Songs of Dissonance

Hindvi

That`s an amazing song. It has a very special appeal - it was one of our school prayers.

We would sing it in a chorus, all three or four hundred of us. One would have to have been there in our midst to truly feel the magnificence of the song`s words and the impact of those words on our minds.

Thanks for taking me back many years, to a beautiful time... :)

#110 Einstein knew much more about the universe than to conclude that God is ``natural law``. As a physicist and cosmologist, he knew that at the beginning point of creation, before planck time,(which is 10 to the power of negative 43 seconds) there were no ``natural laws``, the kind that we study today- those ``natural laws`` are not the creator, they were themselves ``created`` as they had an ``origin``. Here is another quotation from Einstein :``I`m not much with people, and I`m not a family man. I want my peace. I want to know how God created this world. I am not interested in this or that phenomena in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts the rest are details.`` (Clarck, The Life and Times of Einstein. New York: The World Publishing Co., 1971. ,18,19)

His statement, ``I want to know how God created this world.`` clearly narrates to us that he seperated the world (natural laws etc) from God.

Regarding your question, why God, (according to you) ``tortures little babies with cancer, aids and earth quakes before killing them or worse maiming them for life?`` - when you ask questions it is always a very bad idea to assume what the answer is going to be and then put words in the mouth of the person you are asking a question from- bad, bad idea. That said, what evidence do you have that God does those things? Looking at cancer rates, scientifically we find, like in the case of Iraq (and Vietnam), that cancer rates went up 700% due to depleted uranium used by the US in the first gulf war (as it did due to agent orange and other defoliants used by the US in Vietnam). What about earthquakes, let`s see Pakistan spends billions on arms and armament, making US corporations rich while it wont invest a small percent of that constructing decent housing for the poor- and as we know buildings and not earthquakes kill people. AIDS, how does it spread and why are poor communities more vulnerable than rich ones and why is this cycle not broken in Africa by providing low cost medicines to those who suffer from its effects?

Now, God has entrusted this earth for a limited time to humanity, humankind, the elite among them, breaches that trust, ruins and harms the earth and fellow humans as a result and then BLAMES it on God- NOT FAIR!! After that brief period of entrustment is over, and judgment comes, after that, if babies are still dying of cancer, and people are still getting killed by earthquakes then you can blame God, but not before.

#108, I have only come across Iqbal`s work on Islam, through excerpts in other books, I have to study it in the original before I can form any opinion on it.

#112 all the nice thoughts in that song and hopes have been shattered for all developing countries of the world thanks to the inhumane neo-colonial system dominated by the US elite. We need to work together to reclaim all that from those who are destroying humanity and the earth for short term profits.

masadi u dont have to answer this, but just out of curiosity I would like to know how old you are.

off topic inquiries can be directed to Asadi@asadi.org

I think what Junaid expressed in his views was reflecting what`s stated in the Quran and supported by numerous hadeeths and not some superstitions as suggested by you. I`m impressed with your research about numerous natural disasters in the world but if you recall, muslims believe in Allah`s sovereignty and His control over the universe and therefore believe that whatever happens in the Universe happens for a reason, which is almost always supported by the Quran and hadeeths. I don`t promote believing everything you hear about Islam but I do believe in conducting your own research and educating yourself as much in Islam as we do in other mediums such as science. Thanks.