Religion And Rationality: Antagonistic Or Compatible?

By Editor on 7th October 2023 • ( 0 )

Religion And Rationality: Antagonistic Or Compatible?

It is mostly said that religion and rationality are poles apart and two antagonistic doctrines. Theology and philosophy have different directions in their treatment. So, in some religions, we find irrational, unnatural and even inhuman beliefs, customs, rites and rituals.

If you ask a Hindu, as to why he drinks the urine of cow or eat the dung of cow, he will have no rational answer except saying that Maharaj Krishan used to drink the milk of cow. You further ask him, did Krishan drink the urine of the cow or ate the dung of the cow? He will answer; no. Then why you do which Krishan did not do? His answer will be as the cow is sacred for us, so we drink the urine of the cow and eat the dung of the cow. Is it a rational answer? I have just given the example of one irrational ritual of the blind followers of one religion. There are abundant examples of such irrational beliefs in many religions.

Rational Theology is quite different from Blind Faith. In world religions, it is only Islam that emphasizes on rationality. Time and again, the Holy Quran ordains to meditate and cogitate and regards rationality as a superior trait. Islam totally negates mythology, whimsicality and pseudo spirituality.

Rational theology flourished in the early Islam and later in the eras, it declined and committed intellectual suicide. The rational Muslim thinkers were lashed, imprisoned and executed. Islam does not believe in blind or irrational faith. Islam believes in rational faith. The Muslims faced two tragic dilemmas and even today are facing the same horrendous fate. First; Monarchy and second; Mullahism.

In monarchic states, no one can freely speak or write. Freedom of thought is prohibited in theses fascist states. They claim to be Islamic states but practically, they are Imperial states and are un- Islamic states as Islam and monarchy are antagonistic ideologies. Real Islam is a Revolutionary Islam based on human rights, freedom of faith, democracy, social justice, rationality, equality, moderation, humanity and freedom of speech and expression.

If in these Muslim countries, any Enlightened thinker gives rational or progressive opinion on any religious matter, he is branded as traitor and is beheaded. Beheading with sword is the cruellest method of killing people in Arab countries. Death sentence is sure for enlightened thinkers in the Arab monarchies.

Mullahism is the second hurdle and barricade in the way of rational Islam. Mullahism is a “Religious Dictatorship”. Theses sectarian, bigoted, fanatic, retrogressive and short-visioned clerics are great impediment in the promotion of rational Islam. If any Enlightened thinker in the light of “Ijtehad” (rational enquiry, soul searching) gives his opinion on any Islamic issue in the light of time spirit on analogically lines, he is branded apostate and heretic, and liable to be hanged.

This is the reason the Muslim world has abundant Mullahs but few enlightened thinkers and no Philosopher. Under such circumstances, one cannot expect the real and rational study of Islam. Real Islam emphasizes on a system based on human rights while Monarchic Islam lays stress on religious rituals. Same is the case of the Islam of Mullahs.

In Muslim history the “Mutazilites” were rationalists, while the “Asharites” believed in Blind Faith in the matters of religion and strongly opposed rational enquiry in the matters of religion. I mostly say: “Religion of the prophets is different from the religion of Priests.”

In recent history, the Christian Serbs uncouthly killed the armless and innocent Muslims of Kosovo and Herzegovina. The kids were burned alive and ladies were gang raped and chopped into pieces. Similar, tragic incident happened in Myanmar, where the Buddhists mercilessly killed the Muslims and burned their kids alive.

Is it religion? It is not religion. It is fanaticism. Islam ordains the Muslim conquerors that when they conquer any territory, they must not kill ladies, kids, old people, and their priests. They must not destroy or demolish their churches, holy places and sanctuaries. They must not destroy their crops or cut fruit trees. Can the world show better human manifesto of war than theses ordinations of war?

Islam is the religion of peace, humanity and rationality. I admit this bitter fact that unfortunately, in some religions, we find religious extremists. In India, the BJP and RSS are the fascist groups of religious fanatics who are killing the Christians, the Muslims, the Sikhs and even Hindu low cast Dalits. As the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi is an uneducated, uncivilized religious fanatic, under his very nose the non-Hindus are being persecuted.

Amid Muslims, we also find terrorists and hardliners. They are the scum of society. They are religious fanatics. They are extremists. They kill the followers of other sects. Sectarianism is a great threat to Muslims and Islam.

There was an era of “Christian Puritanism”. We find the message of Christian Puritanism in the poetry books of John Milton titled “Paradise Lost” and “Paradise Regained”. In Muslim world, we have the same religious ideology which is known as Salafism”. It is a movement against Rationalism and Sufism. Salafism means going back to predecessors. According to its critics it is a retrogressive and irrational ideology which has produced religious extremists and terrorists.

Sufism and Salafism are poles apart and are quite contrary to each other. Eminent Muslim enlightened thinker Khalid Abou El Fadl calls “puritans” – a wide range of Salafists who are rigid, conservatives and defend the Islamic orthodoxy against modern liberal and rational values.

I believe, if we introduce Rational Islam to our youth and coming generations, we will be doing great service to mankind as Islam is not only the religion of Muslims but is the religion of all humanity.

In the end, I would like to quote a few lines of eminent Turkish Muslim enlightened thinker Mustafa Akyol from his book titled “Reopening Muslim Minds”. He writes:

“To be sure, since the nineteenth century, some Muslims have taken significant steps to catch up. Recently, British historian Christopher de Bellaigue has summarized these efforts as the “Islamic Enlightenment”. This term means “Rational Islam”.

I would like to reiterate my two cherished slogans which are the articles of my universal faith: “No Rationality: No Religion”. “No Humanity: No Religion”.

I visualize that the Real and Rational Islam that protects human rights will emerge from America and Europe as in those countries there is freedom of thought. The Muslim countries are still hovering around fascism and monarchy. I am optimistic about the future of Islam that will be free from sectarianism, feudalism, retrogression, terrorism, dictatorship and irrationality.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Voice of East.