Truth
Thoughts about Religion, Science, and Faith
Abstract
© Dr M D Magee
Contents Updated: Friday, 6 March 2009
Abstract
Maulana Maududi on mouthpieces of God
Maulana Maududi has been described as the leading Islamic scholar to come out of India in the twentieth century:
Constituting themselves the mouthpieces of God they start dictating to others what is lawful (halal) and what is not (haram). In this way their word becomes law and they force people to obey their own commands instead of those of God. This is the source of that Brahmanism and Popery which has prevailed under various names and in diverse forms in all parts of the world from time immemorial down to the present day, and in consequence of which certain families, races and classes have imposed their dominion over large masses of men and women.
Rather like the Arabs following Mohammed, eh? It is curious how even clever men can exclude their own beliefs from their criticisms—but Maududi was right, even if too selective in those that he criticises. It is hard to understand how anyone can believe the pronouncements of anyone claiming to speak for God. If God is omnipotent, as all believers in one god think, then why should he want to subject humanity to possible temptation by imposters by only revealing himself in a way that is transparently subject to fraudsters, lunatics and demagogues. All real prophets would say just what Maududi says, but not one believer would listen. They’ll find some evangelical type raging on another soapbox and give him ten percent of their income in exchange for salvation after death.
Christians hold that their faith does good, but other faiths do harm. At any rate, they hold this about the Communist faith. What I wish to maintain is that all faiths do harm. We may define “faith” as a firm belief in something for which there is no evidence. Where there is evidence, no one speaks of “faith”. We do not speak of faith that two and two are four or that the earth is round. We only speak of faith when we wish to substitute emotion for evidence.Lord Russell
