A Short Story: Love’s debate - Rewriting scriptures, redefining peace
Issue #2.85, as I call it, is a special edition carrying only a short story and the Editorial - Celestial Love Letters
Short story
The lead story in each issue presents my analysis on one of my favorite topics in spirituality. This time I am experimenting with a short story!
Love’s debate: Rewriting scriptures, redefining Peace
Picture this: the year is 2200, and there’s this teenage boy named Arman. Now, Arman is about to embark on the most important day of his life. He’s got a speech lined up, and guess where he’s giving it? In front of the Prime Minister of India, no less!
You see, the whole shebang is about celebrating 100 years of peace and harmony worldwide. It’s a remarkable achievement, with zero religious conflicts and absolute non-violence prevailing all around the globe. Pretty impressive, huh?
So, Arman’s all pumped up and ready for the big event. He rushes out of his house, dragging his parents along with him. Can’t be late for this momentous occasion, after all! Moreover, not many 17-year olds are invited to deliver a speech at the Parliament House for their extraordinary work in the areas of scientific spirituality and conservation of inter-planetary resources.
During his speech, Arman decides to share the genesis of his work: the incredible story of his ancestors, Abdul and Simran. These two lovebirds played a crucial role in making this peaceful world a reality. And it all started a whopping 177 years ago in 2023, with a love story that defied all odds.
You see, Abdul was this bright Indian Muslim dude studying humanities at Stanford University in the USA. And then there was Simran, a Pakistani-American atheist girl hailing from a Sikh family. They met at the same university, where Simran was studying cutting-edge technology. Sparks flew, and Abdul fell head over heels in love with her.
But, as you can imagine, their families weren’t exactly thrilled about their relationship. I mean, Simran was from a different faith altogether, plus she had sworn off any belief in a higher power. Even Simran’s family wasn’t too keen on her marrying a Muslim boy from India. Yikes!
But love doesn’t pay much attention to those pesky man-made boundaries, does it? So, against all odds, Abdul and Simran tied the knot in a private ceremony. Those first five years were pure bliss, my friend. But like all great love stories, trouble eventually reared its ugly head.
Abdul was a devout Muslim, praying five times a day and having unwavering faith in Allah. On the other hand, Simran, although raised in a Sikh family, didn’t believe in any religious concept of God. She was all about rationality and empirical proof, you know?
Their differences soon started causing rifts between them, especially when it came to teaching spirituality to their kids. It got so bad that Simran even took Abdul to court in California. Drama, right?
But here’s where things got interesting. During the court hearing, their conversations turned into a mind-blowing debate that captured the attention of religious folks worldwide. Abdul argued that he had made significant compromises for Simran, but she wasn’t reciprocating. He even quoted a verse from the Holy Quran to back his point. He said that according to the Holy Koran any person not submitting to the authority of Allah is a Kafir, and if he had followed the Holy Koran, he should have never married her in the first place.
He quoted Verse 47:4 from the Holy Koran: “When you meet the unbelievers or the Kafirs (in battle), smite their necks until you have crushed them, then bind your captives firmly; thereafter (you are entitled to) set them free, either by an act of grace, or against ransom, until the war ends.”
Simran, on the other hand, fired back with her own arguments.
Simran replied: “According to Section 6, Chapter XIII of Rehat Maryada, the code of Sikh conduct and conventions, a Sikh must not have on their person any token of any other faith. But I have allowed you to let our kids wear those crescent-and-star lockets around their necks.”
Simran added: “Sikhs believe that no one religion has a monopoly of or on truth: different religions are seen as being different paths leading to the same Reality. The Mool Mantar is a verse in the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scriptures, which concisely expresses Sikh beliefs about God as One.”
Simran went on: “It’s a different matter that I don’t believe in any God. How can you say that it is only you that has gone too far to accommodate?”
Simran further added: “Do you know why we are fighting today? It’s wrong if you are thinking that the Holy Koran is the reason. You are wrong if you are thinking that the Holy Guru Granth Sahib is the reason. We are fighting because we are interpreting the scriptures in a non-humane way!”
It was a real mic-drop moment, let me tell you!
“Take, for example, Verse 17:22 of the Koran that says, ‘Do not make as equal with Allah another deity.’”
“When examining this verse, we are presented with a choice in interpretation: a dogmatic approach or a humane one. Adopting a dogmatic view would lead us to assert that all other deities are subservient to Allah, potentially fueling notions of supremacy and intolerance. Conversely, embracing a humane perspective allows us to understand that the term ‘Allah’ is simply the Arabic equivalent of other names for God, such as Paramatma, Ik Ongkaar, Adonai, or Ahura Mazda. By adopting a progressive stance, we can interpret this verse as a reminder not to equate any human, regardless of their power, wealth, or knowledge, with the divine. Simply put, no human can ever match the greatness of the Almighty.”
Simran passionately conveyed her perspective, emphasizing the importance of understanding religious texts in their entirety. “We must remember that sacred texts like the Koran, the Bible, the Bhagavad Gita, and others are intricate and contain a wide range of passages that should be interpreted within their historical and cultural contexts, in a more humane way. Simply cherry-picking isolated verses without considering the broader teachings and principles of a particular religion is inappropriate.”
“Within these religious texts,” she continued, “we find verses promoting peace, love, compassion, and coexistence, alongside those that address specific historical circumstances or defensive measures during times of conflict. It is crucial to approach these texts with a holistic understanding, taking into account the overall message and interpretations provided by scholars and religious authorities.”
