In the piece Who is the Liar? John the Baptist or Yahya (يحيى), and Occam's Razor, we attempt to use problem solving tools to arrive at the truth, specifically Occam's Razor. This piece is intended to be complementary.
Comparison Of Selected Passages In The Bible And the Quran Episode 2
Comparison Of Selected Passages In The Bible And the Quran Episode 3
Eternity
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| Mastery of Self through Mortification or through mental calisthenics |
Mortification
Mortification of the body. Saints have historically used several specific methods to "tame the flesh" and
"interior" mortification—the restraint of pride and self-will, aimed at subduing sinful impulses and uniting one's suffering with the Passion of Jesus Christ.
• The Discipline: A small whip or scourge made of knotted cords or metal, used for self-flagellation. Saints like Dominic
Loricatus and Catherine of Siena practiced this frequently.
• The Cilice (Hairshirt): Originally a garment of rough animal hair (like camel hair), it evolved into a metal chain with small prongs worn around the thigh to provide constant discomfort. Thomas More and Josemaría Escrivá are known for its use.
• Severe Fasting: Beyond standard abstinence, some saints like Clare of Assisi lived on minimal food for long periods, while Francis of Assisi famously mixed ashes into his food to blunt its taste.
• Sleep Deprivation: Choosing uncomfortable sleeping conditions, such as John Paul II sleeping on the floor or Agnes using a stone for a pillow.
• Exposure & Thorns: Benedict of Nursia famously threw himself into a thorn bush to quell lustful thoughts, and Francis of Assisi rolled in the snow for similar reasons.
Notable Examples of Saints
• St. John Vianney: Known for extreme fasting and nearly total lack of sleep to pray for the conversion of sinners.
• St. Catherine of Siena: Scourged herself three times daily and lived for periods on nothing but the Holy Eucharist.
• St. Ignatius of Loyola: Practiced severe corporal penances, including wearing a cord or chain tied below the knee.
• St. Padre Pio: Used the discipline and the cilice regularly while bearing the stigmata (wounds of Christ).
Theology & Modern Usage
In Islam, the ultimate reward is an eternal life of carnal bliss the practice of disciplining the mind and body is centered on the concept of
Tazkiyah al-Nafs (Purification of the Soul). Rather than seeing the body as a "fleshly" enemy to be punished, Muslims view it as an Amanah (a divine trust) that must be trained to serve God's will.
The goal is to move the Nafs (the self) through three distinct stages of development:
• Nafs al-Ammara: The "commanding self" that drives one toward sinful impulses and instant carnal gratification.
• Nafs al-Lawwama: The "self-reproaching soul" that feels guilt after sinning and begins to resist wrongdoing.
• Nafs al-Mutma'inna: The "tranquil soul" that has achieved peace and total submission to the will of God.
To achieve this, Muslims use several specific methods of training:
1. Interior Mortification & Self-Reflection
• Muhasabah (Self-Accountability): The practice of evaluating one's actions, thoughts, and intentions at the end of each day to identify shortcomings.
• Mujahadah (Striving against the Self): Considered the "Greater Jihad," this is the continuous inner struggle to resist idle desires, pride, and anger.
• Muraqabah (Mindfulness): A state of constant vigilance where one remains conscious that God is observing every inward and outward movement.
2. Physical Training & Self-Denial
• Sawm (Fasting): Beyond the obligatory fast of Ramadan, voluntary fasting (such as on Mondays and Thursdays) is used as a "shield" to weaken carnal appetites and build the willpower to say "no" to the body's demands.
• Zuhd (Asceticism/Detachment): The practice of limiting one's attachment to worldly luxuries and material possessions to ensure the heart remains focused on the divine.
• Establishment of Salah (Prayer): The five daily prayers serve as a physical and mental routine that grounds the believer in discipline, requiring them to pause worldly pursuits to reconnect with the Creator.
3. Mental & Spiritual Focus
• Dhikr (Remembrance): The repeated invocation of God's names to "polish" the heart and crowd out distracting or sinful thoughts.
• Tafakkur (Contemplation): Deep reflection on the signs of creation and the Quran to refine one's intellect and understanding
Divergence of Bible Teachings practice and The Quran teachings practice in the modern era, viewed through the Occam's Razor
Occam’s Razor—the principle that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one—the divergence between religious scripture and modern practice can be compared through the lens of human behavior and socio-political context.
Divergence: Scripture vs. Practice
Bible & Christianity: While Jesus preached "radical love" and "loving thy enemy," modern Christian practice often prioritizes the oxygen effect - take care of yourself to help others.
The simplest explanation (Occam's Razor) is that survival instincts and political tribalism often outweigh idealistic moral imperatives.
Quran & Islam: The Quran commands repelling evil with "what is better" to transform enemies into friends. However, modern practice sometimes includes sectarian conflict or defensive violence. Using the same "razor," this divergence is most simply explained as reactionary responses to geopolitical conflict rather than a theological mandate for aggression.
Equality vs. Oppression of Women
Scriptural Teaching: The Quran explicitly states that men and women are created from the same soul and are "protectors" of one another. It ranks humans solely based on piety, not gender.Modern Practice: Muslim women face systemic subordination.
Simple Explanation (Occam's Razor): The oppression of women is a result of entrenched patriarchal cultures and legal systems that predate or supersede religious text. It is simpler to conclude that local customs have co-opted the religion to justify existing power structures.
Prominent Muslim women, like Ilhan Omar, reject the label of "oppression" and Believe Assimilation Is a Nazi Value, despite Female Genital Mutilation, Pedophilia (child marriage,) polygamy, inheritance laws, and so on.
Applying Occam’s Razor—the principle that the simplest explanation with the fewest assumptions is most likely—to why prominent Muslim women reject the label of "oppression" yields several key insights based on their own stated perspectives:
Distinction Between Religion and Culture: For many, the simplest explanation is that Islam and local patriarchal customs are distinct entities. They view the "oppression" observed by outsiders as a product of entrenched cultural traditions or political agendas that predate or misuse the religion, rather than the faith itself.Empowerment through Choice: Many women describe religious practices, such as wearing the hijab, as a personal choice and a form of empowerment or identity rather than a tool of subjugation. From their perspective, it is a rejection of Western standards of objectification and a way to derive dignity from their faith.
Human Shields & Ethics
Islamic Scripture: The Quran prohibits the killing of innocents (5:32) and emphasizes justice even toward enemies. Modern use of human shields by groups like Hamas or ISIS is widely denounced by Islamic scholars as a subversion of the faith for military gain.
Modern Practice: The prevalence of this tactic in modern conflict is often attributed to asymmetric warfare needs.
Occam’s Razor Conclusion: The simplest reason for these practices is military desperation. In high-stakes conflict, groups often prioritize strategic survival over religious ethical constraints, regardless of whether the scripture is Christian or Muslim.
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