God, Fear, Love And Truth
“I had a debate with a Christian and like their concept of God more…” Religion is not about following our own desires. It’s about finding and surrendering to the truth. After spending the due time and effort if someone sincerely believes that Christianity is the correct viewpoint, then that’s exactly what they should follow. God has made it absolutely clear in the Quran that there’s no compulsion in religion and that everyone will be judged according to their own sincerity and effort. I must also add here that Islam, Christianity and Judaism are not separate religions. God has sent down only one message to the dwellers of the planet earth. Adam AS was the first prophet of God who preached this message, and Muhammad SAW was the last of the chain of prophets who kept reminding the people of the same. We consider all previous scriptures to be the word of God and the Quran to be the last one. Just like people after Muhammad SAW differed and divided into separate factions like Ahl-e-Sunnah, Ahl-e-Tashi, Ahl-e-Hadith, etc., people before Muhammad SAW also did the same and started calling themselves Jews and Christians. “Why Allah as we know him in Quran seem to motivate us more by fear than by love…” Such a misconception can only stem from not understanding the nature of the book we call the Quran. I suggest that you first understand what kind of books the Quran and the Bible are. As far as the Quran, the following videos will certainly help. Also this question makes it very evident that you are yet to read the Quran from cover to cover. Once you understand the nature of the book, I suggest that you do that. Discussion 1797 “A God who doesn’t die or doesn’t take pain is not worthy of my respect – let alone my love or worship…” Unfortunately, the message of God has no bearing on such emotional arguments; it is a message which establishes itself purely on rational grounds. The purpose of the message of God is to warn us about an awesome event that awaits us – the Day of Judgement. Those of us who put in the sincere effort to understand and adapt to this message are destined to be granted an eternal life of joy and comfort. To the contrary, a great suffering awaits those who make a play out of it or deny it in arrogance. “Is it Godly to not take pain and die and say things like ‘I don’t care even if the whole world turns unbeliever’?…” Again I suggest that you read the Quran. I also encourage you to read the Bible. Such a statement can only stem from ignorance. “I would rather believe more in the God who proves by example, comes down in a limited body and challenges himself…” I would too if such had actually happened and could be proven beyond reasonable doubt, however, sadly that’s not the case. The basis of such belief is nothing more than conjecture. “Not one verse of the Quran speaks about God’s love for humans…” All I can suggest is that please read a good translation of the Quran from cover to cover. I empathize with you because there are a lot of other people like you who get the same impression by reading the book in bits and pieces, especially when what they read are sub-par translations. Also I strongly suggest that you go through the Introduction to the Quran videos shared above.
Let me give you another analogy to make a point. Maybe you’ll like it. Suppose you were God and could do anything. Know the future; know your own future; can create anything. What’s the challenge for you? Isn’t life boring for you? For such a God nothing is excited, isn’t it? The challenge would be to leave your powers – Come down in limited body – Face life – Feel the pain – Die in the prime age of 33 – Raise the dead (which only God can do) – Set an example – So that those humans whom you evolved to be consciousness enough to know right from wrong can say with pride – my God is awesome! A lot on your plate? Just think for a while! Why worship a God who doesn’t show up? Is God only Al-Batin? God is Az-Zahir too. Isn’t it? He is both manifest and unmanifest. He is both first and last (He will come at end of days). He is Patient One (as Jesus took pain and death). Sometimes I feel – Quran proves Christianity more than Bible does. I mean – all these names – Ash-Shukur (Thankful one), As-Sabur (Patient One), Az-Zahir (Apparent One) are more aligned with God-head, Jesus and Holy Spirit than an family-less isolated fear-mongering never-pleased God. Who wants to sacrifice us goats and ourselves but shows no sacrifice of himself. Do you know why God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son? To test him. Right? You know how God proved he does what he says? By sacrificing Jesus. Some food for thought for you. As we Muslims are too fond of telling people see signs of God. I am showing you signs all you want – but would you listen? Khair janay do.