Recently, I was given a treat by an eager young soul who desired that I be wowed over by a certain philosophy of religious thinking held by his certain ‘Islamic Sect’. Some people say that the young are so innocent that they are easily taken in by what amounts to ludicrous arguments. It is not only the young! Older people, desiring certain ‘make believe’ perks might feel comfortable in the twisted logic that gets passed off as reality.
To prove these things, a deeper look into reality is just the ticket to uncover certain ‘frauds’ that have been passed on by those who have been propelled to power and kept in power by the same frauds that got them there. And helping them to stay there are the weak-minded people who believe that they are something special due to a certain ‘philosophy’ that they have embraced or find themselves linked to.
Like some form of cancerous inbreeding, certain tales get bandied about and made into what passes off as concrete logic but in reality is nothing but invented fluff held in place by certain devices such as ‘religious authority’ and circular reasoning. There is little to no open and objective challenge to these decrepit and false assumptions lest one be labeled as a provocateur or a troublemaker.
The title for this piece is Same Old, Same Old – A Perspective which refers to the fact that there is nothing new underneath the Sun which in turn means that a ‘rose by any other name smells just as sweet.’ In other words, the same old story is being played out again and again across various cultures and times. Maybe it is being played out in another ‘theater of operations’ by different peoples but it is just a veiled rerun under a new name. In fact, it can be likened to just a plain old package that has been recycled and only a new, shiny ribbon has been added to hold in its contents. The shiny new ribbon may represent a new culture, time or language but the box is still the same old box.
This can be easily proven by a look throughout history as well as cross-comparison analysis between certain prevalent systems. The time-location may change, the geography may change, the color of a certain race may change and people may speak radically different languages but the underlining current of false and made-up ‘doctrine’ remains basically the same and hence, a ‘false’ philosophy is created.
There is always a danger with immature souls when we talk about this stuff because they inwardly become disgusted with the hardcore reasoning thrown at them and therefore desire to throw out not only the dirty bathwater but also the baby with it! It is much like a wild animal being cornered. Their eyes glaze over and they become desperate as ‘rats deserting a sinking ship’. Once the rug of ‘unreality’ is pulled from under their feet and they have no answer to the ‘hard facts’, many people just deny certain topics altogether. An example of such behavior is the topic of religion.
Once the ‘shield’ of religious shenanigans is uncovered, the cultural shock of being ‘isolated’ begins. This isolation often results in a feeling of, “Okay, I’ve been fooled; therefore, I’m going to throw the whole kit and caboodle out and deny all things related to religion. This overreaction is typical of those who would feel foolish for having believed and taken seriously what now appears as false and idiotic doctrine not worthy of even an afterthought.
This is basically a self-defense mechanism because no one really wants to relish in the fact that he/she actually at one time believed in such ridiculous notions. What is needed with these people is patience to see if that ‘wounded soul’ can perceive the real Truth versus manufactured falsehood. If it be so, then it is good, and if it is not, well so much for that or welcome to the world of atheism or some kind of anti-ism.
So let us jump in and take a few examples of this phenomenon and at the end we will take a look at another flaw in the human psyche and that is a form of ‘arrogance’ which can lead a soul to reject facts that it, the tortured soul, cannot seem to process which ultimately leads to a rejection of or a making fun of religious beliefs in total.
The last article, “Comparative Religion Abrahamic Style (Revised) mentioned two basic reasons why people are caught in the ‘trap’ of their own making or believing in a delusional world aspect. That makes sense when one goes to the basic question of who is running or controlling this universe.
Why did the ONE GOD allow this diversity of thought to happen in knowing full well that ‘confusion’ and divisions would occur? One can only conjecture at this point but the overall answer is a simple one. ALLAH DOES AS HE SO CHOOSES AND NONE CAN ARGUE WITH HIM OR HIS PERFECT PLAN. Not only is that the reason but we are given another simpler reason in that if ALLAH so WILLED, HE could have made the whole human earthly population Muslim {believing in one accord} but HE wanted to test mankind as to those who have received {and followed} the message.
