LETTER TO ABRAR… 

RELIGIOUS, SPIRITUAL AND SECULAR TRADITIONS

Dear Abrar, Thank you for your honest feedback. In my opinion we have inherited three distinct traditions over the centuries

1. RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS
2. SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS
3. SCIENTIFIC TRADITONS

1. RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS. They are religious ideologies that include traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. They are based on a belief in a Creator God, Prophets, Scriptures and divine revelations. They have a social code of ethics and believe in religious institutions and social control.
2. SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS. They are spiritual philosophies with no concept of organized religion. One example is Buddhism which does not have a concept of God, Prophets and divine revelations. If focuses more on personal freedom and following one’s conscience rather than scriptures. It inspires individuals to learn to live peacefully. It does not focus on social control.
3. SCIENTIFIC TRADITIONS. They are secular and humanistic philosophies that are based on scientific research, human freedom and rational thinking. Their values are based on modern science, psychology and philosophy and do not rely on scriptures and divine revelations. They evolve, change and grow as new evidence comes in.

In my opinion your definitions blur the differences and call all these traditions as RELIGIONS.

Dear Abrar, I am quite willing to accept your definitions because definitions are a means to understanding life and solving human problems. You definitions help me to understand YOU more than RELIGION.

I would like to suggest that we connect our discussion with REAL LIFE issues rather than just having an academic and theoretical dialogue.

Let me share what I mean. We all know that human beings are suffering all over the world. Human Suffering has been a major concern for all concerned writers and artists and philosophers. What I want to know is how your definitions of RELIGION /FUNDAMENTLAISM / CAPITALISM / COMMUNISM / SECULARISM / HUMANISM

help us in decreasing human suffering and improving quality of life at an individual and collective level. How do they help us in solving economic, social and political problems of 21^st century.

You are well aware that I am a very practical person.

In my professional life I help patients who suffer from emotional, family and social conflicts with my Green Zone Therapy and Philosophy.

In my social life, as a Humanist, I am concerned about those religious fundamentalists of the East as well as West who are trying to create theocratic states and deprive women and minorities of their basic human rights.

How do you think your definitions will help me in solving those problems? How would they help me in my personal, social and professional lives?

                                                      Affectionately,

                                                                  Sohail

August 4, 2009