Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Excerpts
Source & Credit: Ahmadiyya Gezzette | April 2008
[Richard] Dawkins claims that if there were no religion there will be no crusades or suicidal bombing is historically ill informed.
First time the world saw suicidal bombing was in the form of Kamikaze pilots in the World War II. Dawkins presentation lends itself to black and white separation without acknowledging the nuance positions of different colors of gray. He conveniently forgets that humans have discriminated against each other on the basis of color, race, family ties, gender, financial status and looks, to name a few.
Commenting on the absurdity of Dawkins claims, Allister E. McGrath writes:
"The simplistic belief that the elimination of religion would lead to the ending of violence, social tension or discrimination is thus sociologically naive. It fails to take account of the way in which human beings create values and norms, and make sense of their identity and their surroundings. If religion were to cease to exist, other social demarcators would emerge as decisive, some of which would become transcendentalized in due course. Dawkins has no interest in sociology, as might be expected. Yet the study of how individuals and societies function casts serious doubt on one of the most fundamental assertions of his analysis.
It is well established that prejudice and discrimination are shaped by perception and group identities. Gross simplifications about religion, exclusion and violence will simply delay and defer a solution of humanity‘s real problems."
Holy Quran actually requires being service and fair minded as preconditions for any spiritual development. So it cannot lead a genuine seeker after truth to violence. The Holy Quran says:
"We will surely guide in Our ways those who strive after Us. Verily, Allah is with those who do good, (and are service minded)." (29:70) And, "They are eager listeners to falsehood, devourers of things forbidden. If, then, they come to thee for judgment, judge between them or turn aside from them. And if thou turn aside from them, they cannot harm thee at all. And if thou judge, judge between them with justice. Surely Allah loves those who are just." (5:43)
There are scores of other verses that can be quoted on this subject.
-- Courtesy: Ahmadiyya Times Staff
The assertion that debunks Dawkins doesn't truly debunk. Ambiguous text does not say he's wrong. He exaggerating, but crimes perpetrated by those aforementioned garner harsh punishment from the masses. Crimes perpetrated in the name of a divine being do not garner harsh punishment from the masses. Unless they believe in a different unprovable fairy.
ReplyDeleteHistory of mafia, gang violence, racism and a lot more establish that human violence is not rooted in religion. We also know that chimanzee communities are also known to wage wars, so wars predate religion. It is true that religious extremists can be violent and sometimes politicians use religion as their tool.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that when one religious or political group chooses to stereotype the other, its followers conveniently bend over backwards to accomodate, what may be a false generalization. But, this human vulnerability is not rooted in religion but short term personal interest related to ones group.