1)THE TROUBLE WITH RELIGION

I must agree that there is no proof of existence or nonexistence of god per se but one thing is certain that man is curious be it by his nature and that is what causes him to try and find out about things that he does not know. As part of natural process, it was in this context that earlier man raised the questions relating existence of  the creator of the universe because originally he did not know anything about the world in which he existed. This was the natural consequence of man trying to wake up to reason by way of understanding the mechanism at work in the nature. The man has yet to arrive at the conclusion and we are all part of this process. 

What made things potentially dangerous was the fact that some people began to invent ideas and impose them on others for political, social, cultural and economic reasons instead of spiritual reasons. This is what is causing extremism even today. There is no danger of any sort in the idea of questioning the existence of god, regardless we really find any answers or not. The real obstacle is the stance that some-one claims to be right without any proof whatsoever, and the danger is that he wants to control everyone else’s beliefs and deeds to his liking so that all this serves his and only his intended purpose.  

That is so because once we accept some-one right without any proof by fear of consequences for refusal, we become vulnerable to all sorts of dangers from each other. The history is a witness to the fact that people who invented and promoted or imposed organised religions destroyed humanity wholesale. There is no exception. Hindus enslaved people and so did parsees, jews, christians and muslims. The holy scriptures of each religion themselves bear evidence to this fact. What more wrong can we do to each other than kill, enslave and make each other suffer so badly and we do all that without any good reason. The Vedas, The Avesta, The Torah, The Gospels and the Quran all contain information which clearly points to human atrocities to each other in the name of this kind of religious movements. People have invented gods like we invent characters for our fictions and then attributed to them whatever they wanted them to be or to do, so that they could justify their beliefs and actions against the rest of the humanity. So our debate about existence of god is irrelevant to actual problems or dangers we face from each other. For example, if a people cannot prove the existence of their god quite clearly then they should not take the next step against humanity ie that their this god has said or did this or that and that it must be imposed on the rest of the human beings. This leads only and only to trouble because when some people raise such claims, the others seek proof of them- to ensure they are not being made fool of or taken advantage of- but there is none forth coming. Thus organised religion divides people into us and them on religious basis. This divide is not only between theists and atheists but also between theists belonging to different religions. In fact, the divide goes beyond that ie the very people who claim to belong to a particular religion condemn each other as heretics accusing each other for misrepresenting and misinterpreting the scriptures and are ready to beat the hell out of each other or even kill each other. 

This is why people need to realise, we are all human beings and we only know as much as is within our capabilities. This being the case we need to work together to figure out our problems in the daily life and their solutions. The real questions for us are like, what are our needs and how can we meet them? For this, we must invent ideas, structures, systems and practices as mechanisms otherwise we can try all we like but we will not be able to meet our set out goals. The problem organised religions cause here is the fact that they oppose new ideas and political, social, cultural and economic, structures, systems and practices and thus try to hold us back from getting what we really need. Yet these very people have the audacity to blame others for the very problems they themselves cause. This is where free and fierce discussion is needed to bring down the false notions, wrong perceptions and misconceptions. We can know for a fact what is true and what is false because the truth proves itself true, for it works and so fulfils its purpose but falsehood falls apart ie it does not work when put to the test.

The sense of good and bad is not as clear in practice as we assume it to be. There are many instances where even the religious people themselves are confused in this regard who claim to know all in all, for they assume guidance from on high. One has to read history of religions to realise that, especially since progress has speeded up in recent centuries. There is hardly any evidence for the lead by the religious people in any field of knowledge of human concern but there is plenty evidence that they tried to stop progress by mobilising masses against those who tried to help humanity progress. This is the reason these people cannot be trusted and therefore should not be followed at all and especially not blindly. Each and every person therefore must learn to be wise oneself for oneself and wisdom would lead us all to the very same place when it comes. Our judgement must be based upon fairness and evidence collected impartially. Thus we must not call anything bad or evil for humanity unless we are sure that it is truly bad or evil. Just as we all arrive at the same conclusion that existence of god cannot be proven due to our wisdom, so will we all arrive at the very same conclusion about other things as well if we all followed the reason. Seeing the insurmountable problem of evidence we are all forced by reason to hold back our baseless claims or back down from our positions of imaginary certainty if situation so demands. This leads us closer to each other because we can clearly see the difficulties of each other and therefore are forced to tolerate or even accommodate each other.

This also goes to show that the nature of good and evil is not decided by any god or any godsend scripture but people themselves. The evidence is clear that all people in the world come from different times and places and so they have different experiences in life which makes all of us different from each other biologically as well as psychologically. We therefore have different goals and ideas as well as structures, systems and practices and so we define good and bad on that basis in that context. What is therefore good or bad according to one people is not necessarily good or bad according to another people. The differences arose amongst us due to our lack of knowledge and isolation from each other or our inability to resolve our conflicts of interests. If we realise that whatever is said by our ancestors or scriptures is not writing on the stone but open to many questions when carefully examined then we will not impose it on others as the only truth and others will therefore not be forced to fight back either. This is what will solve the problem of intolerance based on religious differences. Likewise we need to solve our political, social, cultural or economic differences. To solve all such differences is of such importance that one cannot over emphasise the issue, for otherwise peace between people is impossible which is a necessity for progress and prosperity of humanity.

