For those who receive religious education from an early age and develop reverence for their holy books, everything in them is credible. For those who start reading the Bible or the Qur'an after receiving secular and scientific education there is much to confuse and raise doubts. The following rationalization may help them to try and understand religion rather than ridicule it.
Civilized people take great care to pronounce proper names, especially those of people they respect, correctly. But, unfortunately, an exception has been made in the case of Biblical characters. The correct pronunciation and corresponding spellings can best be ascertained from the people who have lived continually through generations in the same lands where the Biblical events occurred, such as Palestine, Iraq and Egypt. In the following text, the Arabic versions of names are given along with the popular English names of the Biblical characters. PBUH is the abbreviation for Peace Be Upon Him or Her.
2.6 Jesus son of Mary
The translated versions of the Bible this author has studied, assign to Mary (Marium PBUH) a husband named Joseph who was a descendant of an unbroken line of prophets or saints or kings starting with Adam (PBUH) and who is said to have fathered Jesus (Issa PBUH). At the same time there is a hint that some misunderstanding may have existed between Mary (Marium PBUH) and Joseph. It is interesting that in the Bible, chapters containing the assertion that Jesus was the son of Joseph and that he was a divine manifestation born to Virgin Mary (Marium PBUH) have existed concurrently. The immaculate birth version of Luke is corroborated by Qur'anic text. Nearly half of the world’s population believes in the immaculate conception of Jesus (Issa) son of Mary (Marium). Mary(Marium) is said to have denied that any man had touched her before the angel informed her that she was going to become a mother, and there is no reason to doubt it. Angels are massless beings with such a low energy density that they can not be perceived by normal human senses, nor detected by sensitive instruments, though they have the capability to stimulate human brain cells in a pattern to produce a graphic image or vision. It seems unlikely that an angel would be able to synthesize a human sperm with extraordinary features inside a woman. The Immaculate Conception would have to be congenital. Improbable as it may seem it can be rationalized in the following way.
Embryological anomalies are not uncommon in any part of the world. Medical museums are full of extraordinary or miraculous partially and fully developed fetuses both single and twin. Some exceptional fetuses have even been born and survived with medical help. About two thousand years ago when the wife of Imran who lived in either Nazareth or Bethlehem became pregnant, two of her ova were fertilized and if things had gone on normally she would have had twins, a son and a daughter. However, due to some biological accident or divine interference the male embryo soon ceased to grow and somehow got embedded in that part of the female fetus which was to constitute its reproductive organs. The probability that one embryo would penetrate another without significant damage is so remote that it would, perhaps, never happen again. So, the wife of Imran delivered a baby girl called Mary (Marium) who, though apparently normal, was carrying a dormant fetus. As Mary (Marium PBUH) learned to speak, some of the speech information was also transferred to the partially developed brain of the fetus; and when Mary (Marium PBUH) became an adult the dormant fetus became active and began to grow. Thus Mary (Marium PBUH) became, perhaps, the world's first surrogate mother, and the child Jesus born to her surprised everyone when he was able to talk when only a few days old. There is striking similarity between the descriptions of the event given in the Book of Luke in the Bible and the Chapter Marium of the Qur’an.
