God is a Metaphor

#14

I`m talking about real brother and sister from the same mother and father, not cousins. Cousins is not incestuous.

#13 by GT,

See my post below. I`m not talking about Endogamy. Endogamy is about marrying within a social group, like Parsis, or Ismailis. No problem with that. I`m talking about marrying your own sister here. According to wikipedia, T``he caste-system of India is based on an order of (mostly) endogamous groups.``

This question is highly disturbing for secularists, not me as another interactor has alleged. I know it is wrong. Why it is so disturbing to secularists is that if moral values are determined by evolving societies, and not by religion, as has been the case in legitimization of same-sex marriage in order to preserve human rights and liberties of a lifestyle choice in a practice which is socially acceptable, then by the same token why outlaw brother/sister marriage? After all, if this German couple wins the case (which I think they will because they`re fighting it on the same grounds as same-sex marriage), then it will become socially acceptable.

My question to Dr. Sohail is whether he supports the couple`s struggle? If he does, why? If he doesn`t, why not?

I`m awaiting an answer.

Re: # 17

Actually first cousins who are raised together like brother and sister and are themselves progeny of first cousin marriages are just as incestous to most people in the world and extremely distrubing. Just because YOU are ok with it and your culture/religion sanctions it doesn`t mean its is healthy or rational or desirable for societies to choose marraige partners solely from their immediate family members.

Dear Mohammad Gill....choicest greetings! Its been a while since we communicated. I hope you are faring well.

You are probably not aware that there is as yet an unresolved and quite vicious death threat against me and the charge is none other than blasphemy. Furthermore, people are slaughtered by fanatics almost daily in countries like Iraq and Pakistan if they are perceived as following the ``wrong`` brand of Islam.

Any way, that`s not why I am writing. I read Sohail`s article with interest. The notion or belief in God however, is not going away because of the fear-mongerring around the concept. Reducing God to a metaphor in my opinion will not serve the purpose, though it may defintely convince a few enlightened souls! What God might do to people in a hearafter is what drives these fears. Maybe Sohail shoud write another article to address some of these irrational fears.

#18 zeemax, I read somewhere about this german couple that most of their children were born with special needs and sick. even if half of children or even 25% of children from such relationships are born retarded or sick, society does not need religion to decide that it is not good practice. any relationship that produces such a large pecentage of sick offspring will get outcasted, outlawed or become a social stigma. Its is commonsense.

BTW there was an 1 hour 20/20 show on this subject few weeks ago. there was a mother who had given up his son at birth and met him after 20 years or so when he was grown up. she was sexually attracted to her. other cases were similar to this German case. The conclusion was that close relations when grown up away from each other and not meeting for years, can feel a sexual attraction to each otherwhen they finally meet and live with each other.....particularly when they don`t have any other close relations alive.

#21 by dullabhatti,

Yeah yeah ok. I wonder why so many people are answering on Dr. Sohail`s behalf. Why doesn`t he answer it himself? Too tough a question?

Why so many `khwajey dey gwah duddoo`?

Yes, it is a very tough question. But Dr. Sohail just won an award, didn`t he? So he should be able to answer it convincingly.

#20 by farzanahassan

Its been a while since we communicated.

Sure. For an interactor who joined on the 9th April 2007, it`s been a while since you communicated with Mr. Gill. Right....

Another gillster nick? We can do without that.

chall yaar ohday ton sunn laiN jawaab...par toon mann`na phir vi nai.:) jatt wali aRhi.

If god ever ever turned out to be anything like the muslim allah..I will personally punch that bizzatch right in the mouth..

now that the obvious has been stated for Masadi and Peemax`s consumption, you do bring an interesting point dr. Sahib...that is the inability for adults to get over Allah ala the tooth fairy. I think the reason is that tooth fairy was a loving entity..she left a dollar for each tooth and her governance over her domain was universally applied. She rules with love. allah on the otherhand rules with fear and exclusion. ``Verily those that equate him with monkeys should be beheaded`` etc etc... If allah ever stopped being a petulant little biyatch, maybe she would get the same love from all that the tooth fairy gets.