To thee WE sent the Scripture in truth, confirming {the Truth of} the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what ALLAH hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that has come to you. To each among you have WE prescribed a law and an open way. If ALLAH had so willed, HE would have made you a single people, but (HIS plan is) to test you in what HE hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to ALLAH. It is HE that will show you the truth of the matters in which you dispute. Q (5: 48)
The wounded soul believes he/she has the authority or power to rewrite history so to speak or is in command of their own senses. But those ‘losers’ who keep spinning their wheels in vying with the ONE GOD can never seem to really get what is going on.
Only by the coordination of THE WILL of GOD and the soul being willing to humbly come to the LORD and ask for forgiveness and the strength to climb back up the ladder (redirect one’s efforts) will that soul get off his self-created and self-centered fence.
This can be called getting a real awareness as to the life itself – its duties, responsibilities and importance. For example, the importance of this life is not in the living it but in the realization and activities used to store up goodness for the REAL LIFE of that created soul and that is the MOST REAL OF REALITIES WHICH IS ONLY FOUND IN THE AFTERLIFE!
Indeed, ALLAH will NOT change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. Q (13:11)
We can now take a look at some historical things that just sound goofy when properly studied:
***The Shite schools of thought depend for much of their existence on having ‘divine’-type Imams or special heads of religious pronunciations that cannot err. Take away what is called their ability to declare religious scenarios/philosophy with INFALLIBLE ACCURACY and the whole deck of cards will fall down. Being SPECIAL-TYPE HUMAN BEINGS (OF SUCH A BLESSED AND DIVINE NATURE) their ‘perfection’ on religious matters CANNOT BE QUESTIONED. Other human beings except for the prophets are NOT raised to such a status and even they declare that these so-called Imams are even above the status of the prophets.
Let us not utter a curse on the men that have been called ‘IMAMS’ because they did NOT run around preening themselves and uttering their greatness. It was those who came after them who USED THEIR NAMESAKES TO ALTER RELIGIOUS THINKING AND TO PAVE THE WAY FOR RIDICULOUS INVENTIONS.
Members of that persuasion feel free to argue with others about the realities of their peculiar ‘habits’ due to the fact that what was declared by the holy of holies were men of such high rank that they must have such a great connection to GOD HIMSELF and therefore any pronouncement made, or SUPPOSEDLY MADE IN THEIR NAME (forged writings) becomes akin to DIVINE TRUTH. However, hasn’t this game been played out before?
The Shia, for example, can boast of the Uniqueness of the Divinely inspired ‘divine’ Imams and therefore anything developed by their religious scholars, who support the premise of these ‘so-called’ INFALLIBLE IMAMS, can be said to be the truth because of their link to this ‘Divine Source’. What they don’t seem to realize is that this abusive activity has been done before by different peoples.
That is right! The Jews, some Evangelical Protestants and the Roman Catholics have pulled the EXACT SAME STUNT! The reason why they have done this is to control the so-called faithful and getting them to do as they desire even if it be far away from the truth.
- The Jews have declared that they have a lock on the WAY due to their ‘Special Relationship with GOD and that ‘special relationship’ gives them authority and privileges that cannot be or should not be questioned.
(They {the Jews} have incurred Divine displeasure): In that they broke their covenant; that they rejected the signs of ALLAH; that they slew the Messengers in defiance of right; that they said, “Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve ALLAH’s Word); we need no more {Testaments or Prophets}“; Nay, ALLAH has set the seal on their hearts for their blasphemy, and little is it they believe. Q (4:155)
Then spoke Jesus to the multitude and to his disciples,
Saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees {Jews} sit in Moses’ seat:
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do {if be of the Law}; but do NOT {do} after their works; for {like hypocrites} they say and do NOT {do themselves}. Matthew (23: 1-3)
- As far as some of the Evangelicals go, their method that they adapt to show so-called ‘divine’ dictates comes from their show of speaking gibber jabber or what they call as ‘speaking in tongues’. For example, “blah, blish bloke bluey bosh rib rap tunga to” or some such nonsense may be chanted by one of their delusional followers. After putting on such a phony show, the gibber jabber guy will now translate his ‘heavenly message’ to you. Such a message is said to be taken directly from heaven most probably dictated by GOD or Jesus the Christ.
