The
Map
Room

Our understanding needs to grow as we grow,

to keep up with new ideas we encounter on the way,

new intellectual challenges to our old certainties.

In the face of such challenges we need to ensure

that the belief system we established as we grew

is still fit for purpose.

Of course it is not necessary for everyone to be

a full time philosopher or theologian,

not everyone is suited to the task,

but we do need to be enough of a philosopher or theologian

to answer our own doubts

when all around us are those who don't believe.

We need to face the psychological and emotional challenge

of being surrounded by people who think your views are wrong.

Now some may even think your views are not just wrong

but somehow dangerous and needing to be eradicated,

but those are usually considered to be an extremist minority.

More pervasive is when the overwhelmingly non-muslim culture

finds muslim beliefs laughable,

worthy of pity,

and an easy target for the mockery of comedians.

But mockery directed against us

should not make us angry.

Why would an intended insult offend us

if we are certain of what we know,

and we know our faith by the truth we can see and feel

in our life experience.

Better to feel sad for vocal opponents,

for their lack of such life affirming experience.

Of course, when mocking words turn into something more physical

like sticks and stones,

self-defense may become a more appropriate response

than patience and gentle tolerance.

While living a life in a non-muslim country,

muslims will naturally come in contact with people

from a wide variety of different belief systems,

few of whom themselves are likely to be philosophers

or theologians,

but will define themselves as agnostics or humanists,

or perhaps atheists,

or say they only believe in 'science'.

If they wish to argue with you then rebut their arguments,

as long as you do so in the fairest manner.

Few will get to argue with the better known public faces

usually found to be arguing the case for atheism and the removal of religion from our society,

but even though you may think that any particular one

has a smug self-satisfaction about them

that instils an urge for loud and immediate refutation,

rather than burst in frustration, it is better to remember

that having devoted their lives to preaching

their own personal atheistic certainties,

they will have to spend eternity in the agony of knowing

that all their lives, for all their certainty,

they were completely wrong.

Of course, not all those who will argue against you

will be quite so completely wrong.

The followers of other religious disciplines,

other Messengers,

will often have compatible understandings,

shared spiritual languages,

an understanding of a Divine Source, with life as a moral test,

and an Afterlife dependent on behaviour in the former life,

our selves, our souls, existing in

a context not of temporality but of timelessness.

Our existence is set in eternity.