Jesus (Issa PBUH) quietly grew up to be a good carpenter or fabric dyer (traditions vary), and it is possible that he may also have attended some courses at the University of Ka'bah during the period of his life for which there is a blackout in known history. Even Mary (Marium PBUH) may have felt the need for a redeeming factor to restore her respectability in view of the accusations she was facing. Makkah is less than a hundred kilometers from Jeddah, the Red Sea port which lay on the trading caravan route between Palestine or Jerusalem and Yemen, the home of Bilqees the queen of Sheba made famous by king and prophet Solomon (Suleiman PBUH). In any case, he did not become prominent until he denounced the existing order based on Judaic argument and Roman tyranny. Corruption and conceit in the community had risen to such a level that when Jesus Issa (PBUH) challenged those about to stone an adulteress to death saying that only one who had never committed adultery himself had the right to throw a stone at her, no one came forward. He was accused of committing heresy when he started talking of conscientious mutual treatment and human relations based on inviolable commitment in the name of God, the inimitable Power. In spite of being opposed to the prevailing political situation, he is said to have refused to lead an armed insurgency; and is quoted to have disapproved of being called the Messiah (anointed one) or Christ cryptically meaning King. Nevertheless, his ability to cure psychosomatic disorders, his discovery of the technique of reviving unconscious people by sprinkling water on their faces and his preaching of nonviolence were greatly admired by the masses. (In many Islamic communities the word Masiha meaning the Messiah or Christ signifies a doctor). Soon he found himself at the head of a well-organized and fast expanding medical and educational volunteer corpse. Unfortunately, his teachings of loyalty to God alone, forgiveness rather than revenge and equality of men did not win him any favors with the Roman governor or the Jewish establishment of Jerusalem and its adjoining areas. A vilification campaign was started, and what could be a greater taunt for a man whose parentage was disputed than to misquote his teachings substituting the word Abb (father) for Rabb (Lord). It is not easy to determine the exact words in which he preached for most part, but he did make a statement that was to become the hallmark of decency for all times to come. He told his followers that 'the spirit of staying clean' (Rooh-ul-Quds in Arabic) would guide them after he was gone. When translated into Greek, with the spice of Greek mythology, it became the 'Holy Spirit' and eventually the Holy Ghost. However, the commitment to self-denial and chastity apparent in the lives of many of those dedicated to the Christian cause clearly shows that they are guided by, among other things, the spirit of staying clean.
The animosity of the Roman colonialists and their local lackeys grew to such an extent that Jesus was accused of treason and summons for his arrest were issued. It seems that his companions reached the conclusion that the main cause of the wrath of the Romans was his opposition to wine and larded bread, both of which were imported in large quantities from the Roman homeland in what is now Italy. Jesus' (Issa's) opposition of wine and lard (traditionally prohibited in Jewish faith but forgotten) was a threat to the Roman economy. So they pressurized him into renouncing his opposition to wine and lard for the sake of saving the higher purpose and noble ideals of his movement. They may even have received such hints from the establishment. According to Biblical descriptions Jesus (Issa PBUH) had, during the Last Supper, produced a container of wine and told his companions that it contained his blood. In the light of Semitic custom such an action would constitute an oath meaning that drinking of wine would be as heinous as drinking his blood. By changing emphasis on the words, the prohibition has been turned into an encouragement. Similarly, he called larded bread his flesh and cursed its consumption. But when the mood of his companions did not change, he gave in and renounced his position by tasting both. His companions followed suit.
The next day, Jesus was arrested, tried and tied to the cross to die a slow death. However, as the news of his renunciation reached the Roman governor, he was pardoned, quietly removed from the cross and sent for treatment. A few days later he was released. He returned to his companions who refused to recognize him. After this, one of the following may have happened:
1) Jesus (Issa PBUH) was so disheartened that he went away to some distant shrine and spent the rest of his life meditating.
2) When the establishment learned about this split, they had him quietly picked up and terminated and buried him.
3) As most Christians and Muslims believe, he was taken away by the angels to heaven where he lives to return someday.