Why this message should come in such a jibber jabber way instead of one’s own learned tongue is still a mystery. Speaking in tongues was an actuality, however, but it lasted only a short while and there was no jibber jabber but in reality what came out was ‘understood speech’ that did NOT have to be translated!
- The Roman Catholics are the ones closest to the Shia in parading around the nonsense of the ‘INFALLIBLE ONES’. Here, the Catholic dogma is built around a man (Pope) who must be believed upon amongst the faithful as a person who is truly INFALLIBLE on religious matters. This is called THE DOCTRINE OF ‘PAPAL INFALLIBILITY’. The Pope here is operating as a type of Imam between Christ and the people in religious matters. So on religious matters (not temporal ones) this ‘guy’ has to be believed when he expresses dogma.
When he decrees something like a Crusade against Muslims, as was done long ago, in fact several times in the past, believers in that corny philosophy of his ‘divine status’ on religious matters had to follow his dictates. Why? Well, because this so-called ‘Vicar of Christ’ on Earth has been given divine authority from the Divine. Hence, GOD is TRUE and therefore to deny the Pope on his divine religious authority is TO DENY GOD HIMSELF! It is called a ‘divine status’ because ‘being INFALLIBLE’ is part of the DIVINE Characteristic.
The second problem that we encounter when we peacefully discuss with these narrow minded people is that we find them living in a bubbled circle thinking and believing that they really do have something quite UNIQUE and GIFTED amongst the other less fortunate of mankind. And while living in this hallucinogenic bubble, they can’t see that throughout history others have done exactly what they are doing and for one purpose only. That purpose is to control and maneuver the flock as it wants so as to hold on to a privileged status and to gain pride and wealth.
Because numbers 1, 2 and 3 come from supposedly THE SAME INFALLIBLE SOURCE, one would think that they would agree in pronouncement and intent with each other 100%. Perhaps all of mankind could be harmonized into one- thinking and acting block from these divine ‘messages from the beyond’. Well, in reality we must think again as historical and rational evidence dictates the phony-baloney of that argument.
Since numbers one, two and three above are so closely related to each other as to be practically the same thing, reasons given by Jesus (pbh) why some people do this will suffice to show what is really in their hidden characters and behind their devious plots:
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries and enlarge the borders of their garments {or put on certain distinctive clothing or headgear as to be noticed much}.
And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues
And greetings in the markets and to be called {by} men, Rabbi, Rabbi {an exalted title used for the learned}. Matthew (23: 5-7)
You blind guides, which strain at a gnat and {but} swallow a camel.
Even so you also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Matthew (23: 24 and 28)
So in controlling the populous, they can control the purse strings and with wealth comes power and with power comes blind arrogance. We can easily see this by the actions and the dictates of these people who have deemed themselves or their religious practices holy by caveat (stipulation) or dictates from above. Hence, any old practice/philosophy can be pronounced to the masses that are generally unwittingly eager to comply.
The general populace being of somewhat of an unquestionable and unknowledgeable mind about real religion cannot fathom the idea that other societies have played the same religious scam. That is to say that they believe in this ‘divine transference’ bit because it is supposedly UNIQUE to them. And THEY CAN NOW RIGHTFULLY CLASSIFY THEMSELVES AS TOP-NOTCH BELIEVERS WHO ARE THE REAL FAITHFUL AND BLESSED AMONGST THE REST OF THE DREGS OF MANKIND. Hence, they are the wise while the other unfortunates (members NOT of their sect) are likened to ignorant fools or unfortunate unbelievers.
It is a tragedy that some people are led by the halter to their own ruin because they don’t have much commonsense. Their own special brand of uniqueness, which in reality is NOT unique, delivers them up to believing in such nonsense as creating innovations in their religion.
When one implies that certain men are ‘lords of the universe’ or Divine spokespersons or ARE INFALLIBLE, ONE CREATS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ONE GOD. It is not a direct, straightforward implication that the ONE GOD has partners but it is an indirect belief that HE shares HIS DOMAIN with others. Therefore, in reality this belief should be condemned as a ‘perverted act’.
