Repetition---I agree that we have already covered most things in our previous conversations...at this point, it may be interesting to explore some of the other tangents being brought up...?...
Reason---To rely on human reason and intelligence is beneficial. It is certainly better than relying on superstitions. But humans are creative and so can find justifications ("reasons") if they try hard enough. For example, Many Americans feel torture is justified....or that "collateral damage" is acceptable....etc Lawyers have come up with reasoned legal arguments FOR these things.....as well as many other troubling things....Nevertheless, even with the potential for abuse, reason (and intelligence, creativity) are the only way forward for humanity. If there is a noble purpose to which reason and knowledge can be used....there is more possibility of preventing their misuse. That is why the acquisition of knowledge and the use of reason must be for the purpose of God's will= Right belief that promotes right intentions that lead to right actions for the benefit of all of God's creations.
Problems---There are many problems today. I believe we can find creative solutions to problems.(Ijtihad) Once we do, we (humanity) will likely be confronted with other problems. The Quran says life on earth is a test. One cannot be tested without working through problems!. We will need to struggle (Jihad) to do God's will and thereby fulfill the purpose (Trusteeship/Khalifa) for which we were created.
"Islamic governance"---What is it?--will probably depend on the definition. If we say that to be "Islamic" one needs to follow the framework of Tawheed---then the governance today in Muslim-majority countries is "Western" not Islamic/Tawhidic. There are many countries that still use Western systems of governance, law, and education. There are built-in imbalances in the Western systems. For example, (a) Law is made and enforced by the government. Which means that "governance" is by the elites, for the elites. Thus, taxes collected from the people are not used for the benefit of the people, rather they are used for the benefit of the elites---such as bailouts for the corporations and the wars for the military-Industrial complex...etc. (b) Because of secularism, there are no ethico-moral considerations that restrict the abuse of power or the abuse of law...thus kidnapping people off the streets, torturing and murdering them becomes "legal" under "extraordinary renditions" (United States Government). (c) Under the Western system, everyone in a country must comply with the law of the land, there are no alternatives. ...these are a few examples we can use to compare with the Tawhidic framework.
Under the Tawhidic framework, Law is based on the principles of inherent equality (before God) and Justice tempered with compassion and mercy. The pursuit of Justice is a right given by God, but it comes with ethico-moral restraints. (a) Law is made by Scholars familiar with the Tawhidic framework and by the ethico-moral principles which flow from Tawheed. Thus, the primary purpose of taxes is for the benefit of the people---such as free hospitals, and education, building of public works that benefit commerce and production., and the safety and security of the public. (b) Because Law is made by scholars independent of the government, there is more balance of power and this raises the potential to resist manipulation by the elites as well as a force of correction if such manipulation occurs. The government can be used by the citizens to curb abuses by the law and the law can be used to curb abuses by the government. (c). Because God has provided Guidance (Law) to all humanity, each group with its own system of law has a right to practice these laws in the land. Thus, Sharia is for Muslims (though non-Muslims can use it if they wish), Halaka is for Jews, Canon law for Christians (Catholic and Eastern Christians) Dharma for Hindus and Buddhists....etc. The right to practice the laws required of their religions is God-given right/freedom. The restriction of this freedom under the concept that there is only one law for all can be understood as an injustice/restriction of a freedom.
Reason---To rely on human reason and intelligence is beneficial. It is certainly better than relying on superstitions. But humans are creative and so can find justifications ("reasons") if they try hard enough. For example, Many Americans feel torture is justified....or that "collateral damage" is acceptable....etc Lawyers have come up with reasoned legal arguments FOR these things.....as well as many other troubling things....Nevertheless, even with the potential for abuse, reason (and intelligence, creativity) are the only way forward for humanity. If there is a noble purpose to which reason and knowledge can be used....there is more possibility of preventing their misuse. That is why the acquisition of knowledge and the use of reason must be for the purpose of God's will= Right belief that promotes right intentions that lead to right actions for the benefit of all of God's creations.
Problems---There are many problems today. I believe we can find creative solutions to problems.(Ijtihad) Once we do, we (humanity) will likely be confronted with other problems. The Quran says life on earth is a test. One cannot be tested without working through problems!. We will need to struggle (Jihad) to do God's will and thereby fulfill the purpose (Trusteeship/Khalifa) for which we were created.
"Islamic governance"---What is it?--will probably depend on the definition. If we say that to be "Islamic" one needs to follow the framework of Tawheed---then the governance today in Muslim-majority countries is "Western" not Islamic/Tawhidic. There are many countries that still use Western systems of governance, law, and education. There are built-in imbalances in the Western systems. For example, (a) Law is made and enforced by the government. Which means that "governance" is by the elites, for the elites. Thus, taxes collected from the people are not used for the benefit of the people, rather they are used for the benefit of the elites---such as bailouts for the corporations and the wars for the military-Industrial complex...etc. (b) Because of secularism, there are no ethico-moral considerations that restrict the abuse of power or the abuse of law...thus kidnapping people off the streets, torturing and murdering them becomes "legal" under "extraordinary renditions" (United States Government). (c) Under the Western system, everyone in a country must comply with the law of the land, there are no alternatives. ...these are a few examples we can use to compare with the Tawhidic framework.
Under the Tawhidic framework, Law is based on the principles of inherent equality (before God) and Justice tempered with compassion and mercy. The pursuit of Justice is a right given by God, but it comes with ethico-moral restraints. (a) Law is made by Scholars familiar with the Tawhidic framework and by the ethico-moral principles which flow from Tawheed. Thus, the primary purpose of taxes is for the benefit of the people---such as free hospitals, and education, building of public works that benefit commerce and production., and the safety and security of the public. (b) Because Law is made by scholars independent of the government, there is more balance of power and this raises the potential to resist manipulation by the elites as well as a force of correction if such manipulation occurs. The government can be used by the citizens to curb abuses by the law and the law can be used to curb abuses by the government. (c). Because God has provided Guidance (Law) to all humanity, each group with its own system of law has a right to practice these laws in the land. Thus, Sharia is for Muslims (though non-Muslims can use it if they wish), Halaka is for Jews, Canon law for Christians (Catholic and Eastern Christians) Dharma for Hindus and Buddhists....etc. The right to practice the laws required of their religions is God-given right/freedom. The restriction of this freedom under the concept that there is only one law for all can be understood as an injustice/restriction of a freedom.
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