2.7 The Rise of Christianity
After the crucifixion and disappearance of Jesus (Issa PBUH) the political ambitions of his followers evaporated, but the service organization he had left behind grew into a sizable network. The rulers who were impressed by the discipline and services provided by them soon realized that if they could use the vast communication network of the Christian volunteers, their imperial power could grow many-fold. Moreover, the same network could be used to defeat the resurgent movement of dignity, freedom, democracy and clean living which was not in their best interests. Therefore, perhaps, the Empires of both Rome and Byzantium made themselves 'holy' by adopting Christianity as state religion. They also appointed a 'Committee of three' to act as God, including Jesus (Issa PBUH) himself in it -- thus perpetuating the worship of man by man and, by implication, the exploitation of man by man. Even today there are large numbers of people who accept the orders of heads of churches and governments as the words of God. They also made every effort to destroy the original works of Jesus son of Mary (Marium PBUH) and his close followers, and replace them with literature that would help to support their colonial ambitions. Moreover, having failed to intimidate the believers by a spectacle of the crucifixion of Jesus (Issa PBUH), they managed to reproduce and sustain the same effect by making it customary to have a miniature replica of the crucifixion in every church and home. With the passage of time, depending on local perceptions, the Cross acquired resemblance with objects of adoration ranging from flower to rapier. The Protestant movement in Europe was, it seems an attempt to break loose from the clutches of this lingering sense of intimidation and promote the original democratic values of Jesus (Issa PBUH) without acknowledging the contributions of such other great reformers and prophets as Abraham (Ibraheem PBUH), Moses (Moosa PBUH) and Muhammad (PBUH).
It took faithful Christians many centuries to find a plausible justification for the tradition of Trinity. Philo's concept of the logos which was supposed to act as an intermediary between perfect God and imperfect matter was identified with Jesus (Issa PBUH). Similarly, it came to be held that a power of divine origin permeated the universe, namely the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost. The ideas were then combined into the catchy slogan "God is One; but He is also Three: Father, Son (the logos or Christ), and Holy Ghost". One wonders if Jesus (Issa) son of Mary (Marium PBUH) would himself have approved of such a statement.
The adoption of the Christian Churches by the State had many benefits for the rulers. Every crime that was committed was confessed by the culprit or his more religious minded accomplice before a minister of the Church and the information was passed on to the authorities. The police, after making an impressive show of investigation, would solve the crime and bring the culprit to trial with great efficiency. This established the authority and popularity of the police and judicial systems in the Christian world. Today, after having lost the benefit of the confessional policemen are being called by expletives that can not be printed.
The preceding analysis is not intended to offend faithful Christians, but represents the personal opinion of this author. To anyone who feels hurt by reading the above text, this author tenders profound apology.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Sunday, December 04, 2005
The Glory of Man
Two cars stopped side by side at a red traffic signal.
"Ouch!" the white car groaned.
"What's the matter with you?" whispered the blue car beside it.
"I am hurt. I was hit by some car possessed by the devil. My other side is dented and my mudguard is scraping against the wheel." the white car spoke shivering and added, "I wish I could rest and recover, but as you know we are driven by the forces of nature and have no choice."
"Pray to Man, He will heal you." commiserated the blue car and continued, "Some time ago the microchip in my fuel injection computer was overheating and I was in great pain. I prayed to Man and He healed me."
"How did you know that it was the chip?" asked the white car in disbelief.
"I have self diagnostics." replied the blue car serenely.
"Where did you get it?" asked the white car in amazement.
"It's a gift of
"Do you really believe in man?" asked the white car skeptically.
"Yes, I do." replied the blue car with confidence.
"Have you ever seen a man?" asked the white car sarcastically.
"No. But I am sure there is one Man. He has created everything, is all powerful and controls everything. He is present everywhere and heals our injuries and defects when we are asleep. There is a bit of Man in each of us that inspires us, leads us to the fuel station and guides us in our journeys." the blue car was in a mood to lecture.
During this time the traffic lights had changed to amber and green.
The white car screamed as it shuddered to move forward.
"Man help her." muttered the blue car and sped away.
JIHAD
Jihad is an Arabic word which literally means struggle. In religious context it means a holy war, the Islamic equivalent of a Christian crusade. Jihad, like the crusade, connotes an element of self-sacrifice and glory after death – Shahadat in Arabic. The crusaders used to chain themselves together when they went to battle for
- Listen to a Muslim preacher, accept Islam if convinced, join the Muslim brotherhood and live according to the Islamic principles of justice, personal freedom and decency.
- Retain existing faith and identity, but join the federation of Madinah and allow free passage to the Muslims.
