Source & Credit: Islam Examiner
By Qasim Rashid | July 14, 2010
Some atheists incorrectly assume that religion cannot be practiced in a practical and beneficial manner. They point to terrorist groups who ascribe to religion like the Lehi (Jewish), the Taliban (Muslim), the Lords Resistance Army (Christian), and the Tamil Tigers (Hindu) as evidence that religion cannot exist peacefully in the world.
While atheists validly point out the volatility, violence, and vulgarity of these terrorist groups, they fail to recognize that extremists living thousands of years after a religion was founded cannot be a valid test of a religion's application or practicality. In fact, we needn't wait that long to determine if a religion has truth.
Upon the founding of a true religion (i.e. Divinely guided religion), mankind immediately sees the probative and practical value of the spiritual and oftentimes secular guidance. This burden of proof is on God to ensure the teaching is sound and logical. If a religion is false, it will be false immediately and clearly seen through the errors of the founder of that religion during his lifetime, as there will be no Divine guidance to lead the way.
Let alone on an individual level, on a mass scale, history provides numerous examples of societies who flourished based on the moral and secular teachings of religious scripture. The progeny of Prophet Abraham (as) lived in harmony and peace for centuries until Egypt enslaved the Jews. Once Prophet Moses (as) liberated the Jewish people, they once again flourished for centuries under the leadership of great Prophets such as David (as), Solomon (as), and Joseph (as).
Likewise, though small in number, the early Christians (pre-325 Nicean Creed) lived in harmony amongst one another despite facing bitter persecution at the hands of the Romans who followed their self-created pagan customs.
As has been the theme of this series, we will focus largely on how Islam provides a practical and logical answer of God and religion that many atheists claim doesn't exist.
At the advent of Islam, Arabia was a moral wasteland, such that even God states that He sent Muhammad (sa) to the Arabs so that they might have a chance at salvation. Within 23 years, Arabia was transformed from a society bereft of peace and sovereignty to one of the most unified and peaceful empires the world has ever witnessed. Muhammad (sa) gave women equal rights, ended slavery, established freedom of religion, and championed the rights of the orphans and the poor. This transformation came about because people saw the logical message of Islam, and were inspired to adhere to that clear message.
Moreover, the scholarship in Astronomy, Algebra, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Art, Culture, Navigation, Medicine, Psychology, and a host of other sciences that Muslim scholars gave to the world is unprecedented. Documentary producer Howard R. Turner, author of Science in Medieval Islam, writes: "Muslim artists and scientists, princes and laborers together made a unique culture that has directly and indirectly influenced societies on every continent." Islam, in it's pristine form, is not only practical, but it is practical because it was Divinely revealed.
Critics assert a baseless response that Muhammad (sa) forced conversion and adherence. However, the letters and pacts with Christians and Treaties he signed with Jews tell a much different story. PBS reports about Muhammad (sa) and the Jews, "The exiled Banu Nadir and the Banu Qaynuqa removed to the prosperous northern oasis of Khaybar, and later pledged political loyalty to Muhammad. Other Jewish clans honored the pact they had signed and continued to live in peace in Medina long after it became the Muslim capital of Arabia."
Another excellent resource is The 100 by Michael Hart. Hart ranks the 100 most influential people in history and chooses to place Prophet Muhammad (sa) at #1. He reasons that Muhammad (sa) is the only person in history to inspire both a spiritual and a secular revolution, such that all others pale in comparison.
Not only do we agree with this assessment (by a non-Muslim), but it stands to demonstrate from yet another objective observation that Islam, when practiced properly, is in fact a practical and logical religion.
Historically speaking, Islam won with logic and prayer, not compulsion. No religion, belief, ideology, or lack of belief in history impacted world scholarship to the extent that Islam and Muslims demonstrated.
However, atheists expectedly respond that if we even assume, for the sake of argument, that Prophet Muhammad (sa) reformed an entire civilization through his example of morality, without reverting to force or coercion, so what? That was 1400 years ago. The behaviors of enough Muslim nations today demonstrate the fallacy of Qur'anic teachings. If the God of Islam was truly All-Knowing, He would have foreseen this corruption and would have taken steps to ensure either it didn't happen, or somehow stopped. That Islam was practical 1400 years ago has no baring on whether Islam is practical today.
This is a valid argument and its answer is coming in Part IV of this series.
Read original post here: The Atheism Fallacy - Part III
Oh boy, you vulgarly misinterpret the definition of atheism to be the opposite of religious morality. The horrible grammar in your little picture doesn't surprise me either. You believe that religion, or an "ultimate moral authority", created morality. Who's to say that morality, in the eyes of the corrupt, didn't create religion as a means to control people? Fuck off. PS: Atheism is a LACK of belief, not a belief.
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