As for comparing ideologies and their political, social, cultural or economic, structures, systems or practices; one needs to take into account their contexts according to their purposes or if you like goals. In other words, one has to compare one building with another as a whole as well as bit by bit, each in its context according to its own purpose. For example, religious ideologies can be compared to each others as well as with secular ideologies, as a whole or brick by brick but only and only in context of their goals. One can then realise which of them is true or false, better or worse and why? An ideology must stand on its own merits or for that matter fall on its own demerits or defects. The problem with religious ideologies is that if one finds anything wrong with them, one is stuck with them because one cannot modify them, for that would be up to god. So the only way forward in that case is to leave such ideologies behind partially or totally. Thus secular manmade ideologies are advantageous that if we find something wrong with them we can change them for the better straightaway without waiting for intervention from god, which in any case is never forth coming, because if that ever happened it would have proven existence of god beyond a shadow of doubt. So if origin of an ideology is false then so is its modification in the name of god.

I think it is also important to mention that religious people should not make the mistake of judging nonreligious ideologies on the basis of their religious sense of right and wrong or their judgement would be invalid. It is precisely because the allegedly god revealed scriptures cannot be proven as such that the existence of god cannot be proven, therefore it is not valid to judge anything by these scriptures that requires proof and proving beyond a shadow of doubt. It is precisely the reason that faith is accepted as a matter of personal interest of the individual, for there is no any solid evidence that god does not exist. However, faith in god is based on one’s personal assumptions and so cannot be taken into consideration in matters of worldly importance, for there is no guaranty that whatever one assumes about god is true or is exactly what god wishes for the individual or the world. The question is, are people sensible if they follow some one in important worldly matters who claims to be a guide or an agent of god without any clear proof? Particularly if that person tells them to take leave of their senses at the very crucial moment in time when the only thing they need most is sense to make sensible judgement? This is where faith in god is left behind and faith in self proclaimed god-sent leader/s takes over and the masses turn into political mobs and even thugs to achieve objectives other than of spiritual nature, for which they condemn everyone else.

It is for this reason the faithful cannot afford to set political goals, social goals, cultural goals or economic goals, for all these are testable mechanisms for achieving material goals for life in this world having nothing to do with individual’s faith in god. In fact one has to ask oneself, does it make any sense whatsoever to believe and follow a person who cannot prove existence of god beyond a shadow of doubt yet speaks on behalf of god as his self proclaimed agent as to what sort of goals god has set for all the rest of human beings to achieve in this life? It is for this reason vitally important that all people question self appointed agents of gods and their teachings other than spiritual and personal. Another point I would like to raise is that people changing their own minds through sharing views and spiritual experiences with each other in an open and friendly way is different from someone actively trying to convert people from what they believe by way of condemnation, use of force or by threat of use of force etc etc. In other words we all need to be free to think for ourselves than being pressurised by others for their own ends.      

I hope this helps clarify the real issues for discussions and also lays the fears of theists and atheists that one people want to destroy the others. Belief and disbelief in god is part of a natural process that cannot be destroyed by anyone. One only has to ask, if people were born theists then who turned them atheists? Or if people were born atheists then who turned them theists? On the other hand despite all the freedom in the free world, theism is still very strong. Likewise, despite all the oppression and suppression in religiously controlled states, atheism continues. All this shows that we cannot kill a natural thought that arises in every human mind anywhere and everywhere. So let there be freedom of thought and expression and let nature take its course, for this is such an issue that only nature can decide it for us in its own time. There is no need whatsoever for us to fight over something that we are not capable of deciding, because we are unable to obtain the related proof one way or the other. It is for this reason that separation between religion and state is necessary to avoid one kind of religious people trying to take over the others hence raise such troubles where there are none.

2) DOES RELIGION TEACH INTOLERANCE?

Organised religions are political movements that survive on the basis of indoctrination. All religions tell parents to teach their religion to their children right from their childhood as the only truth that cannot be questioned without one facing serious consequences. This is sufficient to sow seed of intolerance and thereby hatred of others in minds of dogmatically indoctrinated people by its very nature.

The implication of such teaching is that people end up believing their alleged holy scripture is the only truth and the only criterion for judging everything else.

The other implication of such a belief is that even if a scripture is false in reality, it cannot be proven as such to the indoctrinated people because the scripture is the criterion not the common sense for such people. So if the scripture is false this idea covers it well from scrutiny.

The result of such a belief is that each and every religious people believe their scripture is the only true word of god and if anything is against that scripture that cannot be true or right no matter what.

This creates a problem that if that is true then how can such people find the truth as do not believe in that scripture, for they were born in a different household that belonged to a different religion and so they have been similarly indoctrinated that way?

For example, if a nonmuslim's verdict is not acceptable to muslims as regard the quran, because he is an outsider then question arises, why should any nonmulim accept verdicts of a muslim regarding his own religious scripture?

It is for this reason using the scripture itself as a criterion is not the right idea, because it does not work, for it does not solve the problem of finding the truth about religions and scriptures that exist in the wider world.

Now the question is, is finding the truth important or not? If the answer is yes, the only way to find the truth is to not to use the scripture as the criterion. The implication of doing that is that any scripture's authenticity becomes doubtful unless proven true. Now doubting the authenticity of a scripture even for a moment is indication of faithlessness as far as a believer of a scripture is concerned so we continue running round in circles. It is for this reason that religious people are not getting anywhere because they each are prepared to question other people's beliefs and actions or authenticity of their scriptures but not of their own. The day they apply the fair criterion fairly, the truth will become revealed to them.

This is the reason that people can get away with god, gods, and their wives and children or the rest of relatives of god etc etc, for all illogical beliefs can be justified on the basis of a scripture and its interpretation by its own believers or followers using dogmatic indoctrination rather critical analysis. This is the reason that what makes sense to Ahmad Deedat as a muslim scholar of the holy bible does not make sense to a christian, for he has been brought up to believe in a certain way about certain things as true.

