Re: Discussion about "My Ordeal with the Qur'an"
Reply #154 - May 03, 2010, 04:13 PM
OK, this is the final part of Chapter 2 (it is the shortest chapter) - his language is sometimes a bit difficult to follow and the translations will definitely need cleaning up. But like I say it is best to just translate it as best we can and leave cleaning it up for later.
Chapter 2 (cont...)
I am not calling for the renunciation of religion, for that is a difficult objective, in fact it is a demand that cannot be sought. Because religion for it's adherents is sweet nectar and for so long I my self savoured this sweetness until I returned to my senses.
I say I am not calling for the renunciation of religion but am calling for the end to resorting to religion for decisions in all matters and sticking it's nose into every tiny matter in the affairs of life. And that (can be achieved) by applying Secularism as a principle both in thought and in life. Secularism is not disbelief, nor is it a call to disbelief as some of it's enemies portray it, but it is merely placing a limit to the interference between religion and the state.
Religion is not the execution of the captive, nor the stoning of the adulterer, nor the chopping of the hand of the thief. Religion, according to secularists, is that which lives in the heart and dwells in the conscience. Believe what you like, but beware of imposing your beliefs on others nor make make it into a system for government or life. Religion is for God while the nation is for everyone. That is the slogan of Secularism.
There is nothing inviolable, nothing sacred in Secularism. The only thing that is inviolable and sacred in it is Humanity and the value of Humanity and the freedom of Humanity and respect for the dignity of Humanity. The lack of exploitation of man by another. The unbeliever (Kafir) is not the one who disbelieves in religion. The only unbeliever is the one who disbelieves in Humanity and Human Rights.
For the value of life is Reason. The value of life is Freedom. The value of life is Progress and Development. The value of life is Innovative Vision and expressing it according to what suits the requirements of the the time and place. As for disbelief and belief, angel and devil, it (creates) conflict that impedes the development of innovations and the flow of progress in a world of powers and balances of powers and centers of powers
The thing that most frightens man is to be consigned to the debris of memory. Ruminating over myths and delusions. In a trance over the invisible, and text, and miraculousness and rhetoric and to follow the stories of the garden of Eden and the Houris, and the (verse of) Light and the servant boys (of paradise) and stories of Jinn and tales of Luqman and the like of these stories and tales that for so long fertilized the minds and imaginations, both in the near and distant past but then today lose the bet. (i.e. discover it was all BS)
Topic: Discussion about "My Ordeal with the Qur'an"