Epigraph
Say: “O followers of the revealed books! Come to a tenet which we and you hold in common: that we shall worship none but God, and that we shall not ascribe divinity to any beside Him, and that we shall not take human beings for our lords beside God.” And if they turn away, then say: “Bear witness that it is we who have surrendered ourselves unto Him.” (Al Quran 3:64/65)
By Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times
When we socialize with persons of our sect and faith only and make no effort to know others in our global village we are invoking our tribal God and and not the God of Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Jesus and Muhammad, may peace be on all of them.
When we refuse interfaith tolerance and insist on special perks for the majority in our country we are invoking our tribal God and not the God of Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Jesus and Muhammad, may peace be on all of them.
When we refuse secularism in our country and want Shariah Law of our choosing, be it Islam in the Muslim majority countries, Christianity in USA, Judaism in Israel, Hinduism in India or even Buddhism as in Myanmar, we are invoking our tribal God and not the God of Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Jesus and Muhammad, may peace be on all of them.
When we refuse women rights or gender equality we are invoking our male tribal God and not the God of Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Jesus and Muhammad, may peace be on all of them.
When we learn exclusively from the teachers of our religion or sect and refuse the genuine scholarship of others we are invoking our tribal God and and not the God of Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Jesus and Muhammad, may peace be on all of them.
In survey conducted late July/early August, 59% of White Catholic registered voters said they would vote for Trump, or lean that way, if the election were held today; among Hispanic Catholic registered voters, 65% said they would vote for Biden: https://t.co/2u8cHX5WrI pic.twitter.com/wWWEDYNL9c
— Pew Research Religion (@PewReligion) September 15, 2020
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When Republicans want to vote for President Trump on moral grounds despite his extreme moral lapses that have been well documented and popularized and thousands of lies that he has told publicly in the last 3-4 years of his presidency then they are invoking their tribal God and and not the God of Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Jesus and Muhammad, may peace be on all of them.
Such right wing politics are not unique to USA and lesser versions of these can be seen in many populist leaders in other countries of the world. They are invoking their tribal God and not the God of Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Jesus and Muhammad, may peace be on all of them.
To find the God of Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Jesus and Muhammad, may peace be on all of them, we need to expand our horizons, walk away from our favorite water well and gather information from multiple sources as below rather than finding comfort in our own echo chamber in our social media.
The bubbles of social isolation are the creators of tribal Gods and taking us away from one the God of Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Jesus and Muhammad, who is the Creator of the whole of humanity.
Additional suggested reading for Monotheism of the Abrahamic faiths:
Video: The world’s best known atheist, Richard Dawkins does seem to believe in a Creator God
A Slight Twist Makes David Attenborough a Great Teacher for God of the Abrahamic Faiths
Provident God of the Abrahamic Faiths: Plain Water will Tell you the Story
The Fading Divinity of Jesus Christ
Richard Dawkins: I can’t be sure God does not exist
Corona-virus Reminds Once Again: The Indispensable God-hypothesis
Every Ray of Light Gives Us Eternal Hope in God’s Providence
Ten Raised to Five Hundred Reasons for Our Gracious God
Do atheists secretly believe in God? Finnish Study
The Teaching Company Course: Confucius, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad
Kripkean Dogmatism: The Best Metaphor to Understand Religious and Political Debates
Suggested reading for understanding morality and promoting secularism in every country of the world:
Only 15% of the French Believe God is Necessary for Morality
Ted Talk: Achieving Secularism, Gender Equality and Interfaith Tolerance Within Islamic Paradigm
Some Argue Islamism from the Quran and others Secularism and Many argue Both on the Same Day
Why Secularism Is Compatible with the Quran and Sunnah — And an ‘Islamic State’ Is Not
Are Religions Pluralistic or Myopic and Parochial?
Reading the Quran and the Bible Literally Means Demons and Jinns Will Rule Humans
Do Religious or Spiritual People Make More Ethical Employees?
Richard Dawkins admits a world with no God would be immoral
Dr. Zia H Shah’s interview by Voice of Islam: Is Morality Objective or Subjective?
National Geographic Video: All Knowing, All Seeing God Keeps Us Away from Crime and Sin, See the Evidence
The West Needs Islam: Because Ashley Madison Revealed 38 Million Cheating Spouses
63% of Americans say it is NOT necessary to believe in God in order to be moral
If the Atheists and the Christians Debate, Islam Wins!
Religious People Are Less Smart but Atheists Are Psychopaths
A New Commentary of the Holy Quran Emphasizing Compassion, Justice and Human Rights Launched https://t.co/AHTev2hfQo via @wordpressdotcom
— TheMuslimTimes (@TheMuslimTimes2) July 17, 2017