I understand it. Been through it. It makes things seem true. It makes what you believe seem beautiful and sacred. It makes you feel you know it a certain manner. It gives you peace. It has a certain pleasurable taste to it.
And for that, I understand, where the religious people are coming from.
You knock and you receive. I asked God to give me guidance as a Muslim and it felt that God responded. It feels like God listens to your prayers.
You feel a holy bond with your brethren. They seem to be good people, while those nasty people whom oppose them seem to be bad insincere people.
It gives you strength and direction.
It's very powerful feeling. It's belief stronger then most beliefs.
The leaders of your sect seem wise and pious. The leaders of other sects feel like fools and deluded.
Disbelief feels terrifying and evil. It feels like it's the worst thing that can happen to you. It feels like it would be loosing the greatest treasure you have.
And for that, I don't blame you.
I'm not angry at myself for having been deluded for so long. So I am not upset at people from being deluded either.
I am going to advice the one thing Prophet Mohammad advised his people (see Suratal Saba): "Rise up and ponder, by yourself and in groups"
Easy to believe you thought things through. You have to reinvestigate your thoughts over and over again. You have to try to see arguments that would falsify your strong beliefs.
If your Christian, you believe this is true of all others, right? That they should rise up, and seek the truth. Ponder, search the depth of their minds/souls. Try to be honest with themselves. Not sastify themselves with their deluded beliefs.
Same if your Muslim.
And for that we are in agreement. But let's not be hypocrites. Do what you expect from others.
Muslims, you expect Atheists do ponder over the signs in the heavens and the earth, and in their "souls". You expect them to ponder over the verses of Quran and ponder over it's wisdom. You expect them to sincerely take the Quran miracle seriously.
You expect polytheists too rise up against their people's delusions and propaganda.
Whatever you think they should go through constantly, investigating and re-investigating, the same should be of you.
Don't have double standards.
And for that, I understand, where the religious people are coming from.
You knock and you receive. I asked God to give me guidance as a Muslim and it felt that God responded. It feels like God listens to your prayers.
You feel a holy bond with your brethren. They seem to be good people, while those nasty people whom oppose them seem to be bad insincere people.
It gives you strength and direction.
It's very powerful feeling. It's belief stronger then most beliefs.
The leaders of your sect seem wise and pious. The leaders of other sects feel like fools and deluded.
Disbelief feels terrifying and evil. It feels like it's the worst thing that can happen to you. It feels like it would be loosing the greatest treasure you have.
And for that, I don't blame you.
I'm not angry at myself for having been deluded for so long. So I am not upset at people from being deluded either.
I am going to advice the one thing Prophet Mohammad advised his people (see Suratal Saba): "Rise up and ponder, by yourself and in groups"
Easy to believe you thought things through. You have to reinvestigate your thoughts over and over again. You have to try to see arguments that would falsify your strong beliefs.
If your Christian, you believe this is true of all others, right? That they should rise up, and seek the truth. Ponder, search the depth of their minds/souls. Try to be honest with themselves. Not sastify themselves with their deluded beliefs.
Same if your Muslim.
And for that we are in agreement. But let's not be hypocrites. Do what you expect from others.
Muslims, you expect Atheists do ponder over the signs in the heavens and the earth, and in their "souls". You expect them to ponder over the verses of Quran and ponder over it's wisdom. You expect them to sincerely take the Quran miracle seriously.
You expect polytheists too rise up against their people's delusions and propaganda.
Whatever you think they should go through constantly, investigating and re-investigating, the same should be of you.
Don't have double standards.