There was not a ton of information on Al-Warraq, and in the text it states that the details that we do know about him are vague. After his death his books were banned and destroyed.
Our group raised two questions, and based our discussion off of them:
Fact: What does Al-Warraq quite extremely refer to God as?
A: An idiot.
Discussion: Do you feel (as Al-Warraq explains it) that God sets you up for failure?
We discussed whether or not this causes doubt in people's beliefs, and whether or not if over time it affects religion. It was mentioned that some people are too sheltered when it comes to religion, and that they never really get a chance to think for themselves because they were raised to believe or follow a specific religion. That many people--unknowingly--are raised in "ignorance".
The group also discussed and question the validity of the stories and information we have about certain people that we are taught to believe or follow. One group member used the Bible as an example. (referring to the writings about Jesus not even being written until at least 20 years after his death)---how much can a story or facts about a story change over time without valid proof?
technically I believe that there probably is no god at this point. there is just too many questionable things in my mind to whole heartily put my faith in a god right now, not saying I wont later on in life. If I did believe though I would say that yes he does set you up for failure because he expects so much from the animal species known as humans and knows supposedly our next move all the time. No matter what lifestyle you live, you are bound to at least accidentally sin and the only way to get to his heaven is through forgivness and I'm not so sure that people in cultures deep in the jungles of places around the world even know this. therefor how is that fair?
ReplyDeleteI don't want to say that god sets us up for failure, but come on now. Looking at the world with any bit of an honest mind will only lead you to think that god is simpy dangling life in front of us. Why would an omnipotent and omnicient god let some of these things happen that go on in the world? Does he enjoy seeing us fail? Are we just like his little movie playing out over millenia and millenia for his entertainment? I'm not saying that god is bad, or that he indeed sets us up for failure, but I'm saying that at this point in my life he's not looking too hot.
ReplyDeleteFor next class on Scholastics:
Factual- What was the name of Aristotle's book on how words work? Sophistic Refutations
Discussion- Can religion be explained via proofs? Is religion a rationalistic concept?
I agree with Blake, for the most part. Sometimes it definitely feels as though we have been designed to sin, or make the "wrong" decisions. Or perhaps some of the predicaments presented by situations that we find or put ourselves in are intended to make us choose the "wrong" option. It is difficult to see it through the eyes of a devout believer, but the "right" choices are not guaranteed benefactors, aside from personal fulfillment, of course.
ReplyDeleteI feel pretty much the same towards this topic as Blake does. According to the ways that god wants you to live everybody is destined to sin and fail.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alexis. God's plan is quite confusing to his creations, which causes disorder
ReplyDelete