Simran urged for a reinterpretation of scriptures with the right intent. “Interpretation plays a significant role in decision-making, but our interpretations heavily rely on our intent. Religious texts encompass stories, messages, declarations, and edicts that address both general human problems and specific issues influenced by local geography and climate. The stories often employ violence to rectify wrongs.”
She then presented thought-provoking examples. “Consider the Ramayana, where Lord Rama fought against the Demon King Ravana to rescue his wife, promoting monogamy in a society largely practicing polygamy at the time. Did we intend to interpret that message? No. Centuries later, the Mahabharata attempted to discourage not only polygyny but also polyandry. Did we intend to interpret that message? Not until recent times.”
“In the Bible,” Simran continued, “we find Jesus saying, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,’ referring to the very people who crucified him. This could have been interpreted as a strong message against the use of violence, even towards opponents and non-believers. Did we intend to interpret that message? No. Otherwise, events like the Crusades and the Holocaust would not have transpired.”
Simran challenged the notion that violent stories within scriptures promote violence. “These stories do not advocate violence but rather convey messages of peace. People often read scriptures and interpret them according to their convenience, but convenience does not necessarily lead to peace, love, or tolerance. In fact, it can sometimes breed violence, hatred, or intolerance. The inclusion of violence in anecdotal writings found in scriptures across various religions does not mean they endorse violence.”
She continued with a strong point, “The ancient writers of our scriptures were intelligent individuals who employed storytelling to teach important values to people. They strategically used violence in these stories to instill fear of vices among the populace. They understood that fear, threats, and negative emotions tend to have a more lasting impact than assurances, safety, and positive emotions."
Simran concluded with a striking analogy, “Did our forefathers favor violence? No. Choosing violence simply because our scriptures contain violent stories is as unfortunate as associating drinking with the warning ‘Don't drink and drive’ just because it includes the word ‘drink’! We must delve deeper, interpret responsibly, and seek the underlying messages of peace and understanding within our scriptures.”
“The purpose of a sacred text is not to provide us with a list of rules to follow, but to inspire us to live our lives with compassion and understanding.”
—Thich Nhat Hanh
The Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation by Eknath Easwaran provides a detailed analysis of the Gita’s teachings on non-violence.
Deep stuff, right?
Abdul listened to his wife’s words with tears in his eyes. The courtroom fell silent, everyone hanging on to Simran’s every word. She urged everyone to reinterpret their scriptures with the right intent and not let convenience lead to violence and intolerance. It was a powerful message that resonated with people all over the world.
And guess what? That court case not only brought Abdul and Simran back together, but it also led to the birth of an NGO called Interpret Scriptures Humanely. This organization quickly gained support from the UN and nations worldwide. Over the next century, they sparked a massive movement promoting tolerance, non-violence, and mutual understanding.
And here we are in 2200, celebrating 100 years of absolute non-violence and zero-religious conflicts worldwide. All thanks to the courage and wisdom of Abdul, Simran, and countless others who dared to challenge the status quo. It just goes to show that love, understanding, and a little bit of debate can change the world.
Arman’s speech received a thundersous applause.
The prime minister of India, highly impressed by the young Arman, announces in the presence of dignitaries like the president of the USA and the president of China that the Government of India would bestow on young Arman the country’s highest civilian award the Bharat Ratna.
Further reading
You can read one of my related previous social media posts by clicking on the following links: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I encourage you to read it and share your thoughts on this important topic.
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Editorial
My vacation is still not over!
I am still on a vacation because I had to extend my stay due to some urgent tasks.
Oh, and don’t worry, you’ll still get your regular dose of awesomeness every Thursday.
By the way, I’m curious, have you had a chance to catch up on all the juicy sections from the past four issues? If not, here’s the roll.
Analysis from Issue #1: Is your religion the best?
Analysis from Issue #2: The blissful essence of spirituality: Moving beyond religious labels
Analysis from Issue #2.5: Exploring the intersection of science and spirituality: Bridging the gap
Lead artcile from Issue #2.75: 5 Eye-opening insights into world religions and interfaith harmony
Quiz from Issue #1: Multipath Quiz for Uplifting Your Spirituality Quotient
Quiz from Issue #2: Multipath Quiz for Uplifting Your Spirituality Quotient
News from Issue #1: Spiritually Positive: Inspirational News to Brighten Your Day and Spiritually Negative: Spiritually Provocative News that Pushes Boundaries
News from Issue #2: Spiritually Positive: Inspirational News to Brighten Your Day and Spiritually Negative: Spiritually Provocative News that Pushes Boundaries
Quotes from Issue #1: Inspiring and Thought-Provoking Words for Reflection
Quotes from Issue #2: Inspiring and Thought-Provoking Words for Reflection
Q and A from Issue #1: Ask Ranjit
Q and A from Issue #2: Ask Ranjit
Book summary from Issue #1: Featuring: The Holy Bible (King James Version)
Book summary from Issue #2: Featuring: Bhagvad Gita As It Is (New Edition) by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Editorial from Issue #1: I want to hear from you more than I want to speak to you.
Editorial from Issue #2: I promise, it’s worth it.
Book review from Issue #1: The Spiritual Path: How to Create Heaven on Earth by Lily Rose
Book review from Issue #2: Poetic License: Reflections and Renderings by Lawrence L. Schwartz
Real-life application / case study from Issue #1: Featuring: Dr. Haseena Chokkiyil
Real-life application / case study from Issue #2: Featuring: Avadhuta H. H. Jagat Guru Dileepji Maharaj
Bonus: Guest post from Issue #2: A Mind
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I did enjoy the story!