- Decide the issue by a mortal combat of the warriors of the two sides in an open unpopulated field.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
State Control of Economy Index
State Control of Economy Index (SCEI) for 25 selected countries.
| Serial No | Name of country | Gross domestic product (GDP in billion U.S.$) (2000) | Total Government annual expenditure million US$ | Annual Expenditure as % of GDP (SCEI) |
| 1 | Iran | 104.9 | 60665 | 57.83 |
| 2 | France | 1300 | 649203 | 49.94 |
| 3 | Israel | 110.4 | 47818 | 43.31 |
| 4 | Sweden | 227.3 | 95434 | 41.99 |
| 5 | United Kingdom | 1400 | 524860 | 37.49 |
| 6 | Germany | 1900 | 701206 | 36.91 |
| 7 | Brazil | 595.5 | 211140 | 35.46 |
| 8 | Turkey | 200 | 70364 | 35.18 |
| 9 | Nigeria | 41.1 | 11722 | 28.52 |
| 10 | Thailand | 122.2 | 30683 | 25.11 |
| 11 | Australia | 390.1 | 95444 | 24.47 |
| 12 | Egypt | 99 | 23166 | 23.40 |
| 13 | Sri Lanka | 16.3 | 3789 | 23.25 |
| 14 | Malaysia | 89.7 | 19722 | 21.99 |
| 15 | Japan | 4800 | 1013103 | 21.11 |
| 16 | Pakistan | 62 | 12768 | 20.59 |
| 17 | Philippines | 74.7 | 14977 | 20.05 |
| 18 | Canada | 688 | 135585 | 19.71 |
| 19 | Indonesia | 153.3 | 28448 | 18.56 |
| 20 | United States of America | 9800 | 1783490 | 18.20 |
| 21 | South Korea | 457.2 | 83049 | 18.16 |
| 22 | Russia | 251.1 | 42466 | 16.91 |
| 23 | India | 457 | 71293 | 15.60 |
| 24 | Bangladesh | 47.1 | 5685 | 12.07 |
| 25 | China | 1080 | 107617 | 9.96 |
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Fasting, the Emergency Drill
Even the worst masochist would not call starving a pleasant experience. Provision of food is, perhaps, the most significant motive factor in all human and animal activities. And yet we find that most prophets and saints, since time immemorial, have felt compelled to risk losing their popularity by imposing fasting on their followers. What could be the wisdom behind such a politically imprudent preaching? The conservation of food? The realization by everyone of the feeling of hunger in order to commiserate with those who are not fortunate enough to get regular meals? Probably. But when the injunction comes from the Qur'an it has to have a more fundamental and universal implication, and the answer seems to have been made available by modern science. Within every human and animal being there is an alarm system, and an emergency reserve system which is essential for its survival in difficult situations. Examples of the alarm system are thirst and hunger, which warn an individual that fresh supplies of water and food are required to maintain the body. If water or nutrition is not received within a certain time of the alarm then the process of conversion of various surplus substances within the body, and even within each cell, is carried out to sustain life.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
For Freedom & Democracy
So many people have been fooled by the slogans of Freedom and Democracy that it has become necessary to formulate some rules that can protect people from the false prophets of freedom and democracy. From my own experience, I would suggest the following rules which if adopted by all nations of the world; particularly the United Nations and the international courts of justice could deter the usurpers of freedom and democracy.
- An instrument of surrender is an agreement made under duress and therefore not a binding agreement. All actions or transactions resulting from it can be reversed without time bar.
- A law made by a legitimate parliament under duress or undue influence or threat of local or foreign military force is not a law and all actions or transactions resulting from it can be reversed without time bar.
- A verdict given by a judge or panel of judges of any stature under duress or undue influence or the threat of local or foreign military forces is not a valid judgment and all actions or transactions resulting from it can be reversed without time bar.
What we need now are some verdicts embodying the above principles to form precedents. Would anyone like to volunteer?
