... Sad but the guy in the street vehemently dislikes being bullied by his 'superiors' hoowever he does not want these ' bully' tactics outlawed lest he not be able to (git dis) " discipline " his own brood! And none dare call it treason!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
To whom are prophets sent?
Question: I'm thinking that many people are not ... strongly religious. Some might even deny religion publicly, and others just "can't be bothered" with religion in their lives. These are people who live in the world and have religious associations of the lightest kind, giving alms and tithes and going to services on some of the most mandatory dates just to make an appearance. There are probably more such people in our world than there are such as we, who they see as obsessive in our pursuit of such nonsense. It is to these people that the prophets are sent, is it not?
Answer:I guess we all need guidance. Intuitively, the thinking mind can identify the presence of a creator/ cause agent / prime mover or whatever label our minds come up with. Also, the conscientious soul can discern between right and wrong. But, to make things clear and inform us of the reality of it, to sift the correct philosophy from the philosophical maze that we reason, I think its a cherished blessing that we all need to be thankful for.
In fact, God says in the Quran that the prophets' only duty is to give glad tidings and warn. There is no compulsion in religion, and only those who are essentially good will willingly heed to the message. Therefore, the prophets need not worry and cry their hearts out in compassion for those who do not heed to the message. They should only persevere with the message, knowing that only God knows what's in the hearts, thus sharing the message with all, and not giving up on anyone.
This discussion group itself is a good example of thinking souls, searching for answers, coming up with their own ideas of who / what this force is, whether it is sentient or not, if this is all part of evolution where the 'force' had no choice or whether it is a deliberate divine act, do we need to acknowledge and deify this force, if yes, then who and how? We need guidance. Let me share the oft-repeated seven verses, a prayer we recite daily in our prayers. We ask for guidance on the right path... as left to our own devices, it would be easy to get lost in our thoughts and ideas, and end up misguided.
Holy Quran Chapter 1 Verses 1-7
1 In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
2 Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,
3 The Beneficent, the Merciful.
4 Master of the Day of Judgment,
5 Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help.
6 Show us the straight path,
7 The path of those whom Thou hast favoured; Not the (path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray.
http://searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=1&translator=4
Answer:I guess we all need guidance. Intuitively, the thinking mind can identify the presence of a creator/ cause agent / prime mover or whatever label our minds come up with. Also, the conscientious soul can discern between right and wrong. But, to make things clear and inform us of the reality of it, to sift the correct philosophy from the philosophical maze that we reason, I think its a cherished blessing that we all need to be thankful for.
In fact, God says in the Quran that the prophets' only duty is to give glad tidings and warn. There is no compulsion in religion, and only those who are essentially good will willingly heed to the message. Therefore, the prophets need not worry and cry their hearts out in compassion for those who do not heed to the message. They should only persevere with the message, knowing that only God knows what's in the hearts, thus sharing the message with all, and not giving up on anyone.
This discussion group itself is a good example of thinking souls, searching for answers, coming up with their own ideas of who / what this force is, whether it is sentient or not, if this is all part of evolution where the 'force' had no choice or whether it is a deliberate divine act, do we need to acknowledge and deify this force, if yes, then who and how? We need guidance. Let me share the oft-repeated seven verses, a prayer we recite daily in our prayers. We ask for guidance on the right path... as left to our own devices, it would be easy to get lost in our thoughts and ideas, and end up misguided.
Holy Quran Chapter 1 Verses 1-7
1 In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
2 Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,
3 The Beneficent, the Merciful.
4 Master of the Day of Judgment,
5 Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help.
6 Show us the straight path,
7 The path of those whom Thou hast favoured; Not the (path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray.
http://searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=1&translator=4
Hell
A few comments on Hell prompted this response
Comment1: I have absolutely no belief in Hell, in fact I think very few people outside the Abrahamic faiths do. It's a horrible place invented to force feed monotheists with scary dreams until they obey the doctrines of the church.
Comment2: Hell is believing that there is a cruel God in the sky who would condemn anybody to eternal suffering. Hell is now for all those who believe in this kind of
God.
