Bright side of enlightenment
Here's an interesting mention of Ayn Rand... Thanks to Betsy Speicher's Cybernet for the tip...
From "The Independent"
Sir,
In today's world there are those who were born Muslims but deserted their faith on receiving "enlightenment" from the West with its technology and science and writers like Ayn Rand and by ignoring those of the West like Ron Hubbard. One cause of their being repelled is that religion is generally thrust aggressively into our life as just refraining from sin. The many positive joyous sides are driven into the background with the unceasing nagging about desisting from this and that as it is told that rituals count, they are compulsory. In all this tsunami of going by the rules it is overlooked that serving ailing humanity is also part of religion. (Full letter by clicking on the title of this post.)
Parvez Feroze
Jamal Khan Road, Chittagong
From "The Independent"
Sir,
In today's world there are those who were born Muslims but deserted their faith on receiving "enlightenment" from the West with its technology and science and writers like Ayn Rand and by ignoring those of the West like Ron Hubbard. One cause of their being repelled is that religion is generally thrust aggressively into our life as just refraining from sin. The many positive joyous sides are driven into the background with the unceasing nagging about desisting from this and that as it is told that rituals count, they are compulsory. In all this tsunami of going by the rules it is overlooked that serving ailing humanity is also part of religion. (Full letter by clicking on the title of this post.)
Parvez Feroze
Jamal Khan Road, Chittagong
posted by Joe at Sunday, April 09, 2006
15 Comments:
You did not answer a previous question on why it is that the most radical countries in the Middle East are the best friends of the US? namely Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan (of course we can add Israel). Is the west really looking to enligten the Muslims, or it just wants to teach them obiedience?
That's a good question and it has to do with politics and diplomacy, but at the heart of the issue is education and philosophy. We associate with those countries for mutual benefit - whether it's intelligence or strategic positioning. Also, we hope that the continued association will eventually bring more rational views to that part of the world which leads us to education and philosophy.
The only way the mideast will come out of the dark ages is by learning a new philosophy based on reason. Just as the reintroduction of Aristotle reshaped the dark ages of the christian world, an enlightenment needs to happen in the Islamic world. this is a long period of change we are talking about and to jsut completely cut them off from the rest of the world won't accomplish it.
So no, we do not wish to teach them obediance to the west, but respect for rational laws and individual rights. Without that they will forever wallow in the muck they currently embrace.
"We associate with those countries for mutual benefit - whether it's intelligence or strategic positioning. Also, we hope that the continued association will eventually bring more rational views to that part of the world which leads us to education and philosophy."
So you helped, promoted, and still associated with the most radical elements in hope of bringing rational to the region. Oh boy, that is such a rational statement, that even Aristotle's jaw will hang down from confusion.
Well, it obviously confuses you, but it is actually quite clear.
When we were attacked by Iran we naturally sided with Iran's know enemy. As I said in another post... some believe the enemy of your enemy is your friend... I do not.
I think we could have easily destroyed Tehran with a single nuclear strike and the world would be a much better place today.
Is this another part of your reality?
By the way, Iran never attacked the US, I am not sure what is the source of your information.
Surely you recall the hostages held for over a year during the last days of Jimmy Carter's presidency.
And do you recall the removal of a democratically elected government in Iran before that?
Of course, Point?
The point is that the US destroyed the emerging Iranian democracy way before the hostage crises. This leads us to the conclusion that the US attacked Iran first.
That leads YOU to the conclusion... but then just about everything leads you to the conclusion that the U.S. is evil so what's the difference?
Isn't that a mirror of your constant conclusions that Islam is evil? And why you always divert the conversation when you are faced with facts?
I personally thing that the US is a great country with evil foreign policy led by interest groups, who do not give a damn about the real interests of the American people.
My conclusions are based on fact Sam. Islam, like all religions are evil becasue they destroy mans relationship with reality.
What reality? Money, power, or greed. Actually I will go a step beyound what you say, I think that any ideology is evil including religious, political, social, and economic dogmas. Forcing capitalism, or communism is as evil as forcing Islam, Christianity, or Judaism on people who do not want it. While beliving in itself in any theory is not evil. Belief in an idea is a way to have some values in your life, a step which I need to respect even if I do not agree on. See the history of "humanity", every experement to inforce an ideology over other people ended in a disaster, and I think that what the US is doing now is no difference.
Again you refer to reality as if there is more than one. That is probably the root of your problem.
And, you obviously have no concept of what capitalism is. Capitalism does not work by force. It is the ONLY economic/political system that respects the individual rights of EVERY person. That is why we need more of it and less of the socialist/altruist philosophy we currently have in the U.S. and even moreso in the rest of the world.
And your problem is that you see the world in Black and White.
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