Faith Cannot Justify Immoral Actions

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 28 November 2024 This pertains to Mr Hasan Mahmud's write up, " Religion against Religion - Its Fatal Impact On Human Life." Though his accent is on sectarian contradictions, it also underlines the futility of faith. Call it my idee fixe, but let me reiterate that when there'll be so many conflicting opinions, rules and verdicts within the framework of a faith and when a 'religious person' (a Hindu seer) has the gall to demand the disfranchisement of Muslims, shouldn't sane people question the very validity and utility of all religions? In these polarised times when countries are fighting over religions and lands, faith is not a virtue, but a vice that prevents us from thinking critically and questioning our beliefs. Faith often acts as a barrier to critical thinking and self-reflection. Rather, it's a recipe for self-destruction. While faith can provide comfort and a sense of purpose for many, blindly adhering to beliefs without questioning or examining them can hinder our ability to fully understand the world around us. By relying solely on faith, we may miss out on opportunities for growth and intellectual curiosity. It is important to continually challenge our beliefs and be willing to explore new ideas in order to truly understand the complexity of the world we live in. Can any sane person, precisely a Hindu, justify this rabid seer Kumar Chandrashekaranatha Swami's highly volatile and vicious statement? Faith cannot justify immoral actions, no matter how sincerely held or deeply cherished. Regardless of how strongly one may believe in their faith or how deeply cherished their beliefs are, it does not give them the right to justify immoral behaviour. Faith should be a guiding force for good and ethical conduct, rather than a means to excuse harmful actions. It serves as a reminder that we are accountable for our choices and should strive to align our beliefs with values that promote kindness, empathy, and respect for others. This statement highlights the need for critical reflection and ethical reasoning in religious practice, emphasizing the necessity of upholding moral principles above all else. The way Hindu seers and spiritual leaders are condemning Muslims and Islam and vice versa, can you call it an acceptable moral behaviour? This shows that religion is not the source of morality, but a cultural institution that reflects the values and beliefs of its time and place. Morality is not inherent to religion, but rather a product of cultural values and beliefs that shape religious institutions. As societies evolve and change over time, so too do the moral codes upheld by religious institutions. This perspective highlights the importance of critical thinking and questioning cultural norms, rather than blindly following religious doctrines, in order to truly understand and internalize moral values. When you glorify your own faith and criticize other religions, can that be an example of god-given morality? This seer's vitriol is an example of the prevalent divisive morality. When morality changes in accordance with the zeitgeist of our times, it cannot be divine. Humans need to be more humane to love each other unconditionally and create a universal moral code to disseminate love. We need to be more loving and have a much greater degree of empathy. Unfortunately, religion and religious morality failed to inculcate these attributes. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/faith-justify-immoral-actions/d/133845 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