Comment3:Actually, quite a few other religions believe in something similar to "hell", but like you, I do not accept the idea either. what kind of monster "god" would want such a thing??????........
Response:As far as Heaven or destruction is, the problem is that there probably is no absolute mortality, rather, what we believe is that death is but a prolonged sleep, and then we will be recreated(re-awkened, re-assembled, re-constructed, resurrected) on the Day of Reckoning, after which there is immortality, and whether it is Heaven or Hell, we will live in it forever.
To elaborate as I understand from the Quran, God does not wish to punish us. He wishes to purify us and guide us to a blissful eternal life in Heaven. An essentail part of the purification is the free-will and trial, and all who take the guidance and do good deeds are given the glad tidings of Heaven. Again and again, it speaks of 'and they will live in there forever'. Also, another point to note is that throughout the text, we do not find any prayer for Heaven, rather its just mentioned as a reward and a blessing. What we find are prayers to be saved from the fire. God alone can grant guidance, and that He grants only to those who exercise their free will to ask for guidance. Those who exercise their free-will in some other direction, God lets them pursue that direction. There is no compulsion in religion, but the trial and the reckoning are compulsory, and so is eternal life.
Allah mentions in the Quran 4:147
Yusuf Ali 147: What can Allah gain by your punishment, if ye are grateful and ye believe? Nay, it is Allah that recogniseth (all good), and knoweth all things.
Shakir 147: Why should Allah chastise you if you are grateful and believe? And Allah is the Multiplier of rewards, Knowing
Pickthal 147: What concern hath Allah for your punishment if ye are thankful (for His mercies) and believe (in Him)? Allah was ever Responsive, Aware.
Mohsin Khan: 147: Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked (Him) and have believed in Him. And Allah is Ever All-Appreciative (of good), All-Knowing.
Comment1: I have absolutely no belief in Hell, in fact I think very few people outside the Abrahamic faiths do. It's a horrible place invented to force feed monotheists with scary dreams until they obey the doctrines of the church.
Comment2: Hell is believing that there is a cruel God in the sky who would condemn anybody to eternal suffering. Hell is now for all those who believe in this kind of
God.
Comment3:Actually, quite a few other religions believe in something similar to "hell", but like you, I do not accept the idea either. what kind of monster "god" would want such a thing??????........
Response:As far as Heaven or destruction is, the problem is that there probably is no absolute mortality, rather, what we believe is that death is but a prolonged sleep, and then we will be recreated(re-awkened, re-assembled, re-constructed, resurrected) on the Day of Reckoning, after which there is immortality, and whether it is Heaven or Hell, we will live in it forever.
To elaborate as I understand from the Quran, God does not wish to punish us. He wishes to purify us and guide us to a blissful eternal life in Heaven. An essentail part of the purification is the free-will and trial, and all who take the guidance and do good deeds are given the glad tidings of Heaven. Again and again, it speaks of 'and they will live in there forever'. Also, another point to note is that throughout the text, we do not find any prayer for Heaven, rather its just mentioned as a reward and a blessing. What we find are prayers to be saved from the fire. God alone can grant guidance, and that He grants only to those who exercise their free will to ask for guidance. Those who exercise their free-will in some other direction, God lets them pursue that direction. There is no compulsion in religion, but the trial and the reckoning are compulsory, and so is eternal life.
Allah mentions in the Quran 4:147
Yusuf Ali 147: What can Allah gain by your punishment, if ye are grateful and ye believe? Nay, it is Allah that recogniseth (all good), and knoweth all things.
Shakir 147: Why should Allah chastise you if you are grateful and believe? And Allah is the Multiplier of rewards, Knowing
Pickthal 147: What concern hath Allah for your punishment if ye are thankful (for His mercies) and believe (in Him)? Allah was ever Responsive, Aware.
Mohsin Khan: 147: Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked (Him) and have believed in Him. And Allah is Ever All-Appreciative (of good), All-Knowing.
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