Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim_a49
Right out of the gate, Jesus, if he existed, was not a muslim, nor were his apostles.
Islam would not be invented in it's present form, for another 800 years.
|
I will assume this means that what the Quran or Gospels portray about Jesus Christ is not of interest to you?...that's OK..........
The word "muslim" as used in the Quran, means "one who submits(to God)". Even Christians agree that Jesus Christ was "one who submits to God". Apparently the Gospels also portray him this way. ----as were the Prophets Moses, Noah, Adam,....etc (pbut).......
If God has no needs why would he Guide humanity towards Tawheed(Unity)?----Because there is much benefit (to humanity) in this concept.
Tawheed(Unity), in its most simplest form means "One God".
(It can be understood as a "world-view"/(Overall)Perspective.)
1) It means that ALL humanity, irrespective of the labels we divide ourselves by, were created by the SAME One God.
2) It means that God's compassion and mercy extend to ALL humanity (and all of God's creations)
3) It means there are no hierarchies. In front of God all are of equal worth, none superior or inferior to another. (Unity)
4)If there is only One God in existence, then all humanity prays/worships to the same One God irrespective of our different concepts, our different paths, our different labels.
5)Altruism is accepted by many to be the most noble human virtue...when we (humanity) "do for God" (worship by actions) altruism is promoted. Altruistic attitudes promote happiness (Eudaimonic happiness) which in turn promotes human health.
How Different Types of Happiness Affect Our Fundamental Being, Influence Genes
6) All creation belongs to the One God, is from the One God and will return to the One God.
The concept of Tawheed (Unity) has profound (and interesting) influence on how we (humanity) understand ethico-moral principles.
For example---Principles derived from a perspective of hierarchies (that some are more entitled than others) skews Justice...so....for example, in the preamble to the U.S. constitution this is what is stated, among other things, "...secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity". The way this is understood by Americans and their government is that Americans---as witnessed by current events--- are entitled to freedom and security even at the expense of denying freedom and security to others. So, in order to keep Americans "safe" it is justified to bomb and devastate other countries. Major collateral damage (humans) and targeting of infrastructure and resources as well as "long wars" are also justified by the American military and government.
If we understood Justice from the Principle of Tawheed(Unity) we would see that ALL humanity are created Equal (Of equivalent human value). Therefore ALL (human beings)have an equal right to freedom and security irrespective of national labels. This means that all nations (and their leaders) are responsible to promote peaceful resolutions to conflicts to the best of their ability and when such is not possible and using arms is the only option--- to speedily resolve armed conflict with the least damage to property, resources and humans (all of God's creations).
Another example is the hierarchical principle of "too big to fail"---a policy based on the idea that one group of people are entitled to their wealth at the expense of the other (majority). This again skews Justice.
But Tawheed (Unity) promotes policies based on two concepts 1) All humanity is Equal (equivalent human value) and 2) all wealth belongs to God. This means that wealth is not the "entitlement" of the few---but a "right" of all. So good economic systems must not only promote the development of "profits" but also their equitable distribution (social justice).
One could point out that Tawheed(Unity) as understood above seems Universal and one does not have to believe in God in order to implement its understanding of Equality, Justice, Rights and Responsibilities ...etc. Yes, ---I agree---yet, when we take the human element out of the establishment of universal principle and instead attribute it to a Universal God, we break "Hierarchical perspective". If one group has more "right" to establish universal principles than others----then we have maintained a hierarchical perspective.......
(Opposite of Tawheed (Unity) is Shirk (Division) = Many Gods.)