The way religions are practiced today

“Nothing is more distressing than seeing the way religions are practiced today. People from all walks of life follow religious sects as if blindfolded . . . Christianity is now subdivided into hundreds of sects; Islam and Judaism are also subdivided. Every sect claims to be "correct." How can we determine who is right and who is wrong? Unfortunately, people have forgotten the very essence of religions: seeking the truth about our existence and our relationship with the Creator.

But how can you seek the truth if you are raised not to question what your priest or religious leaders tell you? . . . A true intellectual will not take things for granted but will research the subject matter for as long as necessary to form an opinion. . . .

It is very important to separate the essence of a religion from the social application of that religion. A religion comes into existence at a certain time and in a certain place for a certain group of people. It develops in a form these people can accept, at their level of comprehension. Islam, for example, came to the people of the Arabian Peninsula in a form that was consistent with their life-style and understanding. The only way at that time to spread Islam was through the power of the sword. Tribes imposed their way of living on other tribes only by force. Islam couldn’t have come to the people of this region with the message "Love thy neighbor." . . .

If you travel by car from Jeddah to Taif in Saudi Arabia, you reach a point where the road is closed to everyone but Moslems because it passes through Mecca. People of other faiths must take a long detour, commonly called "the Road of the Infidels." Are Moslems of Saudi Arabia following the true spirit of Mohammed’s message? What makes these Moslems think they are pure but other people are unclean?”

M. Murad, Axioms: In Search of a Comprehensive Philosophy of Life
Murad Publishing, USA, 1992, p. 24-5


 

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