Contemporary Challengers to Religion and Their Resolutions (Part Two)

By Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi, New Age Islam 17 September 2025 Abstract: Religion today faces many challenges from science, technology, globalisation, and new philosophies. Modern theories like evolution question traditional beliefs. Secularism and atheism push religion into private life, weakening its social role. Bioethics, cloning, and artificial intelligence raise moral issues that religion must address. At the same time, religion is criticised for being rigid, yet it offers peace, purpose, and spiritual strength in a materialistic age. Scholars have responded to objections through major works, providing reasoned answers with evidence from the Qur’an, Sunnah, history, and logic. These responses show religion’s intellectual foundation and relevance for modern minds. Main Points: 1. Science and secularism challenge traditional beliefs and weaken religion’s role. 2. Bioethics, cloning, AI raise new moral questions for religions. 3. Religion provides peace, meaning, and guidance in materialistic society. 4. Objections often arise from ignorance, prejudice, or biased thinking. 5. Scholars respond with reasoned, researched defences using Qur’an, Sunnah. ----- In general, the challenges that religion faces today are certainly reinforced by the above-mentioned or similar literature. It is also appropriate to note here that the modern age is described as an era of scientific inventions, rapid technological development, globalisation, and intellectual diversity. In such a time, religion inevitably encounters new questions and challenges. These questions arise not only at an individual level but also extend to collective, social, political, and moral dimensions. Modern science has presented theories about the universe, the earth, and human existence that differ from traditional religious interpretations. For example, the theory of evolution directly challenges the story of the creation of Adam. In the modern age, the tendency to separate the state from religion is increasing. In the Western world, secularism has confined religion to the private sphere. As a result, the social and political role of religion has weakened. Furthermore, atheism and secularist movements consider religion unnecessary or even harmful. These attitudes pose intellectual challenges for believers. Biotechnology, genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, and modern medicine have brought humanity face to face with many questions that directly concern ethics. Should human beings be allowed to control life and death? Are cloning or artificial intelligence morally acceptable? In such matters, the question arises whether religion still provides a solid moral foundation. At the same time, another question is raised: do religious teachings possess enough flexibility to address these new issues? The world has become a global village. People of different religions and cultures now live in the same societies. In this context, the greatest challenge for religion is to promote tolerance, coexistence, and dialogue. If religion encourages extremism and intolerance, it can become a barrier to global peace and development. In the present age, human beings are largely engrossed in material progress and worldly comforts. As a result, spiritual emptiness and mental stress are increasing. The greatest contribution of religion is that it provides inner peace, spiritual strength, and a sense of purpose in life. At the same time, however, religion is also criticised for sometimes clinging to traditions and stagnation, which the modern mind finds unacceptable. Intellectual Response to Objections Against Religion At the global level, scholars have responded to the challenges faced by religion today, and books have been written specifically on this subject. In fact, objections to religion have existed since ancient times. At different periods, religion has been criticised in the name of reason and logic, through science and philosophy, and on social and political grounds. These objections often claim that religion is irrational, anti-science, restricts human freedom, or causes social stagnation. However, history shows that most of these objections are either based on misunderstandings or arise from biased attitudes. Religious objections have always been answered by thinkers and scholars in an intellectual manner. This scholarly approach is the only effective tool to silence critics and provide satisfactory explanations. Therefore, considerable work has been carried out in Arabic, English, Urdu, and other languages to answer objections raised against religion. One significant scholarly work in this regard is “ موسوعة البيان الإسلامي للردعلى الافتراءات و الشبهات” (Encyclopaedia of Islamic Clarification for Refuting False Allegations and Doubts). This encyclopaedia is counted among the most important modern intellectual and research efforts. Its central aim is to provide reasoned and scholarly responses to objections, false claims, and doubts raised against Islam. The encyclopaedia covers misconceptions spread about Islam in both the East and the West. It has multiple sections addressing issues such as objections to the Qur’an, criticisms of the Prophet’s Sunnah (tradition), doubts regarding Islamic beliefs, Islam and human rights, Islam and science, and Islam’s relationship with other religions. The distinctive feature of this encyclopaedia is that it is not merely defensive but adopts a research-based and analytical style. Each objection or doubt is presented in a fair and detailed manner so that readers may understand the exact issue. After that, comprehensive responses are provided using evidence from the Qur’an, Sunnah, reason, and history. Modern Western philosophy and scientific objections are also addressed. This encyclopaedia is a valuable resource not only for the general reader but also for researchers and students. It shows that the foundations of Islam are built upon reason, knowledge, and wisdom, and that most objections against it are based on ignorance, prejudice, or partiality. Similarly, Ahmad Shawqi Ibrahim compiled " موسوعة الرد على الشبهات والإفتراءات الموجهة ضد الإسلام" (Encyclopaedia of Refuting Doubts and False Claims Against Islam). This work provides a comprehensive intellectual response to modern objections raised against Islam from various sources. The author collected these objections with great effort and research, and provided reasoned refutations. The encyclopaedia begins by explaining where objections arise from and what their actual basis is. Then, each objection is analysed and answered with arguments from the Qur’an, Sunnah, and history. The book particularly addresses misconceptions about fundamental Islamic principles such as monotheism, prophethood, the afterlife, and Islamic law. It also deals with claims such as “Islam is a violent religion,” “Islam restricts women’s rights,” and “Islam opposes science.” The author provides detailed answers to all such objections, proving that they lack intellectual credibility. Another important feature of this work is that it is written in a style suitable for modern readers, directly engaging with Western philosophy, secularism, and atheistic arguments. It is not merely a traditional rebuttal but a genuine modern intellectual dialogue. Hakmat bin Bashir bin Yasin’s work " سلسلة الرد على الشبهات" (Series on Refuting Doubts) gathers various objections raised against different aspects of Islam. These are organised under headings such as objections to the Qur’an, criticisms of the Prophet’s biography, Islam and women’s rights, Islam’s relationship with non-Muslims, and misconceptions about jihad. The author answers these doubts with logical and well-reasoned arguments. His style is noteworthy as he first clearly presents the objection so the reader understands the actual issue, and then provides detailed responses based on Qur’anic verses, Hadith, and rational arguments. This series is helpful both for general readers, as it uses simple language, and for researchers, as it includes historical and philosophical evidence. Its purpose is to help Muslim youth, whose minds are often troubled with doubts, to remain confident in their faith, and also to offer non-Muslim readers a clearer understanding of Islam’s true message. Muhammad Husayn Abbas Hashim’s book "الرد على الشبهات" (Refutation of Doubts) addresses common objections raised against Islam and provides simple yet reasoned answers. The author seeks to explain these doubts in plain language so that the reader can easily understand. The book mainly focuses on fundamental beliefs such as monotheism, prophethood, and the authenticity of the Qur’an, but also covers social objections, such as the status of women in Islam, the concept of jihad, and the relationship between Islam and science. The importance of this book lies in its accessibility for ordinary readers who may not be able to study long encyclopaedias or research-based works. It presents concise yet well-reasoned refutations of doubts. This book can serve as an excellent source to respond to Islamophobia and the objections spread by modern media. Part One of the Article: A Critical Study of Religion and Contemporary Challenges (Part One) ----- Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi is an author and New Age Islam Columnist. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/contemporary-religion-resolutions-part-two/d/136864 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism