Salamun Alaikum.
After spending more than a year in this forum, I am now convinced that in a forum like this we will never get consensus on most of the topics. For example, we will never get consensus on whether it is okay to personify God and if yes, to what extent. Nor will we have consensus whether ?Religion? is necessary or only an evil. We cannot come to a conclusion about what is salaat, jakaat, hujj, ramadan, riba. Nor can we agree on fundamental scientific observations like the shape of earth or evolution of species.
Given so much disagreement my question is, can we have at least consensus on some points? Below I list 10 points on which I believe we should and can have a consensus. May I take your opinion on whether any of you would disagree on any of the 10 points below?
1. That we should be grateful for the gift of life ? our physical abilities, our intellect, our families, our education, our achievements and failure ? everything.
2. Because of our gratitude we should acknowledge our responsibility to be fair towards others to the best of our abilities.
3. And that we should be held accountable for our ability / inability to be fair to others and accept the consequences thereof.
4. In our effort to be fair towards others we should strive to be respectful to moral standards by striving towards goodness and nice things and refraining from all form of deplorable practices.
5. That we should also strive for purification in our livelihood, lest we consume what does not rightfully belong to us.
6. That we should practice restrain on our physical desires and material passions lest they should lead us to act immorally.
7. That to the extent of our ability we have an obligation to explore and contemplate and debate the source and the purpose of our conscious experience.
8. That in determining what is fair, what is good and pure vs. what is deplorable, evil and immoral our final standard should be the most sincere application of our own intellect and conscience ? we must avoid blind faith in any book / dogma / preacher or tradition. (By blind faith I mean a faith that wants us to shut off our intellect and conscience.)
9. That if we end up making a mistake, we should be remorseful and we should turn back through correction and reconciliation as soon as we recognize the mistake and
10. That we should help each other in fair dealings and forbid from all forms of deplorable behavior.
It is my humble opinion ? if we can accept and agree upon the above principles we can peacefully coexist irrespective of our otherwise differences of beliefs, rituals and traditions. If we can be sincere, our master is not unjust by an atoms weight and He guides to the straight route whomever He wills.
Later to our Master is our return and He will judge amongst us how we used to act.
Best regards,
Arman
After spending more than a year in this forum, I am now convinced that in a forum like this we will never get consensus on most of the topics. For example, we will never get consensus on whether it is okay to personify God and if yes, to what extent. Nor will we have consensus whether ?Religion? is necessary or only an evil. We cannot come to a conclusion about what is salaat, jakaat, hujj, ramadan, riba. Nor can we agree on fundamental scientific observations like the shape of earth or evolution of species.
Given so much disagreement my question is, can we have at least consensus on some points? Below I list 10 points on which I believe we should and can have a consensus. May I take your opinion on whether any of you would disagree on any of the 10 points below?
1. That we should be grateful for the gift of life ? our physical abilities, our intellect, our families, our education, our achievements and failure ? everything.
2. Because of our gratitude we should acknowledge our responsibility to be fair towards others to the best of our abilities.
3. And that we should be held accountable for our ability / inability to be fair to others and accept the consequences thereof.
4. In our effort to be fair towards others we should strive to be respectful to moral standards by striving towards goodness and nice things and refraining from all form of deplorable practices.
5. That we should also strive for purification in our livelihood, lest we consume what does not rightfully belong to us.
6. That we should practice restrain on our physical desires and material passions lest they should lead us to act immorally.
7. That to the extent of our ability we have an obligation to explore and contemplate and debate the source and the purpose of our conscious experience.
8. That in determining what is fair, what is good and pure vs. what is deplorable, evil and immoral our final standard should be the most sincere application of our own intellect and conscience ? we must avoid blind faith in any book / dogma / preacher or tradition. (By blind faith I mean a faith that wants us to shut off our intellect and conscience.)
9. That if we end up making a mistake, we should be remorseful and we should turn back through correction and reconciliation as soon as we recognize the mistake and
10. That we should help each other in fair dealings and forbid from all forms of deplorable behavior.
It is my humble opinion ? if we can accept and agree upon the above principles we can peacefully coexist irrespective of our otherwise differences of beliefs, rituals and traditions. If we can be sincere, our master is not unjust by an atoms weight and He guides to the straight route whomever He wills.
Later to our Master is our return and He will judge amongst us how we used to act.
Best regards,
Arman