Religion and common sense

Re: Religion and common sense

Lets discuss first statemeent which I made.

Common sense is not so common.

Here, the first part ‘common sense’ is proven something good and special when other part is said "is not so common’. Here the second word ‘common’ denotes something a group of people perceive collectively as usual, norm or a matter of fact.

Now when I said later not really correct. Meaning religion cannot be considered based entirely on senses of people/human being.

Senses of human beings are based on limited abilities. Most of these senses are based on physical phenomenon except the ability of mind and logic.

Hence, what I am saying is that religious guidelines should not be judged on common sense at all. Some dogmas may make sense to people some may not. This does not mean religion is wrong or at fault if not understood by people.

Third point I made was common sense is variable too. I had not read this defniton before but might add here that your reference itself says and proves my point that common sense is variable.

"Common sense, based on a strict construction of the term, consists of what people **
Which people? How many people?**

in common would agree on : that which they “sense”
**“they sense”. Right? so what if senses of groups of people differ?
Will that not make the ‘common sense’ of one group differ from other? **

as their common natural understanding. **
Define natural understanding here. For some nautral understanding makes them walk nude on a beach …for others covering body with clothes and being modest is natural understanding. ** "

Hence this ‘definition’ can be argued.

Nicely and simply said the obvious.

Re: Religion and common sense

Religion isnt common sense. The practice of religion is perhaps common sense.

Re: Religion and common sense

Good to see you used the word 'perhaps'.

Re: Religion and common sense

Well there are many aspects of religious practice that do not make sense to me but I do them regardless. So it isn't really common sense. Why pray 5 times a day? We know why because we've been told the story as muslims but it's a result of some bargaining done for us by Rasool Allah saw. Why are there 4 faraidh of wudhu and why can't I keep a pet dog in my home. Dogs are immunized, they can be trained to stay away from the kitchen or prayer areas. They can be very clean animals. It doesn't make sense to me but I will abide by the sunnah and fiqh because I must and I don't have a problem with it. These are just examples please.

But it is common sense for me to ractice what has been taught by my religion because I understand the concept behind it after I was told. It wasn't because all of it made sense.

Re: Religion and common sense

Yes…and one might add the prohibition of not consuming pork in the list which MAY not make sense to a group of people.

Evidences can be cited that Judaism, Christianity and Islam all prohibit consuming pork.


Aside from the main topic but additional info is here for proof.

The Bible prohibits the consumption of pork, in the book of Leviticus

“And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you”.

“Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch, they are unclean to you.”

[Leviticus 11:7-8]

Pork is also prohibited in the Bible in the book of Deuteronomy

“And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you. Ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass.”

[Deuteronomy 14:8]

A similar prohibition is repeated in the Bible in the book of Isaiah chapter 65 verse 2-5.

Re: Religion and common sense

Religious guidelines are much more than common sense....

common sense is derived by the "very limited" brain of human being, often corrupted and polluted... while religious guidelines are ordained by THE CREATOR of that human being... because the knowledge and wisdom of two (the human and his CREATOR) can never be equal, hence religious guidelines can never be exactly same as common sense... plus common sense may vary from place to place/society to society and time to time, but religious guidelines (of the same religion) remain same, no mater where you go (its a different story that we tend to distort them for our evil interests)... in many cases common sense may be in line with religion, but not always

so yes, they are different...

the moment we priorities our "aqal" that is common sense, over religion/ orders of The All Mighty, that is exactly the moment our journey to "gutter" starts.

Re: Religion and common sense

^ True. While common sense may help understand some religious dogmas, common sense cannot be considered a tool to entirely judge religion.

Re: Religion and common sense

Yahan to sar se pehley dil ka sauda shart hai yaro


Jo Aqal ka ho Ghulaam, woh dil na kar Qubool.


Re: Religion and common sense

**Bey khatar kood para aatish e Namrood mein ishq

Aql khari hei mah’ve tamasha-i lab-e-baam abhi
**

Translation: *Love dives into the furnace of Nimrod without any hesitation

                Logic is still standing dumb-founded*

Note: Hazrat Abraham (a.s) was willing to to be thrown into the furnace of Nimrod just because of his love of God, transcending and dumb-founding any logic.

Re: Religion and common sense

No they are not. Common sense is light years ahead of Religion.

Re: Religion and common sense

^ yes, definitely, common sense is light years ahead of the Religion of a sharaabee.

Re: Religion and common sense

^ Good points Aceones!

Re: Religion and common sense

If common sense is supposed to make sense, then religion is not always common sense.

Maybe that is why some of us have trouble following it in full and therefore, pick and choose; Other than the reason that "vices" are tempting.

In following a religion, IF you have faith, then there are some things you just have to do without much questioning.

PS: Personal opinion

Re: Religion and common sense

^ I agree with that. Which is why I asked OP if she meant moral principles instead of religious ones. While religion does define moral principles - well morality and humanity being the core principle for pretty much every religion and the most ignored part since we end up holding on to the more complicated stuff that makes us look/feel more religious instead - there is a lot of spirituality and blind faith stuff involved. Quite many religious principles are not common sense, well and a few parts don't even make much sense if you try to find the logic behind them. That is where you need blind faith, and like princessjojo just said, these are the things that you have to do without much questioning.