So holy ghost cannot be interpreted as prophet Muhammad of islam. Likewise, according to sunni and shia muslims the prophet of ahmadia sect is false even though ahmadis are insistent that their prophet is true and are prepared to suffer by hands of other people who also claim to be muslims and are their persecutors as it happened in pakistan in 70s and is right now happening in bangladesh.

Only those who look at things from other people's view points can realise the problem but religions have told their followers to do such a thing will be seriously wrong on their part. This I would interpret as another technique to stop people from questioning religions in order to find truth.

If I was a muslim told from the day I was born that if I ever questioned the truth of my religion, I will go to hell then I will do all I can to avoid going to hell, would I not? That is, till I come out of this situation and am confronted with a different set of circumstances which force me to rethink my position. This is why most people do not change their religious beliefs unless their situation puts them in a new set of circumstances or in a new environment wherein they face different problems and so different questions to which their scriptures or religions have no real answers.

To put it in another way, if I am brought up to believe that I am the strongest person, I will believe so till I face the truth test or the reality check ie till I really face the testing situation or circumstances and I find out that I am not really the strongest person after all. That will from then on change my own perception about myself relevant to others.

From another angle, it would seem absurd for a muslim to prove Muhammad was a prophet or for that matter anything else from the bible, for no muslim believes in the bible as true unaltered word of god and christians would not accept muslim verdict on their scripture so why bother?

The whole issue of religious truth is a huge confusion or a smoke screen the way I see it, for there is no end in sight for this confusing situation unless people become a bit more rational. I think there are only and only four possible ways of looking at life.

1) From only and only religious point of view.

2) From only and only secular point of view.
 
3) From religious and secular point of view.

and finally

4) Having no thoughts about life at all. Don't care point of view.

It is right of each and every person to choose any one of them and face the consequences.

My view is that life in itself is very important and very valuable thing and we should try our best to make it a pleasant one and do all  we can to not to throw it away. The problem with my view is that I do not accept religious explanations as the best way forward. Not because I think I am right and everyone else is wrong but because from my standpoint religion seems to me a confusing thing at least and down right intolerant and therefore dangerous thing at most. That is because if there is a god, there has to be a proof, if not then there is no point in believing in god. Likewise I do not accept any scripture authentic as true revelation from god ie vedas, avesta, torah, gospels, or quran etc etc etc. Again not because I say so but because they all fail to live upto their claims when scrutinised, tested or examined.

People claim that their scriptures are miraculous and so they are from god but the truth is that they are not even perfect to be attributed to god, for god (if there is one) ought to be a perfect being and so deserves nothing but attribution of perfection. These scriptures fall apart at first hurdle ie they claim to be supernatural and make various supernatural claims yet use nature for their arguments to prove existence of god. What it means is that if nature is to be used for argument then it has to be allowed to work naturally and so humans should perceive it and only if that happens that god will be right in using nature as his evidence. You cannot corrupt the evidence down the middle by mixing supernatural work with natural or it would become confusing for the observer due to conflict within itself. Thus such conflicting statements in the scriptures render them imperfect or defective. This shows why careful examination of allegedly divine scriptures is absolutely necessary ie to see if they are perfect and that if they are really from god.

What it means is that anything anyone attributes to any god must be taken apart fully under the microscope to see if what it claims to be is really true. For example, take the holy quran, is it perfect enough that it deserves to be called word of god? Who tested its perfection, when and how etc etc? The question remains the very same in case of the holy bible or the rest of alleged divine scriptures.

If we take any scripture for granted and attribute it to god but it is not perfect, can we imagine the consequences? So one can see we are trapped. This is a catch 22 situation. If we do not believe in a perfect divine scripture, we are doomed but so are we if we attribute to god which is not truly from god himself. Hence proof and proving becomes necessary regardless we like it or not.

Similarly, we should examine the alleged divine messengers. For example, no matter how good muhammad is as a human being, is he good enough to be the messenger of god? He too therefore should be fully examined and only accepted as such if that is really the case. God (as all the scriptures tell us) will be very angry if we just took things for granted despite the fact that he has given us brains to use. He tells us not to believe in false gods or prophets etc etc but the question is, how can we know what we ourselves and others believe is true or false unless we cross examine it?

Let me put this in another way, would muslims be right in accepting anything anyone said about muhammad? I assume the answer would be, no rather they must make sure as much as is possible for them that what is attributed to the prophet is really his word or deed. If such care is necessary in case of the alleged divine messenger ie a human being, would it not be yet more important to be more careful in case of god? So we should not only not take things for granted but avoid trying to prove wrong things right or we will be in trouble as the scriptures state. Therefore my view is that if we reach the right conclusion based upon the available evidences in this matter, that is the best we can do. If that conclusion lands us into believing or disbelieving something even god then so be it, for at the end of the day we can only be as good as we can be or as best as god has made us.

I hope this helps clarify my views. I am an atheist not because I wanted to be but because that is where my conclusion led me after study of scriptures, philosophy and sciences. I have decided that I will not be silly enough to attribute imaginary things to imaginary god about which I myself am not really sure. Since I do not have any proof about true revelation from any god, and the universe seems to be working automatically when I observe it as far as I can, it also negates the necessity for existence of god as well, as far as I am concerned hence I do not believe there is any god whatsoever. 

