I come from a fairly religious background. Being a moderate Muslim is no easy task. Pray 5 times a day, fast from dawn to dusk for a month, and maintain a Halal diet. Consistently maintaining all of these requirements is difficult at times, however, it has become a perpetually habituated routine of mine. Clearly, the most important piece of literature associated with the Islamic religion is the Quran.
The Quran is arguably the most controversial religious book of them all. How am I to interpret it? For starters, it is in a dialect completely foreign to me, yet, if I look to translate it on my own, religious leaders will bash my efforts, and say it's unholy for me to gain meaning and understanding through an English translation. As science and reason have come to rule the domain of this generation, it is clear that progression often clashes with the teachings of the Quran. Which should I believe science or faith? Other questions also arise. How is it appropriate for husbands to have multiple wives? How are Islamic extremists able to directly cite the Quran to support their atrocious actions?
For the most part, I live my life by this book's teachings (at least what those around me have interpreted the teachings to be). This book has unsettled me for many reasons. The life I have come to live is based upon a book, this Holy book that over a billion of the world have now come to live their lives by. I need to make a choice. Should I ignorantly live my life by a book my parents and all those around me have interpreted it to mean? Or better yet, maybe I should just drop my faith, after all, these suicide bombers, and ruthless dictators also abide by the teachings of this book.
I think instead of taking either route, I must educate myself. Take initiative and gain an in-depth knowledge of the Quran's teachings. It isn't right for me to abandon my faith because a select few have construed it to mean something completely contradictory of what it intended to mean. However, this also means that I cannot sit back and be a slave to the interpretations those around me have made for me. What I must do to properly understand the Quran, as what I must do in all things that lie ahead. The Quran is a challenge, but that doesn't mean it cannot be broken down and understood, just like every other challenge I face in life.
The Quran is arguably the most controversial religious book of them all. How am I to interpret it? For starters, it is in a dialect completely foreign to me, yet, if I look to translate it on my own, religious leaders will bash my efforts, and say it's unholy for me to gain meaning and understanding through an English translation. As science and reason have come to rule the domain of this generation, it is clear that progression often clashes with the teachings of the Quran. Which should I believe science or faith? Other questions also arise. How is it appropriate for husbands to have multiple wives? How are Islamic extremists able to directly cite the Quran to support their atrocious actions?
For the most part, I live my life by this book's teachings (at least what those around me have interpreted the teachings to be). This book has unsettled me for many reasons. The life I have come to live is based upon a book, this Holy book that over a billion of the world have now come to live their lives by. I need to make a choice. Should I ignorantly live my life by a book my parents and all those around me have interpreted it to mean? Or better yet, maybe I should just drop my faith, after all, these suicide bombers, and ruthless dictators also abide by the teachings of this book.
I think instead of taking either route, I must educate myself. Take initiative and gain an in-depth knowledge of the Quran's teachings. It isn't right for me to abandon my faith because a select few have construed it to mean something completely contradictory of what it intended to mean. However, this also means that I cannot sit back and be a slave to the interpretations those around me have made for me. What I must do to properly understand the Quran, as what I must do in all things that lie ahead. The Quran is a challenge, but that doesn't mean it cannot be broken down and understood, just like every other challenge I face in life.