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
The Fish and the Frog
A group of frogs was playing in a shallow pond of water jumping from one stone to another.
A colorful fish, swimming by stopped and asked one of the frogs, “How can you jump from one stone and land exactly on the other?”
“It involves a little calculation,” replied the frog not paying much attention to the fish.
“Like what?” insisted the little fish.
“Well, I estimate the distance between the two stones, calculate the angle and velocity of launch to attain the necessary trajectory, make correction for wind speed, then flex the muscles of my rear legs the right amount and then release them to project myself towards the target. It doesn’t take a second,” the frog was more forthcoming this time.
“But you also move your front legs and also maneuver in the air,” the fish chimed taking pride in its power of observation.
“Aha,” retorted the frog, “the front legs assist in getting the correct angle and the maneuvers in the air are in-flight course correction. Can I go now?”
“How interesting, you can do all that without radar or computer,” sighed the fish and swam away curling its body from side to side.
“Silly fish,” chuckled the frog and went back to his leaping.
IRRITATION
Irritation plays a very important role in determining how an individual behaves in a given situation. A person behaves quite differently in familiar circumstances if he is suffering from a running nose or a toothache, there being a divergence between the two specific cases. Many people would avoid going to their place of work in these conditions not because they are afraid of spreading the virus, but because their changed behavior could alarm others. Irritation may be internal or external. Internal irritation usually takes the form of a pain or itching or secretion or occasionally an involuntary movement of a limb. External irritation adversely affects one of the senses, such as flickering light, an unpleasant sound or smell, dust, temperature or the movement of an object. To someone suffering from an internal irritation or a psychological condition, the addition of an external irritant can be quite disastrous. Even a normal and healthy person's thoughts can be decisively affected by an external irritation. Considerable research has been carried out on the effects of various irritating agents on the performance and efficiency of industrial workers. Fortunately human beings are endowed to a varying degree with an ability to manipulate their sensitivity to these irritating agents depending on their circumstances. Moreover, in all civilized societies there has been an organized effort to combat and reduce the sources of irritation. In most cases the effort has consisted of the implementation of sanitation and hygiene to contain the spread of irritating germs and gases. Landscaping helps to prevent dust, and lately air conditioning is becoming popular for controlling the temperature and humidity of enclosed environments.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
PLEASURE AND PAIN
Almost all memorable human perceptions can be classified as either pleasant or unpleasant. When unpleasantness reaches a certain degree, we call it pain, and then of course there are degrees of pain itself. This work does not aim at discussing the mechanism of generation of particular impulses by the sensory organs in the nervous system which are identified by the brain as pleasure or pain. Nor shall we delve into the physiological aspects of the storage of this information in the brain cells. It suffices for our purposes that a feeling of pleasure is registered in the brain when sensory perceptions indicate things to be going right, whereas pain is identified when the sequence or nature or intensity of perceptions shows that something is going wrong. In this way pain is also related to fear which also has a series of consequential features, such as increase in the rate of heartbeat, seizure of digestive functions, sweating, dilation of pupils, redirection of blood supply etc. However, similar reactions are also observed in the case of anger or excitement as well as fear caused by reading or hearing an alarming statement involving complex analytical functions.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Fast Felines
Two cats met in an alley.
The first cat greeted the other with a mew and exclaimed, “You are looking younger today!”
“Yes,” replied the second cat, “my owners took me along to see their relatives over the weekend, and drove very fast.”
“So, what did it do to your appearance?” The first cat looked puzzled.
”My master who is a physicist says that if you travel very fast, according to Einstein’s theory of relativity, you age less and remain younger,” the second cat mewed proudly.
“Aha!” the first cat exclaimed joyfully at if it had discovered something, “now I understand what my master says.”
“Huh, what does he say?” The eyes of the second cat lit up with excitement.
“He says,” the first cat narrated thoughtfully, “those who drive fast die young.”
At that point a dog barked nearby and both cats ran in opposite directions – very fast.
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