This however does not mean that any of my theist brethren are wrong in whatever their conclusion is according to their own individual circumstances and knowledge but that so long as their self assumed beliefs in divine are personal and do not mean any harm to anyone else or themselves, I have no problem with that either. We are only discussing things in the hope of benefiting from each others experiences. May be one day we will change our views when things will make better sense to us in our own ways in our own time.

Human mind is a very strange biological machine indeed. It observes things, tries to understand them and what it does not know or does not make sense to it, it raises questions about it and makes assumptions about it. The question of existence of god is part of this on going natural process of mind. People have been approaching it from different angles. Originally man was like other animals and had no higher thoughts. He was only worried about satisfying his needs or was led by what we call in psychological terms the drives ie fear, thirst, hunger, sex etc etc. As man became more and more capable of thinking and began to reason things out better and better as he observed the world around him, he began to ask questions about the origin of the world and began to look for information to answer the questions. By now we are somewhere in the middle of that very process that began long long time ago. As time goes on and man is inventing better and better ideas and ways and means to answer this question, things are beginning to make quite a bit of sense but not total sense yet.

As it happens that humans have many different interests so some people always try to take undue advantage of the situations and the very same happened in this case. Some by observing the world made the assumption that it could be work of a creator but had no proof so could not prove it. Others made the assumption that since there is no proof for existence of creator so the world must have always been there or it may well have come to existence all by itself. Now these people are also looking for proof to see if they have any way of proving their point. So far things stood in balance. Neither party had clear proof to prove these assumptions one way or the other. Thus far this was the natural process but then appeared organised religions, whereby some people for some reason began to tell other people, god has finally spoken to them and told them everything everyone else needed to know.

This is where in comes the concept of divine incarnations or prophet-hood and scriptures etc etc. From then on the question also became, why some people are telling others that god has spoken to them and what evidence do they have to prove their such claims? To understand this let us understand a few other things. In psychological terms fear is the utmost drive that suppresses all other drives. For example, if one was very thirsty and very hungry and looking for food and water but suddenly a hungry lion appeared before him, the personal safety would become the first concern for mind all of a sudden and one will forget that one was hungry or thirsty etc. This will happen because mind will think that saving oneself from death is more important than concentrating on food and water, for thus mind organises its priorities. So one can see how much of control sense of fear has on our minds, as well as the degree of fear which is exploited to the full by religions and the religious ie simple minded people are frightened into believing the unbelievable like little children. The other thing is that we all have our own best interests at heart. We do not let the lion eat us but fight or take a flight. Likewise whatever seems to further our individual interests we go after it as much as we can without putting ourselves at too much risk as far as we can think and can be aware of things.

Yet we also take anything for granted so long as we are told about it by some one we deem trustable. A mother is trustable for her child because its security and well being depends on her. So long as mother does not breech the bond of trust fatally that is noticed by the child, the child will continue trusting its mother. A slave is dependent on his master for the same, a subject depends on his ruler for the same and so on and so forth. This is why when a mother frightens her misbehaving child even if by imaginary things, he still takes them for real and seriously and behaves. People are born ignorant and need to learn things for themselves, therefore some educate themselves to varying degrees others remain ignorant for reasons beyond their own control. Those who remain ignorant are like children in their minds. Hence clever people can manipulate them as easily as the adults can manipulate the children. Now if some clever people like tribal chiefs, monarchs, feudals or priests etc etc decide to exploit the masses, would they not or do they not or did they not? The answer was, is and will be, a definite  yes.

This situation would become clearer and clearer when we examine the evidences they produce in support of their claims ie their alleged divine scriptures. If a scripture does not prove to be from god then it must be manmade. If after examination, it proves to be manmade then questions arise as to why it was made or for what purpose or who made it? This issue is discussed in all alleged divine scriptures.

All religions and scriptures warn their followers against impostors, false scriptures and prophets etc etc. If such thing were not real, why would anyone need warn anyone? Of course,  each group wanted to protect itself against the others so that they do not steal its members. If a master allows loss of slaves then it won’t be long before his work force is totally lost. This calls for some sort of security measures. The idea is to indoctrinate one’s slaves dogmatically so that they do not trust anyone else just like parents tell their children, do not talk to strangers, fearing they may be abducted by them.

This is why people of one religion are suspicious of the people of the other religions. They have been brainwashed to act like this. This is why people of one religion try to create hate in their followers for people of other religions so that that way they do not lose their followers to them. This is why I call them organised religions because they have taken care of all loopholes in form of political movements for economic reasons ie they have taken care of escape routs in this regard and are so well organised for their own security for their own ends. These religions have suppressed the original question and its answers or any search for it. They did this to save themselves from being questioned and thereby exposed. 

Things did not need to end up this way but thanks to these like people we did end up in this situation. But the question now is, how to get out of this mess that divides us so much? My answer is by retracing our steps and starting all over again ie raising the original question once again and by trying to answer it the way it ought to be answered by each of us as individuals at least for our own good and at most for the good of the others as well.

If there is no proof that we really have any revelation from god then the only sensible direction for us would be to accept that science must be allowed to develop methods and systems that may be able to help us answer the original questions ie is universe ever existing or did it come to existence all by itself? If we could somehow witness that something can come into existence all by itself for example then that would prove to us that the universe came to existence all by itself. As far as I can think these are the only ways available to us to answer these like questions ie examine available alleged divine revelations to see if any of them is/are good enough to be word of god, or failing that leaving things to science. All this needs individual’s own effort, others can only help where they can and the key is the related education ie knowledge that will help solve this problem.

