The Crux Of A Collective Spiritual Evolution

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 26 November 2024 This pertains to Dr Moaz Nair's perceptive article 'Absence of Reasoning and Inquiry Has Stagnated Muslim Minds.' Muslims must accept the fact that all religions will always be of a symbolic kind, and that the gods we pray to and sacrifice to will someday be as remote from us as the mythological figures like Norns (the Norns are a group of deities in Norse mythology who are responsible for shaping the destinies of humans and gods) or the Benares cows; but that, if symbolic, they are not at present futile. To elaborate it, all forms of religion will always have a symbolic nature, and in the future, the gods that we pray to and make sacrifices for will be as distant from us as the mythological figures like Norns or the revered cows of Benares. In other words, mythologies of all faiths will prove themselves to be full of myths as times will march on and evolve. However, it highlights that although these gods are symbolic in nature, they are not currently insignificant or pointless. This implies that the symbolic gods hold meaning and relevance in our lives at present, serving as sources of solace, inspiration, and guidance, despite their perceived remoteness. It suggests that even though these deities may become distant in our collective consciousness over time, their symbolic significance remains significant and impactful in our current religious experiences. What happened to the Pagan gods of ancient Greece? They were very relevant at that point in time but gradually lost their relevance with the passage of time. The ancient Greek gods were immortal beings who lived in Mount Olympus and were known as the Olympians. They were believed to look and behave like humans. Does anyone remember those 'immortal' gods? Not just Muslims, the followers of all faiths can be proud of their current gods, scriptures and religious tenets. But they must also remember that like evolving humans, religions must evolve and one day, they all may even vanish. Even your god will evolve or disappear. The realization of the ephemeral existence of our life, faiths and gods helps us become more humane and considerate. Islam is often criticized for not allowing reasoning and inquiry to thrive. But then, all faiths suffer from serious lack of reasoning, esp. in these religiously volatile and volcanic times. The inherent desire within humans to find meaning, purpose, and a sense of belonging is the driving force behind the development and popularity of dogmatic religions. Whether it is Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, or any other faith, the drum-major instinct emerges as a universal human need to navigate the complexities of life, seek higher truths, and find solace in a collective belief system. It reflects the fundamental longing for connection, guidance, and answers to profound existential questions that transcend cultural and religious boundaries. Once we imbibe this underlying spirit of all faiths, dogmas and the misconception that my faith is better than yours will go away automatically. We all need to have a universal vision about religion and their evolution. To paraphrase a famous English adage, enjoy the music till it lasts, enjoy and follow all religions till they last without being dogmatic, obstinate and irrational. Dr Moaz Nair's article should be read and understood in a broader perspective without limiting it to Muslims and Islam. This is the crux of a collective spiritual evolution. ---- 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/crux-collective-spiritual-evolution/d/133821 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