'Metaphysical' Is NOT a Dirty Word

[gib]

@Juggernaut

I have read in the Holy Qu’ran, and read about Dar es Islam, and I trust the leading clergy do not call for war or violence; but it is the people themselves, frustrated with their lives, and dominated by people like our selves who put all manor of material things before our God, between ourselves and God, and who seem to want the same for the people of God. We are very different from these people. It is as though they are from the past. If we want to protect ourselves, we will have to protect them from ourselves. We have to find a way of isolating them without injuring them, and I do mean at all levels; and giving them Palestine would help. If you think of it, they are all like a religious order of monks, and it would be rude if the monks watched t.v. to beam a lot of lewd pictures into their homes in order to advertize; when to do so tends to devalue all of their relationships. Do you see my point? I trust that the Holy Qu’ran says to spank the girls if they are lewd. I guess here, that we want our girls lewd so we have a reason to spank them, even if we don’t. If they want their girl virtuous we should applaud their efforts, and not try to corrupt them, boys or girls.What do you think.

Oh, I think that goes without saying. Yes, obviously more pragmatic grievances rooted in the public’s direct exposure to social problems will have a far greater effect on their values and behavior. But I just wanted to point out that metaphysical beliefs aren’t completely impotent in this regard. They still play some roll.

As for the clergy not calling for war and violence, I know for fact that there are cases in which certain religious leaders deliberately take passages from the Quran completely out of context for the sole purpose of brainwashing followers. For example, they will quote the passage

@Quran

And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war to threaten the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others besides whom, you may not know but whom Allah does know. And whatever you shall spend in the cause of Allah shall be repaid unto you, and you shall not be treated unjustly.

without also quoting the very next line which says

@Quran

But if they incline to peace, you also incline to it, and trust in Allah. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.

• Al-Anfal 8:61-62

It also comes to mind that a large part of the motivation driving suicide bombers and those who crash planes into buildings is the metaphysical belief that they will be rewarded for their acts in an afterlife with 70 virgin women. I don’t believe the motivation would be half as powerful if all they believed about death was that it was the end of conscious experience forever.

Even if this is a bad example overall, I think my point still stands - that metaphysical beliefs can have significant effects on people’s values and behavior, and in this respect they can be useful (if put towards positive ends).