Takeaways from Udaipur Mishap

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 5 July 2022 Problem with the 'Modern' World Is That ' Respect For Religion ' Has Become a Code Phrase Meaning ' Fear of Religion Main Points: 1. Qur’an also states that killing an individual amounts to killing the whole humanity. 2. Follow your religion and god in the precincts of four walls. 3. We must also reinterpret the scriptures in a humane and relatable way and purge them of the outlandish 'truths' they're rife with. 4. To encapsulate, we all need to be latitudinarians in terms of religion. ------ “If there’s life on other planets, then the earth is the Universe’s insane asylum.” ~ Voltaire There's a Finnish adage, “Let etoni, z'in men't maroni” (Explosion paves the way for implosion). What happened in Udaipur was an explosion, which certainly paved the way for implosion (internal churning and introspection). And this inner rinsing is not just for Islam and its followers, but for the followers of all faiths. This extremely sad incident should teach all of us that it's neither god nor religion, but what matters most is man. Qur’an also states that killing an individual amounts to killing the whole humanity. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also Read: Why Muslim Ulema's Condemnation Of Udaipur Killing Is Hypocritical: The Real Culprit Is The Post-Quranic Theology Which Sanctions Beheading For Blasphemy --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At this juncture of human civilization, we all must ponder that we cannot accord religion and god the over-exalted status of being unimpeachable and irreproachable. All religions, their gods and revered characters must be respected, even venerated, but giving excessive or undue respect is not desirable. Nor is it required. The problem with the 'modern' world is that ' Respect for religion ' has become a code phrase meaning ' fear of religion.' Religions like all other ideas, deserve criticism, satire and yes, our fearless disrespect. Salman Rushdie aptly pointed out that the moment you declare a set of ideas to be immune from criticism, satire, derision or contempt, freedom of thought becomes impossible. We all need to be socially and religiously mature and at the same time, discreet as well. But that doesn't mean we should throttle the throat of freedom of speech. It was because of people like Martin Luther, Rousseau, Voltaire, among others, Christianity underwent a sea-change and today, it's not as savage as it used to be in the Dark Ages. Christianity allowed itself to changes, reformation and reinterpretations. Bible is not the oracular truth anymore. Many so-called 'Gospel truths' were detonated. Today, no one faces the plight and predicament of Galileo and Giordano Bruno for doubting the veracity of Biblical verses. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also Read: The Brutal Killing Of A Hindu In The Name Of Blasphemy In Udaipur Rajasthan Is Extremely Shameful, Reprehensible And Anti-Islamic: Muslim Organizations, Ulama And Personalities --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's worthwhile to mention that Bruno was tried for heresy by the Roman Inquisition on charges of denial of several core Catholic doctrines including eternal damnation, the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, the virginity of Mary (Immaculate Conception) and transubstantiation. He was executed by burning! Today, the same doubts are amicably discussed among sceptics, agnostics, atheists and Christian apologists. No one is burnt at the stake or beheaded. I must share a personal experience with the readers to ram home my point. A few years ago when I visited a foreign varsity, I delivered a lecture on Talmudic literature, I told the audience, mincing no words, that the whole 'story' of Moses receiving Ten Commandments from god was a fib. One Rabbi in the audience calmly said, “Well, it's your viewpoint. We may not necessarily agree with you." This is religious, nay spiritual, maturity! No uncivilised reactions, no abuses, no threats to my life and no condemnation. We all must emulate that Rabbi's wisdom in these terribly volatile times. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also Read: The Brutal Killing Of A Hindu In The Name Of Blasphemy In Udaipur Rajasthan Is Extremely Shameful, Reprehensible And Anti-Islamic: Muslim Organizations, Ulama And Personalities --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Religious dogmas shall remain till the end of human civilization as most of the humans are still not so evolved as to discard the ideas of god, religion and supernatural, but killing someone for the sake of those dogmas and irrational beliefs is not just regressive, it's a throwback to our cave-dwelling, desert past. Humans need to understand that enough is enough. We've been killing our brethren for all imaginary books and their fabricated gods for ages. This asinine behaviour cannot go on unabated. Follow your religion and god in the precincts of four walls. Killing others for the sanctity and sacredness of your religious beliefs will relegate the whole world down to an ever-active battlefield of faiths. Remember, faith is mankind's inexorable fate. Most of the humans cannot wriggle themselves out of it, but we can at least remain civilised humans to make this world a tad better place to live in. We must also reinterpret the scriptures, though all are bogus, in a humane and relatable way and purge them of the outlandish 'truths' they're rife with. We must also stop searching for imaginary references to plastic surgery and Big Bang in our ' Holy ' books. Instead, we should strive to ameliorate the collective lot of humanity, we're a part of. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also Read: Indian Ulema Need To Junk The Islamist Theology Behind Beheading For Blasphemy And Proclaim It Loudly And Repeatedly From All Mosques: Mere Condemnation Of Udaipur Killing Is Not Enough --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Futile discussions on heaven and hell will not lead us anywhere. But discussions and brainstorming sessions on earth and ecology will have some positive and practical results. To encapsulate, we all need to be latitudinarians in terms of religion. If we're still blind to taking a lesson out of it, we're doomed forever. ---- 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 world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/radical-islamism-jihad/udaipur-killing-religion/d/127406 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