Author: Balu
“The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order” (Published in 1996) by American author Samuel P. Huntington had become very popular worldwide immediately after 9/11. Why did the book receive so much attention? Reason being, following the dissolution of the Communist International or Comintern, the Cold War model of the international relations had ended. How about the future? Huntington predicted that in future, there will be clash of civilizations. What is clash of civilizations? Huntington was referring to the conflicts of religions and religious cultures, social order, value system, especially conflicts of Christian civilization and Islamic civilization.
Where is the essential difference between Christianity and Islam? Are you prepared to get involved in this conflict? If you do not want to get involved in the conflict, how do you avoid it?
What is religion? What is the essence of religion?
Is religion equivalent to faith? If you have a religion, does that mean you have faith?
Setting aside academic dispute, we will use the model of Jesus’ Apostle, Paul to discover the essence of religion. Our purpose is to establish true faith and spiritual life!
<Bible> Acts 22 verses 1 – 24
1 ¶ “Brethren and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.” 2 ¶ And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet; and he said, 3 ¶ “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today. 4 “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons, 5 as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished. 6 ¶ “But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, 7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ 8 “And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 “And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. 10 “And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.’ 11 “But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus. 12 ¶ “A certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing near said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very time I looked up at him. 14 “And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. 15 ‘For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 ‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’ 17 ¶ “It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance, 18 and I saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste, and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’ 19 “And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You. 20 ‘And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.’ 21 “And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'” 22 ¶ They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!” 23 And as they were crying out and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, stating that he should be examined by scourging so that he might find out the reason why they were shouting against him that way.
Paul who was converted as Christ Jesus’ (Messiah Isa) follower was hated and attacked by the religious people when he was preaching in Jerusalem. This conversation was recorded in front of the Roman commander barracks where Paul was making self-representation to the Israelites in Hebrew language. He told them his past was just like the people who hated and attacked him now, devout in religious traditions; He recounted the process of his conversion to be Christ Jesus’ (Messiah Isa) follower.
<Bible> Acts 26 verses 4-19
4 ¶ “So then, all Jews know my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem; 5 since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion. 6 “And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; 7 the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews. 8 “Why is it considered incredible among you people if God does raise the dead? 9 ¶ “So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 “And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 “And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities. 12 ¶ “While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13 at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. 14 “And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 “And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 ‘But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; 17 rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’ 19 ¶ “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision,
Paul was appealing in front of Roman king, Agrippa. He described his faith and life transformation experience.
(1) How was Paul (Saul) like before he knew Christ Jesus (Messiah Isa)?
<Bible> Acts 22 verse 3 3 ¶ “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.
<Bible> Acts 26 verses 4-5 4 ¶ “So then, all Jews know my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem; 5 since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion.
Paul received strict teaching of the religious law under the famous Rabbi Gamaliel! He obeyed the Law (Torah) strictly; he lived his life by strictly obeying the religious rules with extremely serious attitude and manner: he was very zealous! According to the strictest sect of religion, Paul became a Pharisee! He had a deep feeling for the religion of his ancestors! Radical! (If you want to have a further understanding about Pharisees, you can refer to <Bible> Matthew chapter 23).
Religion is often associated with piety and sense of reverence! Religion brings about a sense of sacredness! Religion pays attention to the details of regulations! For people who have intense religious consciousness, religious doctrine is absolutely inviolable!
Being a Pharisee who strictly abided by the religious teachings and rules, how did Saul express his religious faith? What are the characteristics of the state of his life?
<Bible> Acts 22 verses 4-5, Acts 26 verses 10 – 12
Acts 22:4-5 4 “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons, 5 as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished.
Acts 26:10-12 10 “And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 “And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities. 12 ¶ “While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,
Persecuted, imprisoned, enraged, murdered dissidents! These dissidents were called heretics!
What was the reason of persecuting the disciples of Christ Jesus (Messiah Isa)?
Because they offended his religious traditions and teachings, thus they were heretics, dissidents! All these persecutions, curse, wrath, imprisonment, brutality and killings were to defend religious devotion, stemmed from religious sense of holiness, due to piety! Don’t you feel terribly fearful? How can I rouse people’s attention to this?
This situation is common whether in Judaism, Christianity, Catholicism or Islam. Putting aside religious background and prejudice, and honestly examine oneself, we have no choice but to concede that this phenomenon exists in all religions.
There is a great power and authority behind Saul (Paul) to support him! There was a great multitude supporting him! Behind religion, there is a large number of people behind the religion, ignorant people! For those who are zealous about religion, are all these anger, threats, persecutions, and devastation become inevitable choices? Is there any inevitable link between them?
Note: It was precisely the religious background of Saul that made him persecuted Christ Jesus’ (Messiah Isa) disciples – emerging heresy! Furthermore, he thought that persecuting and killing them were pleasing to God!
<Bible> John 16 verse 2 “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.
All are due to good desires! Everything is out of devotion! Everything is due to zeal and love towards religion and God (Allah)! Under this banner, all killings, anger have become as matter of course! Their conscience is clear!
<Bible> Acts 22 verses 19-20 19 “And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You. 20 ‘And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.’
Even more frightening is that when a heretic is killed, unexpectedly one feels delighted! To one’s surprise, religion has the magic to distort human nature to such an extent! Many barbaric actions, cruelties, indifference, absurdities, ignorance are derived from religious comfort and support; religion satisfies the dark side of human nature! Men without religion background will never be so self-confident, self-righteous and justifiably kill someone and do some shameful and shady business! Vengeful! Brutal nature! Desire to subdue! Possessive!
