The Great Jihad ?

 

I was on a course in London once. Teaching thing. One of the lecturers - an ex head teacher, and one of those horrible OfSted inspectors talked about 'reward'ing children's work. She was death on putting 'gold stars' or the like on 'good' work - work well done. She said the child would see the objective of the lesson to be the attainment of a 'gold star' rather than the reward of the learning itself, something the child would carry for life. It could also create problems for the children themselves in an unhealthy 'competitive' way - that some got 'gold stars' and others did not.  I remember thinking, "what a cold oul b'''h you are." But she was correct. She did have a little reward system in place - cards she'd pick out herself, and every so often write a personal message on these individual cards and give to the child as an acknowledgement of what they had done for themselves, attaining the real intention/objective - learning, and the real and lasting good they began to get from it. It worked too. She was from New Zealand, and they do seem to be ahead in a lot of ways in matters of education and health care.

 

It seems to me that it's all about learning. 'Sin' is about choosing to be in bondage, a slave, prisoner to whatever harms us - and we have to learn, often the hard way, that we may have other choices. I don't believe God judges or punishes as such. But that what we learn, or fail to learn, is 'reward' or the 'punishment' in itself.

 

Why are there killers on the planet ? And do we have some responsibility in creating 'killers' ? Now, there's a question.

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, I do see what you are trying to convey Hasan, and can understand and agree with most of it. It's this thing about responsibility that I wonder about. And it's naieve, and ignorant, to say that people in certain situations simply 'make excuses' and go on to behave in a bad way anyway. People need, use 'crutches' till they are healed and able to walk again by themselves. If they need crutches - they are not well.  You have said yourself that God, as All Knower, knows and there will be understanding and fair judgement. That's all I am trying to say. That we do not know what understanding and fair judgement is - when we are talking of God. Yet we assume all 'murderers' are gonna burn in hell. It's all this God of eternal burning in hell I find very difficult to believe. Threatening people out of hell into heaven. Sounds more like the lying Lucifer to me. IF God is infinite - and infinite in mercy and compassion; then to have so many of his creatures bound for the hellfire means God's compassion and mercy are finite, and god really isn't much of a god.  If Hitler could exist as every sub atomic particle that ever has or will exist - and suffer beyond imagination as each and every particle of all that exists, for trillions and trillions and zillions of years, and that was just the beginning. Would that be enough for him. If God's mercy and compassion are infinite - then that mercy and compassion must be infinitely extended to all - for ever. What blinds man to mercy and compassion ? Fear ?  I am just pondering the nature of this God Hasan. Even Muhammad agonised over his 'ummah' who would go to 'hell' ? We owe it to God, IF God exists ;-) -  to explore God's infinite Goodness. And it's the role of the 'shaitan' to make us look everywhere else - but to that great Goodness, which is ultimately what Heaven is, will be. That's what the story of Job was partly about. Satan was allowed to try Job and make him fearful and despairing of God's goodness.

 

I don't know what 'God's spirit' -  that man is partly made of, as well as clay, really is, Hasan. I am not saying it's divine, that man is divine. But it's naieve too to suggest that it does not imply man to have a far higher dignity, and destiny, than many people might seem to suggest, believe. For me it's about perspective. In realising and understanding the true dignity and calling of the human being - we may come to desire and act more in accordance with that calling and destiny - to show the true 'face' of God to the world - mercy and compassion.  Love heals. And I am not talking aiery fairy BS kind of 'love'. To say we are made partly of 'God's spirit' is not that different from the bible saying we are 'made in the image of God'. Man has something of his/her nature that has infinite capacity - as God is infinite. I believe that capacity, image in which we are made - is the capacity to love. I believe we will be judged on how we have loved in this world - and we will judge our selves in the clearer knowledge and love of God, when we 'meet' God through the veil.

 

Because, 'God is Love'.

 

Al-wadud. Al-rahman. Al-rahim.

 

I have spoken and my word is true. ;-) lol

 

 

 

I think that when you have priests, scholars, imams etc interpreting the scriptures for the rest of us, telling us what God's nature is - that can be difficult. Not always - sometimes. We place them in a position of power in so doing - and by the nature of being human - that power is often abused - used, to control and dominate others through fear. Intentionally or not. Even they have their baggage, and their understandings of God/scriputres are filtered through that too. As with all of us. They rationalise and justify why everyone, but themselves, are deserving of hell - gonna burn in hell.

 

Then there are those who see and know they may be truly deserving of 'hell' - but have come to know a God of real compassion, mercy and love. They have known a God who wishes to save from 'hell' - and saves them from that place, even though they may be most deserving of it; and they seek to know and have known that God who is willing and capable of 'saving' them, and in doing that - willing and capable of 'saving' all others too. Have others know this God through love, not fear. "Perfect love casts out all fear...........  " 'cept' the 'holy fear' which is the fear of offending/hurting self, other and God.  

 

Self knowledge is a sure path to God. If we would know God, we must also know our selves - in whose image we are made - that 'God's spirit'.

 

I am not advocating a big love in Hasan. No consequences or punishments for sin etc. No. There has to be justice and restoration of harmony/balance. I just wonder what those consequences/punishments are in relation to the infinite mercy and compassion of Allah. Are they 'eternal'.

 

Just thoughts. I am not pushing anything one way or another.