So dear friends this is how I look at things from my perspective. As for my views, I found no satisfactory answers in the alleged divine scriptures instead I found various obvious faults in them so I came to the conclusion that they were only written by men not god/s. I wanted to share my this critical examination of scriptures because I saw the need for it. I personally do not believe in conversions but discussions and explanations for better understanding. If one finds some views more attractive than others so be it. I want us to accept each other as we are so long as we are in favour of cooperating with each other and not intolerant and hateful towards each other.

As I already made clear that the purpose of examining scripture is to know truth about them, for knowing truth is of vital importance, one way or the other because living a lie deliberately is not good for anyone, for god will be angry with us for attributing wrong things to him, would he not? So scrutinizing all alleged divine scriptures becomes necessary to make sure that we are not doing the wrong thing. So taking a scripture as divine for granted without carefully examining it is not the right thing to do or is it? Because on one hand god would be angry with us for our wrong beliefs the while on the other even if there is no god yet we will be fighting with each other for no reason at all and destroying our lives for nothing. Moreover how comfortable can one really feel by assuming something true about which one knows nothing or knowing that it is a lie?   

Furthermore, we should not need to change to be accepted by each other unless our ideas and actions are harmful for humanity. So long as we are reasonable to each other, none of us need to change. We should live in peace and let live in peace, for all of us need our own bit of space. The only people who need to change or should be changed are those who want others to change for them for all the wrong reasons. As proper education becomes widespread, I am sure people can make up their own minds better all by themselves. It is prevention of information that worries me ie some people try to control what others should know or not know ie freedom of thought and expression. The question is, why should one person or people stop another person or people from expressing his or their views or stop information exchange between them? They must be afraid of something ie light of knowledge, for that eliminates darkness of ignorance which they must be exploiting to get thing going their way.

My other question is, why must one express oneself or bother to share knowledge or be critical of others? It is because the world in which we live is a very small place and whatever any of us believes and does affects others. In order to prevent harm to humanity and to help it make progress and prosper such an exercise is absolutely vital. In doing so in the light of one’s objectivity if one sees problem with what other people believe and practice, their criticism is  inevitable in order to draw their attention to their problematic beliefs and practices to help them see by way of contrast between the two. In other words it is necessary to make things black and white to make the points stand out or to show what fulfills the purpose and how or what does not and why not. The best example are the scriptures themselves. For example, in the quran all unislamic beliefs are criticised and so are the people who hold them. In fact the quran contains verses upon verses about it and perhaps I will not be wrong in saying that the quran contains more criticism of beliefs and deeds of others eg pagans than telling us what islam and muslims are all about. So you can see that if it was at all possible to ignore or avoid this method ie destructive criticism of others because it is upsetting for the people on the other side, Allah in the quran would have done so. Since according to the believers of the quran, the quran is the utmost word of wisdom that cannot be superseded so it would not be right for a muslim to be critical of this method.

Looking at it in another way, all Allah had to do was to make clear what islam was about and let people eg pagans etc decide whether they take it or leave it without destructively criticising beliefs and practices of others. However the quran did not follow this idea. For example, in sura alfaatiha=chapter one, the final verse ends up showing what happened to those who did not follow the way of god. It should have stopped at telling what the good people get or got from their lord instead. In fact, the quran goes beyond serious criticism and insults those who do not believe it. 

For my muslim friends who tell me not to be critical of islam, can they see their suggestion runs contrary to the way the quran itself follows? It would seem a double standard from where I am standing ie muslims can say and do whatever they like about cherished beliefs and deeds of others regardless it hurts other peoples’ feelings or not but others must take into consideration feelings of muslims when it comes to similar kind of criticism of islam and muslims.

The quran contains answer to the question they have raised against my approach. For example, why Muhammad is so desperate to make himself heard by people? What is in it for him? One possible answer is that he does not want  to see his people suffer, for that he finds disturbing. Perhaps this was his motivation that encouraged him to carry on. In fact the whole muslim nation is on a mission directly or in directly. They themselves are carrying out missionary work in one form or another eg even by helping others who are doing it. The proof is so many muslim propagation centres in the nonmuslim countries through out the world with so many people working in them. Not that the muslims are the only ones but since I am talking about muslims I have to point out certain facts to show that bias, prejudice and unfairness would not be a good start.

Freedom of thought and expression or tolerance is not about like minded people talking to each other but about allowing those of opposing views to do so freely. Only if people are allowed to think freely that progress and prosperity may result because in that way if one person comes up with a good idea or reason, that might make the other person think and come up with an even better idea or reason, for ideas breed ideas and knowledge breeds knowledge. If muslims do not allow this in their forums, tvs, newspapers and other medias, it would only serve to show that people who opposed Muhammad and muslims were right to banish them then and are right to do so now, for they started the trouble by telling them things against their long held cherished beliefs then and they are trying to control everyone else on their terms now. This could also trigger hatred against muslim intolerance in nonmuslim states and thus situation could become seriously polarised. Perhaps it is already happening. These little things could trigger really big consequences at global scale.

This is where people like myself think it necessary that we judge the situation and take remedial action and so avoid direct confrontations in which they see their own loss and loss of their loved ones and their suffering. To me it is reason enough to try to discuss the problems with those for whom I have concern, for they are my people. Even if many cannot think for themselves at least I can think for myself and can try to help them think for themselves so that they too are able to see both sides of the story for themselves. Now if that upsets them then let it be so, for if I give up the worse is inevitable because as things stand we are between the rock and a hard place. In a way I too am a missionary like any other human being trying to share my experiences with other as to the ups and the downs in life and what the causes might be. Here is how Muhammad felt about his people.

