God, Science, and Religion: Wrestling with Faith
By Haikal Kurniawan*
I admit that there are numerous positive aspects to a religion which teaches humanity, peace and justice (even when a significant portion of believers fail to practice them). We must adopt universal humanitarian values wherever the source may come from. For me, all religions are true according to their own ways. A religion will always be true and be the only truthful religion when examined from the standpoint of the said religion. But I refuse to tolerate circumstances when religion becomes a tyranny that pushes aside humanitarian values. Humans can be civilized even without religion, yet many who profess to be religious have ignored humanitarian values. May I never return to the confinement of religious fundamentalism and fanaticism which I had once experienced.
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Nice piece, considering that you’re only in high school (your English better than mine).
“If God is Almighty and the Supreme Creator, can God create something much larger and stronger than Himself?”
Interesting question. Albeit the fact that your teacher did not teach you in an Islamic way of thinking and you’ve been confined in paranoia, i have a sense that you cannot put Allah swt. in his only one name (be it the Creator, not Supreme Creator, i believe). You must put it as a comprehensive asma’ul husna, so that Allah swt. is also the Greatest (al kabiir). Why your so called critical mind (at that time) not thinking about what’ve Allah swt. created in a micro, pico, and nano terms? Is that his/her harsh voices that made you afraid?
“Science is always receptive to new theories which are more scientific, advanced and rational in replacement of old theories rendered outdated with developments over time. On the contrary, religion will always remain unvarying. It does not allow room for criticism, rationalization and scientific observation.”
This argument is not well supported. I think you need to read more literature before writing “will always”, especially on the pre-Westphalian Islamic Thinkers (ie before 16th Century).
These are my two cents. I hope Allah swt. will guide you through the processes.
Subahanallah, excellant view by rizkisaputro. I would suggest Mr Haikal to refer back to the Al Quran and Assunnah,and not solely based on own rational thinking….Wallahualam.
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