01-06-2005, 08:55 AM
Assalamu aleikum,
Hi JohnDoe,
Maybe you should read the other posts to get a better understanding chain? Otherwise it may become just as what you point out that you do, you pick and choose from religions what is approprite, and it may result in that you 'miss the point'.
''...the route of compassion, mercy, love, humilty and humanity...always...''
These are teachings of Islam - just a thought...
''I feel I am capable of leading myself to where I need to be rather than rely on religious dogma.''
Of course that is your choice, but that is also to deny that there already is Someone out there directing you, whether you know it or not.
The laws given to us by Allah, SWT is given to us so that we will act in an appropriate way towards each other, and take responsibility for our lives and actions and therefore restrain or control ourselves from doing things that breaks the law. The law will help us to know what is right and wrong, what is acceptable and not acceptable before Allah, SWT. IF He had not given us these laws we would not have been able to distinguish from what is right and wrong. So it is out of compassion towards His creation He has given us laws to follow. He didn't just created us and then left us without guidance.
All other things created by Him follows His law without questioning - the sun rises every morning, the night takes over the day, the planets run around in their orbits without coming on a collision course, the flowers that was asleeep during the winter wakes up in the spring and gives us humans so many positive feelings just by looking at them and so forth. Also the animals follow their needs only, to eat, to sleep and to multiply. BUT we humans have been given a conscience and that gives us responsibility, we must think before we act. We have been given the capacity to plan our actions before doing them. It is truly a great gift.
Regards