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YUSUFALI: We know indeed the grief which their words do cause thee: It is not thee they reject: it is the signs of Allah, which the wicked contemn.

006.035
YUSUFALI: If their spurning is hard on thy mind, yet if thou wert able to seek a tunnel in the ground or a ladder to the skies and bring them a sign,- (what good?). If it were Allah's will, He could gather them together unto true guidance: so be not thou amongst those who are swayed by ignorance (and impatience)!

So dear muslim friends, you can see that I understand your concern and I can prove it because I am promoting freedom of thought and expression anywhere and everywhere that I can but you people also need to reciprocate this move to show that you understand the position of people like myself. This is why open discussions are necessary so that people could become well informed about both sides of the story and are able to make informed choices. Instead of suggesting not to impart one’s thoughts, it is time for us to help those of us who may have problems with expression of their thoughts for all the wrong reasons. It is time to help them educate themselves by way of such exchanges. How many muslim religious and nonreligious institutions eg mosques, madrissas shops and homes are attacked world wide in nonmuslim states by their nonmuslim civilians? If anyone attacked them, would they be wrong seeing the teachings of the quran the way some muslims practice them?

In fact imagine muslims putting up speakers and shouting the quran through them the while living amongst nonmuslims, which says that the nonmuslims are dirty and that they are evil. They will be punished in hell and they will be destroyed from the face of this earth or would be put through suffering in this world through muslims etc etc. They are worse than all the animals, their religious leaders are bad because they tell them wrong things about islam, their scriptures are self made or false, their gods are self made or false and so on and so forth. Just reverse these verses and see how they sound if nonmuslims were saying these things about muslims, their scriptures, their religious leaders, their god and so on and so forth. Are these things  a guidance for good coexistence for muslims with nonmuslims or is it that one will surely find them provocative and offensive and so they should be banned in order to keep the peace between people? I mean imagine nonmuslims reading such things amongst muslims on speakers, saying such things about muslims. It will really make people go mad because the quran is to be recited all the time. It is not a one off thing but perpetual. Here is a tiny sample from the quran but remember, it is I who am saying that muslim people should be allowed to believe and practice islam anywhere and everywhere so long as it is within human rights context and that means no harm to muslims themselves or others. I am therefore only going to raise points in that context and not to criticise the quran just because I feel like it, for that would serve no purpose.

001.007
YUSUFALI: The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.
 002.006
YUSUFALI: As to those who reject Faith, it is the same to them whether thou warn them or do not warn them; they will not believe.
002.007
YUSUFALI: Allah hath set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a veil; great is the penalty they (incur).
002.008
YUSUFALI: Of the people there are some who say: "We believe in Allah and the Last Day;" but they do not (really) believe.
002.009
YUSUFALI: Fain would they deceive Allah and those who believe, but they only deceive themselves, and realise (it) not!
002.010
YUSUFALI: In their hearts is a disease; and Allah has increased their disease: And grievous is the penalty they (incur), because they are false (to themselves).
002.011
YUSUFALI: When it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth," they say: "Why, we only Want to make peace!"
002.012
YUSUFALI: Of a surety, they are the ones who make mischief, but they realise (it) not.
002.013
YUSUFALI: When it is said to them: "Believe as the others believe:" They say: "Shall we believe as the fools believe?" Nay, of a surety they are the fools, but they do not know.
002.014
YUSUFALI: When they meet those who believe, they say: "We believe;" but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say: "We are really with you: We (were) only jesting."
002.015
YUSUFALI: Allah will throw back their mockery on them, and give them rope in their trespasses; so they will wander like blind ones (To and fro).
002.016
YUSUFALI: These are they who have bartered Guidance for error: But their traffic is profitless, and they have lost true direction,
002.017
YUSUFALI: Their similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in utter darkness. So they could not see.
002.018
YUSUFALI: Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return (to the path).
002.019
YUSUFALI: Or (another similitude) is that of a rain-laden cloud from the sky: In it are zones of darkness, and thunder and lightning: They press their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunder-clap, the while they are in terror of death. But Allah is ever round the rejecters of Faith!
002.020
YUSUFALI: The lightning all but snatches away their sight; every time the light (Helps) them, they walk therein, and when the darkness grows on them, they stand still. And if Allah willed, He could take away their faculty of hearing and seeing; for Allah hath power over all things.
002.113
YUSUFALI: The Jews say: "The Christians have naught (to stand) upon; and the Christians say: "The Jews have naught (To stand) upon." Yet they (Profess to) study the (same) Book. Like unto their word is what those say who know not; but Allah will judge between them in their quarrel on the Day of Judgment.
002.146
YUSUFALI: The people of the Book know this as they know their own sons; but some of them conceal the truth which they themselves know.