Religion does not allow dissidents to exist; religion and tolerance are incompatible! Religion nourishes dictatorship and tyranny! It is impossible for dictator to exist in a place without religion! Religion enslaves most of its followers, therefore, religion is the hotbed of dictatorship and the followers are the willing objects to be enslaved!
- What is the state of the people enslaved by religion?
<Bible> Acts 26 verses 18-19 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’ 19 ¶ “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision,
The state of the people enslaved by religion: their spiritual eyes are blinded! Live in darkness! The power of sin controls them! No freedom of conscience! They survive under the authority of Satan (Iblees)! This was exactly the state of Saul’s life before he came to know Al-Masih Isa!
Being saved, Paul’s life and faith were changed by God (Yahweh); he has to undertake the task of saving those people who were like him out of darkness! He received a divine calling and mission!
- We are confused, how can this situation happen when we believe in God? Could it be that God’s will is as such? How could the Word of God (Bible) bring about such consequences? What constitute the substance of religious faith? What is the spiritual source of religion?
<Bible> Galatians 1 verses 11-16 “The Apostle Paul said:
11 ¶ For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; 14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. 15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,
Paul was exceedingly zealous for the ancestral traditions! Ancestral traditions lead to extreme religious emotions and state of life!
What is the problem with traditions? Such as the etiquette and importance of washing hands! Are they not for the purpose to establish life order and the concept of holiness in a person’s life? Is it not a perfect lifestyle? Why do traditions bring about such serious consequences? The border of Judaism – ‘Talmud’ ‘Mishnah’ – traditionally, are they not for the purpose of protecting faith and belief in Yahweh?
If you have read the Talmud, you will know there are a lot of good contents in it. How can it lead to such extremism and a religion that does not tolerate dissidents? Can religion and its traditions threaten a person, a nation when come to knowing God? Can religion annihilate the voice of conscience? Can religion cause people to become more indifferent and apathetic?
What is Judaism established on? What is the source of its religious faith? ————-The will of man, ancestral traditions.
What should be the foundation of faith? What should faith build on? —————— God’s revelation! It should build on the revelation of the only God!
Religious traditions are against God’s revelation! Religion is a force resisting God’s power! Against spiritual forces! This is the nature of religion! This is the common essence of all religions!
I would like to ask: What is the driving force behind a person that pursues God Yahweh (Allah) zealously? Can we separate the love for God (Yahweh or Allah) from the concept of moral ethics? Can the pursuit of God be independent of the significance of morality and values? Could it be faith in the one true God is not to promote man’s spiritual interests and moral quality? Where is the difference between religion and faith? Let us look at the state of Paul after he followed Christ Jesus (Messiah Isa), broke away from religion, and established true faith.
(2) How was Paul like after receiving God’s revelation and knowing Jesus?
He was accused, slandered, tried, imprisoned and pursued! This was because he offended the ancestral traditions which he once believed in and upheld. Now, he began to experience what Christ Jesus (Messiah Isa) had experienced! He began to experience the feelings and fate of those disciples whom he previously killed, harmed, persecuted!
<Bible> Acts 13 verses 43-47
43 Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God. 44 ¶ The next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming. 46 Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 “For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES, THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.'”
What supported Paul in denying himself, to willingly accept the fate of being persecuted?
The reason being: he personally saw the revelation, he knew Christ Jesus (Messiah Isa), and he knew Yahweh (or Allah)! Previously when he persecuted and harmed Christ Jesus’s (Messiah Isa) disciples, he scrupulously abided by the ancestral religious traditions in ignorance! Now, with faith, he began not to compromise with the force of ancestral traditions and religious traditions!
<Bible> Galatians 1 verse 16
16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,
Paul’s life quality had changed, this was due to the revelation he received and his commitment to the revelation. The difference between religion and faith is that religion has its origins in traditions, and faith comes from revelation. Religion is nourished by philosophy (such as Greek philosophy) and the worldly culture, whereas faith is totally based on God’s revelation. The aim to compare the changes of Paul’s life quality and values before and after he knew Christ Isa (Messiah Isa) is to explain the inevitable connection between religion and religious traditions together with life quality. Abandoning religious doctrine and receiving revelation of faith will similarly affect the quality of life inevitably. In order to know a religious belief and the constitution of its source of faith, one only has to see his state of life! The loving and holy God will not allow His ‘religion’ to do evil! Faith and fruits of life which are from the Lord is definitely beautiful!
<Bible> Colossians 2 verse 8 ¶ See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
Paul described worldly religious tradition as man’s philosophy and vain deceit ——– all these are borrowed from pagan cultures and worldly philosophy! All these things seem to be extremely profound and complex externally, but in reality they are empty science and cannot solve the problems of human/mankind.
How did Paul respond when he was persecuted? After Paul broke away from religion, how was his faith reflected in his life? What is being reflected?
<Bible> 1 Corinthians 4 verses 11-13
11 To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; 12 and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; 13 when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.
<Bible> 2 Corinthians 4 verses 1-12
¶ Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7 ¶ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 ¶ we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you.
Paul’s life and nature were so much like Christ Jesus (Messiah Isa)! In the past, he was harmed by religion and traditions and now, faith changed him!
<Bible> Romans 9 verses 1-3
¶ I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,
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Note: All Bible verses are sourced from New American Standard Bible with Codes (1995), with thanks.
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