Say: “ALLAH knows best how long they stayed {the youths of the cave}: with HIM {and HIM ALONE} is (the knowledge of) the Secrets of the heavens and the earth: how clearly HE sees, how finely HE hears (everything). They have no protector other than HIM; NOR DOES HE SHARE HIS COMMAND WITH ANY PERSON WHATSOEVER. Q (18: 26)
On the DAY HE will say, “Call on those whom you thought to be MY partners.” And they will call on them, but they will NOT listen to them; and WE shall make for them {the breakers of Divine Unity} a place of common perdition {torment}. Q (18: 52)
But the ‘contentious’ arguer still demands satisfaction and clear satisfaction to boot!
We have explained in detail in this Quran, for the benefit of mankind, every kind of similitude: But man is, in most things, Contentious. Q (18: 54)
Well, in that case one can take a look at another so-called Islamic sect. Let us take the sect going by the name of Ahmadiyya, for example. They are the fastest growing so-called dis-believing Islamic sect in the world. Their membership reaches around 15 million members or so and is growing.
They claim that they are following the Quran and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (pbh) but they also have another prophet (Mirza Ghulam Ahmad) who came after the LAST QALIFIED AND PROPHECIED PROPHET – PROPHET MUHAMMAD (pbh). Even though their book is the Quran, they have so-called scholars on their team to prove to the world or their small but growing community that they are in the right!
Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but the Messenger of Allah and the Last of Prophets {Seal of the Prophets}. And Allah has knowledge of everything. (Quran 33:40)
That is one of the tricks employed by this type of religious nonsense. WE HAVE SCHOLARS!!! Yes, you have nitwits who are passed off as scholars who use the famous line of circular reasoning which goes forth to prove the contention that is being made.
How can reasonable people fall for any of this stuff and nonsense? It boggles the imagination that so much lunacy and chicanery is taken as pure, unadulterated fact. However, the following verse from the Quran shows why it is done:
Say: “Everyone acts according to his own disposition but your LORD knows best who it is that is best guided on the WAY.” Q (17: 84)
An example of this twisted circular reasoning used to confound the careless followers of any crooked and illogical belief system follows:
This idea is true because our scholars have stated it. And our scholars have stated it because it is true. Therefore, it is true! See how valid that becomes or how about this:
All of the moons in the universe are made of green cheese. The Earth, which is in the universe, has a Moon. Its Moon therefore is made of green cheese.
So to the dull-witted person or to the person who is highly attracted to that sick philosophy, like moths are attracted to the flames of a candle, the idea that they are being fed a lot of outright lies and a bunch of phooey is incomprehensible. Therefore, they tend to swallow such twisted nonsense whole hog or none!
Another flaw that is seemingly spreading its wings amongst certain people is that of a type of arrogance. Seeing actual problems in their minds concerning religion and actually not wanting to face realities by being patient enough to persevere, some people want to ‘ditch’ the whole concept of religion as just being manmade nonsense.
Maybe they were once ‘believers’ but the call of the world makes a lot more sense than the call to religion. It is like their saying, “If I can’t deal with it, then I’m going to ditch it.” To these people, it is better to forego the struggle with trying to understand and to just get down and dirty with what is going on in this world. After all, it is seemingly a lot more fun to enjoy the world without being hampered or held back by so-called religious duties which they see as nonsense.
These people want to sample what delights the world has to offer them rather than dwell on REALITY. Hence, we find the anti-religious group suggesting that GOD HIMSELF, if HE exists, is not really ‘hip’ to what is really happening. Or we get the educated atheist and orientalist who tend to blame others for the world’s ills and not the daffy condition of world selfishness and boneheaded thinking.
The problem with mankind is in being ‘contentious’ as to his nature and duty owed to the ONE GOD. Therefore, he craftily wants to do things his own way or to follow his own pent up desires. Does not at times he believe in himself to be invincible? Seemingly invincible until there comes a time near death or desperation when he would call out to the ‘abandoned’ GOD to save himself. But when he embarks on a more comfortable footing, he forgets his sworn allegiance and promises and goes back to a life of flippancy and devil-may-care.