002.174
YUSUFALI: Those who conceal Allah's revelations in the Book, and purchase for them a miserable profit,- they swallow into themselves naught but Fire; Allah will not address them on the Day of Resurrection. Nor purify them: Grievous will be their penalty.
002.170
YUSUFALI: When it is said to them: "Follow what Allah hath revealed:" They say: "Nay! we shall follow the ways of our fathers." What! even though their fathers Were void of wisdom and guidance?
002.171
YUSUFALI: The parable of those who reject Faith is as if one were to shout Like a goat-herd, to things that listen to nothing but calls and cries: Deaf, dumb, and blind, they are void of wisdom.
005.060
YUSUFALI: Say: "Shall I point out to you something much worse than this, (as judged) by the treatment it received from Allah? those who incurred the curse of Allah and His wrath, those of whom some He transformed into apes and swine, those who worshipped evil;- these are (many times) worse in rank, and far more astray from the even path!"
006.025
YUSUFALI: Of them there are some who (pretend to) listen to thee; but We have thrown veils on their hearts, So they understand it not, and deafness in their ears; if they saw every one of the signs, not they will believe in them; in so much that when they come to thee, they (but) dispute with thee; the Unbelievers say: "These are nothing but tales of the ancients."
006.026
YUSUFALI: Others they keep away from it, and themselves they keep away; but they only destroy their own souls, and they perceive it not.
006.027
YUSUFALI: If thou couldst but see when they are confronted with the Fire! They will say: "Would that we were but sent back! Then would we not reject the signs of our Lord, but would be amongst those who believe!"
006.028
YUSUFALI: Yea, in their own (eyes) will become manifest what before they concealed. But if they were returned, they would certainly relapse to the things they were forbidden, for they are indeed liars.
006.031
YUSUFALI: Lost indeed are they who treat it as a falsehood that they must meet Allah,- until on a sudden the hour is on them, and they say: "Ah! woe unto us that we took no thought of it"; for they bear their burdens on their backs, and evil indeed are the burdens that they bear?
006.033
YUSUFALI: We know indeed the grief which their words do cause thee: It is not thee they reject: it is the signs of Allah, which the wicked contemn.
006.035
YUSUFALI: If their spurning is hard on thy mind, yet if thou wert able to seek a tunnel in the ground or a ladder to the skies and bring them a sign,- (what good?). If it were Allah's will, He could gather them together unto true guidance: so be not thou amongst those who are swayed by ignorance (and impatience)!
006.039
YUSUFALI: Those who reject our signs are deaf and dumb,- in the midst of darkness profound: whom Allah willeth, He leaveth to wander: whom He willeth, He placeth on the way that is straight.
006.040
YUSUFALI: Say: "Think ye to yourselves, if there come upon you the wrath of Allah, or the Hour (that ye dread), would ye then call upon other than Allah?- (reply) if ye are truthful!
006.041
YUSUFALI: "Nay,- On Him would ye call, and if it be His will, He would remove (the distress) which occasioned your call upon Him, and ye would forget (the false gods) which ye join with Him!"
006.044
YUSUFALI: But when they forgot the warning they had received, We opened to them the gates of all (good) things, until, in the midst of their enjoyment of Our gifts, on a sudden, We called them to account, when lo! they were plunged in despair!
006.045
YUSUFALI: Of the wrong-doers the last remnant was cut off. Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher of the worlds.
006.046
YUSUFALI: Say: "Think ye, if Allah took away your hearing and your sight, and sealed up your hearts, who - a god other than Allah - could restore them to you?" See how We explain the signs by various (symbols); yet they turn aside.
006.048
YUSUFALI: We send the messengers only to give good news and to warn: so those who believe and mend (their lives),- upon them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
006.049
YUSUFALI: But those who reject our signs,- them shall punishment touch, for that they ceased not from transgressing.
007.176
YUSUFALI: If it had been Our will, We should have elevated him with Our signs; but he inclined to the earth, and followed his own vain desires. His similitude is that of a dog: if you attack him, he lolls out his tongue, or if you leave him alone, he (still) lolls out his tongue. That is the similitude of those who reject Our signs; So relate the story; perchance they may reflect.
007.177
YUSUFALI: Evil as an example are people who reject Our signs and wrong their own souls.
007.179
YUSUFALI: Many are the Jinns and men we have made for Hell: They have hearts wherewith they understand not, eyes wherewith they see not, and ears wherewith they hear not. They are like cattle,- nay more misguided: for they are heedless (of warning).
007.180
YUSUFALI: The most beautiful names belong to Allah: so call on him by them; but shun such men as use profanity in his names: for what they do, they will soon be requited.
007.181
YUSUFALI: Of those We have created are people who direct (others) with truth. And dispense justice therewith.
007.182
YUSUFALI: Those who reject Our signs, We shall gradually visit with punishment, in ways they perceive not;
007.191
YUSUFALI: Do they indeed ascribe to Him as partners things that can create nothing, but are themselves created?
007.192
YUSUFALI: No aid can they give them, nor can they aid themselves!
007.194
YUSUFALI: Verily those whom ye call upon besides Allah are servants like unto you: Call upon them, and let them listen to your prayer, if ye are (indeed) truthful!
007.195
YUSUFALI: Have they feet to walk with? Or hands to lay hold with? Or eyes to see with? Or ears to hear with? Say: "Call your 'god-partners', scheme (your worst) against me, and give me no respite!
007.204
YUSUFALI: When the Qur'an is read, listen to it with attention, and hold your peace: that ye may receive Mercy.
008.055
YUSUFALI: For the worst of beasts in the sight of Allah are those who reject Him: They will not believe.
009.028
YUSUFALI: O ye who believe! Truly the Pagans are unclean; so let them not, after this year of theirs, approach the Sacred Mosque. And if ye fear poverty, soon will Allah enrich you, if He wills, out of His bounty, for Allah is All-knowing, All-wise.
009.029
YUSUFALI: Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.
009.030
YUSUFALI: The Jews call 'Uzair a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth!
009.031
