| Is Humanism a Religion? |
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Quote: "Humanism is ethical Atheism & Secularism is political Humanism."
The reason for critical emphasis on Islam, most certainly, is due to its vibrant and dynamic nature and its most ardent, fastest increasing following. No such emphasis is accorded to the other two religions because their adherence and following, across the board, is on the decline. It is well documented in several researches conducted.
It very strange, however that, despite its purported form, Humanism's 8 basic principles have been plucked from the very religions it is discarding, yet stressing the non religious stance for practicing these principles.
The logic presented is the concern of the atheist and Humanists, that those who are religious think that there is no morality and ethics outside or without the religion. It is but common sensically apparent that the rules, being propagated by Humanism, are part of the religion irrelevant of the fact that someone practices the remaining part of religion or not. By not practicing one's religion to the fuller or fullest extent it can not be argued that these principles fall outside the domain of religion because the practitioner thinks he/she became non-religious by not performing other rituals-the fallacy of Humanism. Humanism miserably fails to make its case by encroaching on the basic teachings of the religions and expecting people to "adopt them consistently" under the euphemism of Humanism.
(Humanism used the crutches of Immanuel Kant's philosophy to attach some credence to their "golden rules")
One would wonder if these principles were never adopted before with consistency prior to Humanism and I. Kant's philosophies came to surface? If the answer is yes they were. Then the necessity and utility of Humanism becomes irrelevant. It fails here too. It is nothing but distraction by those who have problem accepting the positive role of religion in human life.
By citing the problems human being have endured due to their own shortcomings and faults, pinning them on the religions would not appeal to any sane mind. It is not the religion culprit but people who misconstrued and misused the religion to further their mundane and basal goals.
The insufficiency, incapacity and uncertainty is very evident in the language employed and by switching from one rule to another, one philosophy to another, such as "Moral reasoning, reflective equilibrium, moral relativism" etc. It failed to display any conviction or efficacy of Humanism to any one with even least intellect.
At one point it admits, "An attempt has been made to suggest possible ways in which it may be done"-the issue could be handled. At another point it says, " Common sense morality rules may be insufficient to deal with complex issues". W.D.Ross also suggest that "the right & the good are moral presumptions". The religions on the other hand are not marred with such reluctance and hesitation and are able to provide clear cut answers to most of the issues faced. Religions also have the capacity to provide the dictums for the good of the humanity at large. A thoughtful contemplation would reveal that there is nothing outside the "Devine Command theory" and anything else is just an expansion or abstraction of it.
Humanism's advocacy of Universal acceptance of its principles is fraught with inapplicability. It is in negation of the multiplicity, divergence nature has created. One of the reasons offered for the validity of Humanism's 8 principles is the existence of various religions and their conflicting nature, according to their analysis. The point to ponder upon here is that if absolute convergence and conformity was intended then there was absolutely no need of creating this universe and its inhabitants-Human beings-with different complexions, features, religions, races, languages and in different times. Because in the world of Angles, as revealed in scriptures, there is no divergence of any kind. It is simply the obedience of His rules.
Second point is, as mentioned earlier as well, that Devine Command Theory has never been changed, confirmed in Holy Quran. It is the same Message which was brought by Prophet Adam and all other prophets till the last Prophet Mohammad. It is the divergent and transgressing nature of human beings, like the proponents of Atheism, Humanism and many other isms, who have always bent/changed/hidden/ distorted the rules to suit themselves.
As mentioned earlier, specific references have been made to Quranic injunctions without any inquiry. Pope, Christianity and Judaism and other Denominations have been mentioned in passing only.
Here is the rebuttal/explanation of points touched upon with specific reference to Islam and Quran.
1) Scientific inquiry was stopped due to the fact that Reality could be taken from Holy Quran.
The complete code of Islamic theology is Quran and Sunnah (the sayings, actions, sanctions of /by Prophet Mohammad) which is called Hadith.In one of the Hadith of Prophet Mohammad it is emphasized that "for knowledge if one has to travel to China should go".( China is used here symbolically as a far flung hard to reach place)
There are several references made in Quran for acquiring the knowledge.
Therefore there is no inhibition on inquiry, knowledge and thus scientific development.
2)Quran says this book is beyond doubt. Yes it does say so because it is not a philosophy such as Humanism who has a problem even thinking of its own alternative rules and even those proposed are marred with uncertainty and doubts.
In Quran it is the Creator who is saying that. Can any one Imagine that Creator would be uncertain about any thing whatever he reveals to us.
By the way No science has yet been able to prove that it is not a perfect book as thousands of studies, researches todate have been conducted.
3) Usury is forbidden in Islam. Simply compare it with the eventual destructive and obliterating spate of capitalism to see what a havoc it is playing on human beings all across the Globe-Asia, Africa and Latin and Central America. Millions of people are being pushed below even the extreme poverty line. Islam not only forbids usury it also forbids the concentration of wealth in few hands. Christianity and Judaism have relinquish the strict avoidance of usury by circumventing the Devine injunction. Few gained riches at the cost of millions. Is that what is equitable distribution of income? Is it for the common good?
It is fruit of usury and capitalism.
4) Treatment of women.
Islam is the very first religion who granted the respect and dignity to women. Islam calls Mary One of the most pious lady.
Quran accords her nobility being the mother of the Prophet Jesus without doubting her chastity. Khadija, one of the wives of Prophet Mohammad is accorded the highest status over all women. Khadiha-tul-Kubra.( khadija of the highest echelon, status)
Islam was the very first religion who limited the number of wives to 4. Before Islam there was no limit and women were being treated like animals, the instrument of pleasure as it is today in the West. The freedom to sleep with numerous men at will, like men is what we call equality of gender. Your sister is your sister, your mother is your mother, your daughter is your daughter, for all other they are prey to be hunted. That is what we call freedom, emancipation, equal rights of women in the West.
5) Creation Myth.
Islam is the only religion which provide unquestionable truth about the creation in Quran. studying the Sufi expounding on it would provide even more detailed explanation. The west is confused and suffering from false theory which every one thinks is an established scientific fact.
6) Contradiction with science.
Just few quotes.
Simple answer is that it is Quran who talks about the Human conception, It is Quran who talks about the cycle or water, It is Quran who talks about the upper skin of human being sensitive to pain. It is Quran who talks about the two seas running side by side without mixing their waters. It is Quran who talks about the creation of the sun, the moon for us to know the time and the
Cycle of time-Calendar.
Islam has produced many scholars of world eminence such as Averose,(Abu-Rushd), Avecena (Abu Sina), Jalal-Ud-Din Rumi. Very well known even in the West. All of these would have not gotten the eminence in their disciplines if they were barred from thinking. All the achievement of Muslims before renaissance, on which West is thriving today, which Humanist brush away arguing that these scientific development were not because of religion but despite religion. It still, despite the deceitful, biased distortions and twisting, confirms that Islam does not prohibit or regress the development or suppress the thinking process. Allama Iqbal, Sir Syyed Ahamed Khan of the most recent past could be mentioned as well.
Quantum Physics of today talks of several concepts which were dealt with and explained long ago by Muslim Sufis and thinkers.
Lot more and specific rebuttal of the misquoted assumptions by Humanists, to further their philosophy, could be offered but the time and scope constraints restrict me from doing so.
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