HE it is WHO enables you to traverse through land and sea; so that you even board ships; they sail with them with a favorable wind, and they rejoice thereat; then comes a stormy wind and the waves come to them from all sides, and they think they are being overwhelmed: they cry unto ALLAH, sincerely offering (their) duty unto HIM saying, “If YOU deliver us from this, we shall truly show our gratitude!”
But when HE delivers them, Behold! They transgress insolently through the earth in defiance of right. O mankind! Your insolence is against your own souls, an enjoyment of the life of the present: in the End you will be returned to US and WE shall show you the truth of ALL that you did. Q (10: 22-23)
***The Shia inteligencia (Ulema) has stated that the position concerning the idea of the INFALLIBLE IMAMS (IMAMAH) is higher and more exalted than the office of Prophethood and this makes them more superior to all of the Prophets except Muhammad (pbh). But even there, they trip themselves up with many claiming that their HOLY IMAMS know the UNSEEN whereas Prophet Muhammad (pbh) did not.
The similitude of the Shia HOLY IMAMS is likened to the Roman Catholic practice which is called VENERATION OF THE SAINTS. One of their most beloved leaders Ayatollah Khomeini, a man revered by a huge number of Shia wrote; “And an essential tenet of our Shi’ite sect, i.e., the Twelvers or Ithna ashara sect is that the Imams have a position which is reached neither by angels nor by any commissioned messenger (Prophet) of God.” (Hukumat-i-Islami, 52-53)
Much of the background for such nonsensical thoughts comes from a book called Al-Kafi which is considered one of the greatest of the four great books which the Shia have depended on in forming their invented doctrines. Other criminal offenses and ludicrous tales of fantasy against the rational mind can also be found in this book for those who desire to wallow in the mire of gross, repugnant inventions.
Ibn Hanbal declared:
‘Abdullah bin Ahmad has related to us from Abu al-Harth Surayj bin Yunus from Abu Hafs Abbar from Hakam bin ‘Abd al-Malik from Harth bin Hasirah from Abi Sadiq from Rabi‘ah bin Najidh from ‘Ali who said: “The Messenger of Allah (pbh) told me: ‘You are like Jesus. The Jews hated him so much that they slandered his mother, and the Christians, because of their extreme devotion to him, placed him in a position which was NOT his. ‘Ali went on to declare, “Two types of persons or groups are doomed concerning me; the devoted extremist exalting me to what I am not, and the spiteful hater bearing malice towards me and slandering me”.
One of the best ways to approach the test of what is right and what is wrong is to compare and contrast the various ‘historical claims’ issued by the different sects. As we can see from the hadith above, we have a very good starting point from which an appropriate analysis can be made.
In viewing the controversy concerning the Sunni-Shia divide, one has to look at various entry points. For example, The Roman Catholic Church considers the office of Popedom to carry the ‘religious Infallibility’ issue whereas the Shia in general declare the office of Imams Infallible but that would be due to the genetic breeding carried forth from one generation to the next within a certain family. Still, the end result is the same and the logic used to solidify these claims are the same:
“Our Pope/Imam declared such and such (as recorded in history) and it is Infallibly correct. It is Infallibly correct because our Infallible Pope/Imam declared it and that must be true due to their Infallibility.” This is the same nonsense as the Moon is made of green cheese example given earlier.
A problem with the ‘doctrine of infallibility’ is that it is NOT SUPPORTED by either the New Testament or the Quran. These are the two latest holy Books and they have a greater authority than any reported hadith or scholar. Any support for these religious doctrines are based on sayings (hadiths) or Synods (meetings where things get discussed and agreed or disagreed upon). Thus, people can form their own opinions or logical/illogical beliefs by literally ignoring valuable data or ‘literally’ rewriting history by manufacturing or making things up.