YUSUFALI: They take their priests and their anchorites to be their lords in derogation of Allah, and (they take as their Lord) Christ the son of Mary; yet they were commanded to worship but One Allah: there is no god but He. Praise and glory to Him: (Far is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him).
009.032
YUSUFALI: Fain would they extinguish Allah's light with their mouths, but Allah will not allow but that His light should be perfected, even though the Unbelievers may detest (it).
009.033
YUSUFALI: It is He Who hath sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth, to proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it).
009.034
YUSUFALI: O ye who believe! there are indeed many among the priests and anchorites, who in Falsehood devour the substance of men and hinder (them) from the way of Allah. And there are those who bury gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah: announce unto them a most grievous penalty-
009.035
YUSUFALI: On the Day when heat will be produced out of that (wealth) in the fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, their flanks, and their backs.- "This is the (treasure) which ye buried for yourselves: taste ye, then, the (treasures) ye buried!"
021.052
YUSUFALI: Behold! he said to his father and his people, "What are these images, to which ye are (so assiduously) devoted?"
021.053
YUSUFALI: They said, "We found our fathers worshipping them."
021.054
YUSUFALI: He said, "Indeed ye have been in manifest error - ye and your fathers."
021.055
YUSUFALI: They said, "Have you brought us the Truth, or are you one of those who jest?"
021.056
YUSUFALI: He said, "Nay, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, He Who created them (from nothing): and I am a witness to this (Truth).
021.057
YUSUFALI: "And by Allah, I have a plan for your idols - after ye go away and turn your backs"..
021.058
YUSUFALI: So he broke them to pieces, (all) but the biggest of them, that they might turn (and address themselves) to it.
021.059
YUSUFALI: They said, "Who has done this to our gods? He must indeed be some man of impiety!"
022.046
YUSUFALI: Do they not travel through the land, so that their hearts (and minds) may thus learn wisdom and their ears may thus learn to hear? Truly it is not their eyes that are blind, but their hearts which are in their breasts.
022.073
YUSUFALI: O men! Here is a parable set forth! listen to it! Those on whom, besides Allah, ye call, cannot create (even) a fly, if they all met together for the purpose! and if the fly should snatch away anything from them, they would have no power to release it from the fly. Feeble are those who petition and those whom they petition!
025.044
YUSUFALI: Or thinkest thou that most of them listen or understand? They are only like cattle;- nay, they are worse astray in Path.
027.020
YUSUFALI: And he totookok a muster of the Birds; and he said: "Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees?
027.021
YUSUFALI: "I will certainly punish him with a severe penalty, or execute him, unless he bring me a clear reason (for absence)."
027.022
YUSUFALI: But the Hoopoe tarried not far: he (came up and) said: "I have compassed (territory) which thou hast not compassed, and I have come to thee from Saba with tidings true.
027.023
YUSUFALI: "I found (there) a woman ruling over them and provided with every requisite; and she has a magnificent throne.
027.024
YUSUFALI: "I found her and her people worshipping the sun besides Allah: Satan has made their deeds seem pleasing in their eyes, and has kept them away from the Path,- so they receive no guidance,-
027.025
YUSUFALI: "(Kept them away from the Path), that they should not worship Allah, Who brings to light what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what ye hide and what ye reveal.
027.026
YUSUFALI: "Allah!- there is no god but He!- Lord of the Throne Supreme!"
027.027
YUSUFALI: (Solomon) said: "Soon shall we see whether thou hast told the truth or lied!
027.028
YUSUFALI: "Go thou, with this letter of mine, and deliver it to them: then draw back from them, and (wait to) see what answer they return"...
027.029
YUSUFALI: (The queen) said: "Ye chiefs! here is delivered to me - a letter worthy of respect.
027.030
YUSUFALI: "It is from Solomon, and is (as follows): 'In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful:
027.031
YUSUFALI: "'Be ye not arrogant against me, but come to me in submission (to the true Religion).'"
027.032
YUSUFALI: She said: "Ye chiefs! advise me in (this) my affair: no affair have I decided except in your presence."
027.033
YUSUFALI: They said: "We are endued with strength, and given to vehement war: but the command is with thee; so consider what thou wilt command."
027.034
YUSUFALI: She said: "Kings, when they enter a country, despoil it, and make the noblest of its people its meanest thus do they behave.
027.035
YUSUFALI: "But I am going to send him a present, and (wait) to see with what (answer) return (my) ambassadors."
027.036
YUSUFALI: Now when (the embassy) came to Solomon, he said: "Will ye give me abundance in wealth? But that which Allah has given me is better than that which He has given you! Nay it is ye who rejoice in your gift!
027.037
YUSUFALI: "Go back to them, and be sure we shall come to them with such hosts as they will never be able to meet: We shall expel them from there in disgrace, and they will feel humbled (indeed)."
031.019
YUSUFALI: "And be moderate in thy pace, and lower thy voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass."
047.014
YUSUFALI: Is then one who is on a clear (Path) from his Lord, no better than one to whom the evil of his conduct seems pleasing, and such as follow their own lusts?
062.005
YUSUFALI: The similitude of those who were charged with the (obligations of the) Mosaic Law, but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is that of a donkey which carries huge tomes (but understands them not). Evil is the similitude of people who falsify the Signs of Allah: and Allah guides not people who do wrong.
063.004
YUSUFALI: When thou lookest at them, their exteriors please thee; and when they speak, thou listenest to their words. They are as (worthless as hollow) pieces of timber propped up, (unable to stand on their own). They think that every cry is against them. They are the enemies; so beware of them. The curse of Allah be on them! How are they deluded (away from the Truth)!

Finally imagine that if one people did not let the others talk where they are in control then sooner or later the others may also do the very same where they are in control, the result, they all will be sitting with their mouths shut giving  each other a strange or hateful look. What a wonderful world that will be? So friends, let  us work to increase freedom of thought and expression, not curtail it.