Nambiar: There is no purpose in life. We just are

Submitted by Plato (India), Mar 8, 2008 at 07:44

Nambiar, you wrote:

>> A deer cannot argue with very valid rason (to live and let live) to a tiger jumping on it for eating because tiger's purpose of existence depends on deers or the like. Likewise Mansoor believes Islam will truly save the world - and doesnt want change his opinion.<<

You lost me with the deer-tiger example. But I would like Mansoor to spell out from what or whom Islam is trying to save the world.

>>Plato is trying to put 21st century values to those actions of past centuries when it was perfectly acceptable to all people, and Mansoor 100% believes those actions are perfect and to be followed until the end of solar system.<<

Yes I am using 21^st century values to judge the past centuries because I believe we are in a better position to judge them as human knowledge has advanced in all fields including philosophy, the sciences, political systems and so on. Moreover, judging them now will not make any difference to those centuries whereas Mansoor trying to impose past values is going to impact my and our descendants lives into the foreseeable future.

>>If Plato has no remorse for eating beef steak or a tomato (both were the creations of God/nature with their own purpose - not to go to the mouth of Plato) can we have the right to challenge other's purpose of life?<<

Nambiar I don't think, and I believe Darwin and the later evolutionists have proved it, anything has any pre-ordained purpose. We just are. Each life form just tries to make the best living it can with the purpose (if you can call it purpose) of propagating the genetic messages it carries. The same goes for the tiger, tomatos and me. So I will eat beef if it is life sustaining and so will a tiger. What probably makes me somewhat different from the tiger is that I know the cow can feel pain and fear and so I may, if I can help it, try to kill it painlessly or opt to eat, if available, things that do not feel pain and fear.

So I am not challenging Mansoor's purpose in life (which if I understand Islam would be adoration and worship of his particular deity). This sounds innocuous enough, but there is a sinister aspect to this deity. It wants all to submit to it by hook or by crook and so it encourages its followers to kill or be killed (Koran Surah 9:111) to enforce this submission.

>> So I suggest either Plato go centuries back or Mansoor come forward a little - and try to agree atleast some points on both sides.<<

I can go back to the 7^th century and agree with the Koran when it says there should not be any compulsion in religion, that orphans, parents and destitutes must be cared for, that female children should not be killed and similar 21^st century values. But can Mansoor agree with me that slavery should be legally banned, that a woman has equal rights with a man, that no matter what the crime a man's limbs should not be chopped off on opposite ends, that I have the freedom to worship (or not worship) any piece of stone or wood that I consider sacred.

And thanks for the compliment.

Regards

Plato

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