One way to avoid such nonsense is to take what Prophet Muhammad (pbh) said about his various Companions and cross-reference these things. This would provide balance of thought and keep the bar of honesty open and clear. For example, what did he declare about Abu Bakr or ‘Umar or ‘Uthman? Well, quite frankly he (pbh) said some excellent and praiseworthy things about those individuals. Certainly, the Prophet (pbh) was NOT blind, ignorant or mentally or spiritually deficient! If people ignore the names of the “10” promised ones concerning their place in Paradise or the various attributive sayings by the Prophet (pbh) in the section called ‘MERITS OF’ SO AND SO, then they are indirectly alluding to their damnable belief in the incompetence of Prophet Muhammad – THE SPECIALLY CHOSEN MESSENGER AND INHERITER OF THE HIGHEST HONOR AMONGST THE CREATION INSHA ALLAH!
So in order to be harmoniously balanced in spirit and mind, it would be well for the individual to take a long look at the ‘TRUE KNOWLEDGE’ featured in hadith literature under the title of ‘THE MERITS OF SO AND SO AND SUCH AND SUCH’. ALSO, ONE MUST REMEMBER THAT THE LOVE FOR THE PROPHET (pbh) EXCEEDS THE LOVE FOR ANY OF HIS FOLLOWERS NOT BY A LITTLE BUT BY A LOT. AND THIS IS DECLARED IN THE FIRST PILLAR OF ISLAM AND IN THE QURAN. AND THIS WILL BE NOTED BY ALLAH ON THE LAST DAY!
However, one way in which to sabotage these things is to take, for example, the excellent sayings of Prophet Muhammad (pbh) about ‘Ali and to simply ignore what he (pbh) said about others. Therefore, one is free to ‘jury-rig’ the outcome by having misinterpretation and misrepresentation become the acceptable norm. This then can be used to collectively seek out various references about ‘Ali and twist and turn them as one pleases and ‘Ali becomes magically magnified along with his posterity simply due to the fact that so and such are related to ‘Ali.
Another problem encountered by the ‘magic’ of the ‘Ali line is to make a proclamation which if applied to certain people would be pure racist. For example, the Jews are the chosen people of GOD. True it was at that time and it was based on conditional responses to the authorities (prophets) put before them of whom many they killed or tormented. No spiritually normal individual nowadays would declare the Jews as the chosen peoples in this day and age unless of course they are fond of believing in fairytales.
The same is true with the decedents of ‘Ali. No doubt that a few generations kept up that vim and vigor of being very highly blessed and loved by ALLAH but as all should know NOT even in the best of families will the genetic and spiritual excellence continue as a ‘pure race’ thing on and on until the end of time. This is so because according to ALLAH’s WORD each soul is responsible for itself and its actions and each soul forms a unique entity of and by itself.
The problem with the Shia is the continued dependence on materials that were literally ‘cooked up’ to make differences between peoples i.e., to distinguish one’s beliefs above another. It is true and also unfortunate that after Muawiyah, things get very despondent with governments and leadership until the Great Grandson of ‘Umar Ibn Khattab becomes Caliph. And he (‘Umar Ibn AbdulAziz) showed great excellence and knowledge and was not afraid to institute TRUTH and JUSTICE. However, the world being what it is, his reign lasted only a little bit more than two years and of course one can guess that he was assassinated. Such is the way of the crookedness of the world.
The point being that if there were truly a magical moment for the institution of Infallible Imams, we would have known it from the lips of ‘Umar Ibn AbdulAziz. We didn’t hear it and it is yet another proof of those who manufacture fairytales in order to believe that they are special people. So in effect those who do those kind of things are like unto those Jews who insist on believing that they are still the chosen of GOD instead of being cursed by the very tongues of David and Jesus (peace be upon them both).
Curses were pronounced on those among the Children of Israel who rejected Faith, by the tongue of David and of Jesus the son of Mary: because they disobeyed and persisted in excesses. Q (5: 78)
(They {the Jews} have incurred Divine displeasure): In that they broke their covenant; that they rejected the signs of ALLAH; that they killed the Messengers in defiance of right; that they said, “our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah’s Word; we need no more {prophets or books)”; Nay, ALLAH has set the seal on their hearts for their blasphemy, and little is it they believe; Q (4: 155)
