KAKAJAN HAYLTYYEV
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Sometimes, when certain individuals suddenly become rich they
make a remarkable transformation from being a decent person
to someone completely unrecognizable. When it happens,
people usually say that money changed them.
I do not believe that money has anything to do with it. Money
does not have ability to change anyone because it is just a paper.
However, it might be appropriate to say that the amount of
money made a person to reveal true colors of his or her nature.
Thankfully, it is not often when we witness this type of drastic and
sad change. But when it happens it is very frustrating to
understand that we have been manipulated and mislead by
someone who has excellent ability to camouflage.
Increasingly rising intolerance worldwide made me to think that
possibly if we may close attention we may be capable to see what
is hidden behind the façade when it comes to one of the most
important parts of our life – religion.
I specifically do not make any attempt to go deep into the world
of religion because the subject is gigantically broad and deep and
it would require at least a year of intense research. Even then I
would not be able to come to any conclusion as it is very complex
and the messages of any religion are open to interpretation.
Therefore, I decided to look at his issue not from religion from a
personal choice that people make and compare such choice to
the fundamentals of their faith.
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***
Very often people express their intolerance for a different
religious concession. They tend to believe that if such religion is
different from the one they follow, it means it is wrong.
In some cases, people compare the subject of their intolerance
to a crime and insist that the entire group of its followers are just
as bad. It is quite surprising that individuals who are so proud
that they are religious are capable of erupting so much
intolerance and hatred.
If they truly believe in God, they supposed to be tolerant and
spread the love. At least this is what logic tells me. And as far as
I understand, laws of logic are the only laws which did not change
over eternity.
To clarify, it is necessary to highlight that just like in
jurisprudence, when there are contradictions between texts, the
text which has a higher status shall prevail. I think the same
principle would work just fine when talking about whether the
belief is genuine or for display.
For illustration, I would like to quote main fundamental
statements of Islam and Christianity. I use these two religions for
reference because mass media mentions them more often than
others.
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ISLAM
“God does not forbid you from being good to those who
have not fought you in the religion or driven you from
your homes, or from being just towards them. God loves
those who are just.” (Surat al-Mumtahana, 8)
“You cannot guide those you would like to but God
guides those He wills. He has the best knowledge of the
guided.” (Holy Quran/28: 56)
“There is no compulsion where the religion is
concerned.” (Holy Quran: 2/ 256)
“Beware! Whoever is cruel and hard on a non-Muslim
minority, or curtails their rights, or burdens them with
more than they can bear, or takes anything from them
against their free will; I (Prophet Muhammad) will
complain against the person on the Day of Judgment.”
(Abu Dawud)
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CHRISTIANITY
Romans 14:1-4 ESV
“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but
not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he
may eat anything, while the weak person eats only
vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who
abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass
judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed
him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of
another? It is before his own master that he stands or
falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make
him stand.”
Ephesians 4:2 ESV
“With all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another in love.”
Matthew 7:1 ESV
“Judge not, that you be not judged.”
Matthew 7:12 ESV
“So, whatever you wish that others would do to you, do
also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
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As we can see, the fundamental rules of religion are tolerance
and love. The rules are very clear, people shall not try to be God,
they shall not mistreat others just because other people do
things differently.
I also understand that the fundamental rules do not generalize.
They are quite specific and refer to individuals and do not leave
any room for people to interpret it as if it meant to be the entire
nation or all followers of other relegion.
There might be some other religious texts which would mean
different things. In this case, I would like to suggest to use laws
of logic. So, in the event of contradictions the text with a superior
status shall prevail. I am sure that this approach shall apply
because in the center of the religion is LOVE.
Imagine if siblings of one family would start arguing about who
loves parents the most. Because of some disagreement on some
minor aspects, one or two of them begin to get angry and say to
other siblings that they are no longer related because they do not
love parents the way he/she does. Then, for some unknown
reason, the argument escalates into a fight, a very brutal fight.
I believe that their neighbors would call the police as soon as the
noise becomes too loud. For a very long time, the entire
neighborhood, if not the entire town, would talk about this
incident and how stupid these siblings are.
When their parents would learn about the incident, without the
slightest doubt, they will get really unset and frustrated and
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ashamed for their own children. Why would they be ashamed?
Because parents of these siblings are very good people, they
work hard as teachers. They teach a very specific subject which
is called LOVE.
The subject contains only positive aspects. And now when their
own children have shown to the entire town that they do not know
the subject, how these poor parents could continue to teach?
But the most important question is this. Do
their children really love their parents?
***
We know that LOVE does not hurt, hatred does. But hatred is not
what religion teaches us. I think the one who spreads hatred is
not God but his opponent, Satan.
Therefore, it is logical to conclude that people who genuinely
believe in God would help other individuals regardless of their
faith, race, or nationality. They will continuously build bridges to
connect with each other. Their words will always be confirmed by
their actions.
However, those people who instead of helping, spread hatred
and intolerance, discriminate other people just because they are
not following the same religion or represent different race or
nationality, have nothing to do with God. Because they believe in
Devil as they follow his evil teachings.