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From: azhar@cs.duke.edu (Salman Azhar)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam,soc.culture.pakistan,soc.culture.indian
Subject: Some thoughts on common questions regarding religion
Message-ID: <1991May29.144819.24991@wpi.WPI.EDU>
Date: 29 May 91 14:48:19 GMT
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I received the follwing through personal mail. Since, most of these
questions are pertinent to the article, I shall share them with the
net-at-large.

>While I found your piece most interesting, there are a few questions
>about Islam that I want to ask.
>1. How does Islam deal with atheists/"unreligious" people like me?

        Islam tells muslims to treat with irreligious people like
other human beings. No human can condemn another to hell, or
otherwise. At the time this question is asked, a considerable amount
of your life is still to go, so there is no immediate need for you to
be classified.

>2. What does the Quran say about the role of women in society? In
>relation to men, and the role they play/can play ?(I have repeatedly
>asked this one, and got vague replies)

        According to Islam, women can do everything a man can, own
everything a man can, etc. Often, one hears about misinterpretation of
"men having a degree of superiority over women". A son does not have
superiority over mother, a brother not over sister, etc. In the
institution of marriage, the husband has some degree of authority over
wife, which is complemented with an equally greater responsibility for
the quality of the family's life. This is a topic in itself, and
should be discussed separately.

>3. Why does worship have to be based on fear?

        At the outset, one does not *have* to worship out of fear. As
humans we motivate ourselves from a variety of emotions; love, hate,
courage, fear, etc. Of these emotions, fear is the most effective and
efficient motivating factor. Which one of the following do you find
easier:

        To pay $100 to a charity
                        OR
        Pay the same $100 to a mugger (at a gunpoint).

Consequently, ity should come as no surprise to you that of all the
motivations to submit to God, we find fear the most dominant.


>4. Relating to the above question, a religion is born out of the
>social structure of its times, and though a single person might be
>largely responsible for the writings the circumstances he (Muhammad,
>Christ, Buddha etc...) lived in determine the structure that forms
>the basis of that religion. So how can one translate the writings of
>an individual born in a particular social class, at a a
>particular,fairly violent time (which in my mind is the reason for
>fear based worship)  into universal truths?

        Aha! The classic socio-evolution argument has often been
presented against most religions, but it dies a painful death when
confronted by Islam. The difference is that Islam was "defined" over
700 centuries (approx); starting from His messenger Adam! The 14
centuries after His messenger Muhammad's (PBUH) death are
insignificant compared to those 700 centuries, which saw violent and
peaceful times.

        Islam is not a static religion but a dynamic one. Even today,
there is an urgent need to ponder over new circumstances that arise
everyday.

>We need less religion and more free thinking and compassion. Less
>division and more harmony.


        We certainly need less exploitation of religion, and
accomodate fresh thoughts. Most religion are strong advocates of
compassion, so I do not understand the need for considering compassion
and religion as incompatible.


Salman [religious-scholar-wanna-be] Azhar

---
For, Believers are those who, when God is mentioned, feel a tremor in
their hearts. And, when they hear His signs rehearsed, find their
faith strengthened. And, put all their trust in their Lord. 
	-Spoils of War (8:2)