Sunday, October 14, 2012

I will not bow my head to the God called Facts - Human Perception, Good Manners, Ego and the Unity of Mankind


The God called Facts. If you follow the social media websites, blogs, postings and commentaries of Atheists, you will notice that they too believe in God. Well, not exactly God, but the God called Facts... Evolution is fact, they will say. Intelligent Design is not fact, they will insist. God does not exist, and that is fact they will argue. Religious strife appears to be the sole and only cause of violence and war, and facts prove this, they will say. And on, and on and on they refer to Mr. Fact and his omnipotent all-conquering remit. 

But facts are entirely what a human being perceives them to be. So actually, they are not relying on facts but human perception. Just as how believers also construct their own world-view with God in the centre and humanity orbiting around the Divine Presence. Thus, however entrenched anyone may be in their belief in God and their religion,  or their disbelief in God and their belief in their dogmas and isms (socialism, capitalism, democracy, positivism, atheism, whatever...), all are united in use of the medium of human perception. What disunites Mankind is the conclusion of such subjective perceptions. And this encompasses scientists also - 

The Scientists
Some scientists use their knowledge to explain God
While other scientists use their knowledge to explain away God

In the course of our lives, we will drift between different points of view. I for one, can be seen as a progressive today, the next a traditionalist, tomorrow a firm conservative, and next week an unapologetic liberal. But however I may drift I return to the centre of all human feelings, thoughts and conjecture - the Human Heart. 

'Adab'

I like Islam because the Islam I am taught teaches me this balance and gives me a point of focus - the Holy Quran and the Sunnah (traditions) of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). But this two source of my happiness and contentment ultimately revolves upon Adab (good manners and courtesies). For Adab is the ultimate saviour of Mankind. For however we may disagree between one another, between Jews and Christians, Muslims and Jews, Atheists and Agnostics, Atheists and Believers of God, at the end of the day, we are trained to accept that people are different. And each one of us have our own paths to travel, our own destinies to make (or unmake), our rights to do and our wrongs to deflect. It is only when good manners break down between us that we act in anger, bitterness and hubris... reaching for the sword, the gun, the drones, the missiles and the nuclear button.

'When Adab ends'

Adab is absolutely important in all parts of our daily lives - how we entreat with God Himself, how we treat each other, other creatures and the environment, everything is based upon Adab. Or at least it should be.

Let me confess that I do not have very good Adab. Heche tells me that I can be very bitter sometimes (this is true) and can get mad over petty things. But (I hope) I am anchored upon some simple rules that the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) teaches all humanity - maintain good manners in all occasions, and if you fail, as we are wont to do, being all too human, try and learn from it and seek forgiveness from the person we have aggrieved, whether by our words or deeds.

So the God that I worship teaches me this. I will not bow my head to the God called Facts, for the God called Facts is in truth the God of Human Perception, who by any other name can be known as the Ego. I wish Atheists could see this simple danger that is forever attempting to usurp their good manners. I say this because I have the unfortunate habit of bumping into Atheist iconic personalities being so darn swarmy and oh-so condescending on believers, especially towards Christians of the West. 

Oh well, we can only do so much, I guess. God bless you, sunshine and may you have a restful Sunday.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam
Love will show the Way

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