Re: # 22
dear zeemax....you like winning arguments and i do not mind losing.

if i have nothing important to say i act on my grandmother`s advice

ik chup tay sau sukh

especially when other interaters have answered your question more eloquently

than i can answer. so sorry to disappoint you

all the best in your search for truth..... sincerely sohail

Dr. Sohail -

So, God is a metaphor for what ?

Re: # 27

dear zahraj...God is a metaphor for human fears and desires and dreams....projected on to

self created image of unknown mystery ....sincerely sohail

Over here, I find ourselves confined in the mind space. What about the contact of that mind with the heart to create a connection ? It seems that we are living on a planet where we only function based on our mind`s leanings. I did not say that I disagree with that direction, but I am curious to learn why our hearts are disengaged in the process.

Re: # 29

dear zahraj...i am a student of human psychology. it is my impression that children are

conditioned by their families and schools and communities and are asked to have blind faith

in certain traditions. as adults they have the choice to question those beliefs. unfortunately

most people not only accept the faith of their parents but also die on those faiths. i think

time has come for people to question those ideologies and let their own hearts and minds

guide them based on their own observations and experiences and reasoning rather than

blindly following their ancestors. that is the beginning of enlightenment and wisdom. such

wisdom not only leads to freedom of religion but also freedom from religion.....

sincerely sohail

Re: # 30

Dr. Sohail - Is it proven that those who follow and die following their ancestors` religion or leanings are less content than those who find their own path?

Finding one`s own path is a huge undertaking in itself. Requires a lot of committment and drive. It`s not an easy investment for many worldly beings.

{i think time has come for people to question those ideologies and let their own hearts and minds guide them based on their own observations and experiences and reasoning rather than blindly following their ancestors.}

I partially agree with you. I have a very sweet old friend who did explore his own religion. He was raised by a Muslim father and a Christian mother. He came across a woman during his university years in California and started visiting her church. He felt more at peace in the church than what he was taught while growing up. He decided to change his path from one religion to another. He did not give up on the concept of God, but he was looking for peace and serenity that he expected religion to provide to his soul. He has three kids now. He is a very loving father, a kind man and a good husband. In this case, his exploratory journey steered him from one religion to another. He was still searching for the God he could connect with. His father was very upset with him for years, but being the fact that he was the only son and they lived on different continents he could not completely write his son off. My point is that one`s search may bring one back to God. I respect the journey since it`s a very personal thing, but I do not necessarily agree that it`s our fear or dream or desire that has created an illusion -- God. I believe it is in us to either accept the presence of a higher being or deny it. I am not a ritualistic being from any angle. I strongly believe in being the sponge to let the spirit soak in and soul embrace the concept. Keeping that in mind, I am not in concurrence with the concept of illusion. I am not trying to conduct a literal interpretation of a ``metaphorical`` concept. You may have referred to illusion in a methaphoric sense.

You have discussed the miracles of Jesus and Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). I am surprised you did not include Moses and Solomon (my favorites). King Solomon had everything in life one could ever imagine, desire and pray for. He never denied the presence of a supreme being. In fact, some of the stories from his times can easily make one fall in love with myths, folk tales, human goodness, blessed hearts, wisdom, and character.

The concept of God is a very personal thing. I agree that as we mature and evolve that concept has a different significance for each of us on an individual level. I am not sure if it`s a blonde moment or I guess I have not yet been there where parallels are easily drawn between a concept and an illusion of this level.

Re: # 27

Of the Sun:
Helios (Greco-Roman)
Mithras (Roman)
Ra (Egyptian)
Amaterasu (Japan)
Tonatiuh (Aztec)
et al.

Of the Moon:
Diana (Greco-Roman)
Artemis (Greek)
Coyolxauhqui (Aztec)
Khons (Egyptian)
Ix Chel (Maya)
Sin/Nanna (Sumerian)
et al.

Of Thunder:
Thor (Norse)
Raiden (Japanese)
Jupiter (Roman)
et al.

Of Kings or Rulers:
Alexander the Great (Greek)
Augustus Caesar (Roman)
Jehovah (Hebrew) ``our Elohim, King of the Universe``
Jesus (Greek) ``King of Kings``
Allah (Arabian) ``Malik (King)``
Stalin (Russian) ``Red God``
Kim Il-sung (Korean) ``In place of a god, Juche substitutes Kim Il Sung, who`s called North Korea`s ``Eternal President``...``
et al.

Are you sorry that you asked??