Religion can come in different forms – there is the Catholic religion, just as there is the Christian religion, also the Atheist, Agnostic, Satanism, Buddhism, Stalinism, and Muslim religions, etc…
However with religion, come’s several different faiths and beliefs, which creates a complexity in how to justify the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ when there are different moral beliefs:
-
There are people who believe in a higher power such as a God and his ‘books’; which can fall into several different religions that have different beliefs, rules and implications; e.g. Christianity
-
There are people who worship the complete opposite of God – Satan and the powers of evil, which in other words is known as Satanism.
-
There are people who choose to believe that the existences of supreme beings are non-existent – called Atheists.
-
There are people who believe religion is a personal endeavor that is not bound by books, the belief that defines ways one chooses to live, and that one person alone – Buddhism.
-
There is also the Muslim religion whereas Muslims main belief goes with what is written in the Koran where ‘the purity of the religion is sustained by reducing the amounts of infidels’; in other words, those other than the Muslims themselves are considered ‘infidels’ and are sacrificed/killed, bringing them closer to their God, Allah.
The overall opinion of ‘good’ or ‘bad’ is seen on equal grounds in most religious beliefs, however there are those certain ones that can contradict and oppose one another. In other words,
*there is no justification of good or bad with different two contrasting religions, as good or bad can only be justified or defined within the religion itself.*
Bias as well as prejudice can often play a very big role on the perceptions of different religions; from old time rivalries to historical wars, can affect the way people perceive religions. Morals and cultural diversity can affect it as well.
C Knower’s Perspective
I will be using the Muslim and Christian religions to justify my point above on how “the overall opinion of ‘good’ or ‘bad’ being a contradiction and opposition within two contrasting religions”:
The Muslim Religion
Because of what is written in the Koran (bible of Muslim religion), ‘the purity of the religion is sustained by reducing the amounts of ‘infidels’, which in other terms meaning to kill/sacrifice all those who are not Muslims – ‘infidels’ in order to get closer to their God and go to heaven.
The Christian Religion
The Christian Religion on the other hand believes in the equality of people and accepting Jesus Christ and his beliefs are ‘optional’, however those who choose to accept Jesus Christ and his beliefs will be closer to heaven; by allowing people themselves to choose and find their own paths to heaven within the Christian religion.
Similarity between both Religions
Both religions can be seen some what similar as they both follow a certain ‘book’ – the Koran and the Bible. They both believe that following their God and bible will bring them closer to heaven and God himself.
Contradictory between both Religions
Although they share many of the same similarities, they share contradictions whereas Muslims have no tolerance for those ‘beneath’ them, meanwhile Christians believe in tolerance and equality for all. Thus, if you don’t take in the Bible and believe in Jesus Christ it is able to be tolerated, but if you don’t believe in the Koran and Allah, you are an unequal, an infidel, and will most likely be killed for sacrificial uses.
Thereby, the Christian religions pity Muslims because they do not believe in Jesus, as Muslims see Christianity to be inferior and that Christians are infidels because they do not follow Allah and the Koran – causing conflict.
Examples to Justify
Because of the Muslim’s main belief of sacrifice and those who are not Muslims are infidels, comes about the issue of terrorism. BUT terrorism is looked upon in a non Muslim way, whereas these terrorists call themselves ‘freedom fighters’ as they fight for their religion and belief. By exterminating/killing/sacrificing the lives of the Americans ‘infidels’, it is bringing them closer to God and heaven – e.g. suicide bombers.
The Christian belief on the other hand is that killing is bad, it is not good. No matter for what reason, killing will send you to hell unless you confess your sins to God, Jesus Christ.
Although not saying killing random people is okay in the Muslim religion, but killing those who do not believe in the Muslim religion is.
A conflict of interest and cultural diversity plays a big role here; the Muslims that bomb either the US or the UK call themselves ‘freedom fighters’ meanwhile Western cultures call these freedom fighters ‘terrorists’, causing prejudice upon not only race but religion.
Further Justification
Muslim’s are often flagged and treated differently in Westernized or other highly developed countries because of their appearance. Here, these westernized and highly developed countries automatically form a bias and prejudice for all Islamic/Muslim looking people based on their appearance. These countries base assumptions on appearance and religion, automatically categorizing them as terrorists. PREJUDICE, RACIAL DISCRIMINATOIN, CULTURAL DIVERSITY. *The clash in religion and the improper understanding both religions have for each other causing these issues*
Example #2
From this form of prejudice comes about another form of issues that to both religions are bad.
Due to the fact that westernized countries, the US especially, is going against the Muslims, the Muslim people begin to think that they’re being badly treated – which they are. This causes Muslims to perceive the entire US nation as a bad nation and causes the gathering of Muslims to do something about it. Not necessarily going to the extreme like Bin Laden did, but Bin Laden is a good example of wrongful perception because of the Christian and Muslim’s beliefs, religion, morals, etc.
Because of this, the US is in Iraq fighting a war.
Conclusion
Therefore, because of the different religions and the different beliefs and understandings of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ between both religions, there is no justification of good or bad with two contrasting religions as each religion holds their own separate belief; good and bad can only be justified within the religion itself.
If you think the Muslim religion is bad and their people are bad because they’re fighting for what they believe in, that’s moral judgment, not the justification of good/bad within religion.