Religion educates morality. Some take this statement for granted. For others, it is perplexing. But what about religious fanatics, «in the name of faith» killing hundreds of people?
Religion educates morality. Some take this statement for granted. For others, it is perplexing. Indeed, in the scriptures of different peoples there are things that are mysterious and disturbing, which give rise to difficult questions. For example, in the Bible, God requires Abraham to sacrifice his own son. And he dutifully leads Isaac to the slaughter. Everything ends happily — God sees the unshakable faith of Abraham and takes away his hand with a knife, raised above his son.
This story is not at all like blissful talk about morality. How to understand it? The sacrifice of Abraham (and the story about him is equally revered by Christians, Jews, and Muslims, it is not for nothing that their religions are called “Abrahamic”) testifies that faith in God is at the forefront. And it should be so strong that everything else recedes into the background, including the closest family ties. This is warned by the frightening phrase of Jesus Christ: «the enemies of a man are his household.» In that case, of course, when they interfere with the relationship with God.
However, faith is always coupled with love. All Abrahamic religions affirm the Creator’s love for creation, which, according to Dante, «moves the sun and the luminaries.» And to the crown of creation — man. The reciprocal love of a person for God does not allow the world to turn into a “gloomy forest”*. For faith alone is not enough. Moreover, faith is dangerous, it turns people into fanatics who go to murder for its sake. Which would have turned out the sacrifice of Abraham, had it not been stopped by the power of divine love.
In our time, the dark side of faith is again in sight. Fanatics, confident that they are doing the will of God, refuse «excessive» thoughts and emotions. And the most zealous decide that they are nothing less than an instrument of higher powers, and, turning themselves into «live bombs», they do not hesitate to crack down on those who do not believe in God or believe in him incorrectly. This is so frightening that many begin to regard religion as a relic of the dark Middle Ages. And they are perplexed how it can be used to revive public morality. Isn’t it easier to do it on a humanistic basis?
This controversy is without foundation. Religion has never been limited to blind faith, it has always had the commandment of love. It was she who gave impetus to humanism with its respect for human dignity. Because of this inner connection, both religion and humanism can become a source of a living moral feeling. Unless you stir him up with pointless arguments about who does it better.
*Dante Alighieri The Divine Comedy. New life” (Azbuka-Atticus, 2013).