I had written extensively on religion here:
http://sharudinjamal.blogspot.com/2016/12/my-take-on-world-religions.html
Therefore I'm not going to debate on the relevancy of religion to society.
However, I like to stress that:
Matters pertaining to religion are personal, matters pertaining to God are universal.
When I say that, I am establishing the premise that religion is our mode to celebrate God. I am fully aware that it could mean a lot of things to different people. However, for the purpose of spiritual endeavor, religion is our communication protocol with God.
Hence, each of us has our own unique ways to communicate with God. Within religion are a set of rituals that we follow to establish communion.
Although major religions more or less standardized on these rituals, I personally believe that each of us has the right to celebrate God as we deem fit.
I have a friend who talks to God first thing in the morning when he sits on the throne. Another friend seeks advice from God on matters with regards to anything as if God is his equal partner.
I treat God as my consigliere and when I do my Micro Workouts, I do it facing the Cube because these are my offerings to God. I however don't prostrate to the Stone.
(3) Narrated 'Abis bin Rabia: 'Umar came near the black stone and kissed it and said "No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit anyone nor harm anyone. Had I not seen Allah's Apostle kissing you I would not have kissed you." (Book #26, Hadith #667)
Therefore to me, religion is a private affair. I often joked that my religion is Sharudinism. It is a religion started by one person and followed by one person. The truth is I am still a Muslim although I am more of a Moslim than a mainstream Muslim.
What is the difference? Well, I don't take everything lock, stock, and barrel. I will take those things that make sense. Those that are absurd, I leave behind. That's because we are dealing with a belief system and not an absolute truth.
Once you start thinking that religion is an absolute truth, that's when you get into big trouble because there is no such thing as absolute truth. Everything is just an opinion and perspective with probably the exception of a very narrow discipline in mathematics.
Even then, mathematics, in general, is not an absolute truth. For example in mathematics, 2 parallel li[ke] (lines) going for a very long time will eventually intersect. Is that the truth? It is just a perspective because for the lines to intersect, they have to be very, very, very long lines!
So let's not argue whose religion is right. Religion to six blind men is like an elephant in a room. To the one that holds the tail, an elephant is like a rope. To the one that holds the ear, an elephant is like a fan. To the one that holds the leg, an elephant is like a tree trunk and so on, so forth.
GO AHEAD AND PRACTICE YOUR OWN RITUALS or if you don't believe in God, do[] (don't) practice anything.
It doesn't matter to God. All that is asked of you is to DO NOT WORSHIP THE STONE. That is the test to see if you Obey and Obey 7:7 as a Homo Sapiens, the Thinking Man, or you [] (are) nothing more than mindless automatons. It doesn't bother God at all but the implication on you can be detrimental.
mm
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