Religion is for Idiots

An Afghan friend of our wrote:

“The main point is that when we enter religion, we must leave our reason and intellect at home and blindly believe whatever these people say.”

Dear friend, most of the time, when we make videos, we make them for our Muslim friends and answer their questions. What I have seen in this short time—and in these past years—is that many Muslims repeat the words of their religious leaders or scholars and imitate and chant certain slogans.

Unfortunately, I have also seen this among atheists and those who call themselves irreligious. They, too, have learned to repeat and imitate instead of thinking for themselves, chanting slogans instead. The idea that when you accept religion, you must leave your intellect at home is a mere slogan. These are things that are repetitive, imitative, and, as Rumi said: “Imitating them brought me to ruin. Stop! Curse this imitation.”

I hope that instead of saying imitative things like “this is how all religions are, and we must leave our intellect at home and listen to whatever anyone says,” you truly come one day to our live streams and talk to us.

I studied philosophy for four years at university. Whatever you might think about, I have questioned, thought about, and studied a thousand times. And never—not in our live streams or videos—have you seen us tell anyone, “Don’t think, just believe.” Such a thing does not exist.

So, instead of chanting slogans, dear friend, think. Truly think with all your intellect and see what the truth is. Jesus Christ says the greatest commandment in our faith is this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.

You cannot fully love God if you do not love Him with your mind as well. So, I hope that instead of repeating the words of others, you think, search for the truth, and, as Jesus Christ says, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

I wish you true freedom from these repetitive words. Thank you for your comment.