Power, as we’ve learned, comes in all shapes and forms. One interesting face of it, would be the use of God’s authority to make subjects abide.
Before one does so, it will also be interesting to see how God, the Almighty, and All-Forgiving exercises His power. Afterall, with no ulterior motives involved and nothing to gain, God’s intentions wouldn’t much be doubted by a believing Muslim. So naturally, one being a Muslim, wouldn’t and couldn’t, object to God’s exercise of power.
But if we do look at it, is it as noble as we think God is? I’d classify God’s exercise of power as the carrot and stick approach. Where there are numerous incentives, there are direct threats. God uses the element of fear quite too often to make us abide by His Orders. Quite often, hell fire is mentioned and in many instances, negligence to orders leads to dire consequences.
So would it be alright to say that, God, more Merciful than 70 mothers, as we believe, practices His Authority in ways similar to Josep Stalin did?
Isn’t the philosophy behind both, at least remotely identical? To lure one with promises of Milk, and simultaneously scare them with descriptions of Hell-Fire?
Of course I have refrained from detail, but it would be interesting to pose the question to most of us as Muslims whether God practices His Authority over us legitimately.
And if we raise eyebrows at other’s use of intimidation, will it be alright to do so in this case?
Or is this an exception? And as Muslims believe God to be Perfect, is His practice of Power too, perfect?
This fear of God is manifested subconsciously into our actions in a way or another. We are conditioned in ways to believe that if we do not pray, we will burn in hell for so and so years. And we begin to pray, abide and follow out of fear that we may just burn.
Does not that, then reflect at how medieval we are? Acting out of fear, and submitting to an Authority we dare not question, at least in this society.
And the fact that if I pose this question to a religious authority, I am bound to be looked upon with disgust by him and many others, does reflect how effective God’s Authority over us is.
Haven’t people in the past, devoid of any qualifications i.e the mysterious Gregory Rasputin, used the Religious Ethos to influence their say and impose actions completely ridiculous?
And isn’t this very Ethos the zenith of terror, as it can dare not be challenged, because it automatically belongs to a Higher Being?
And in its nature of using direct threats reliant on targeting fear, is it ethical?
2 comments:
The concept of punishment and reward is that what i think is used when we are promised about Heaven and the Hell. In psychological terms it is positive reinforcement if you promise a child to give him the chocolates and punishment will make sure he does not do the undesired thing.Since i believe in God so i think He created me and know my nature better with that assumption i think if he promise me with Heaven or Hell that is something that naturally i would respond and adapt to with the fear or hope because it is my faith and at the same time it is also innately present in my psychological understanding of things.With that being said it is matter of belief; if you have belief in God being capable of rewarding and punishment by all means you are submitting to this fact and acknowledging him as the ultimate authority who have control over you and can treat you according to His stated rules and regulations.When you mention instance of Hell fire you are also not going into detail of how God has different characteristic names (Asma Allah) and His attributes like All merciful and beneficent showing His merciful side outnumber is names that are associated being with Al Jabbar and Al Qahar His most fearing side.So is it ethical for a believer and from psychological point of view i do not know? But does it work and has been working Yes!.certainly
I think Its just a singled out idea that one does things out of fear, there are some people who worship god out of immense devotion. It's just that many tend to do it out of fear because they do not see things from a broader, and tenderhearted perspective. And thus it makes it a popular idea that fear is the only thing people have on their minds, even when they think the things they do are for their betterment and satisfaction.
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