Imran Khan: Why The West Craves Materialism & Why The East Sticks To Religion

[Speaker]

This article has a few good points. He is correct in pointing out where the "eastern" cultures have identified the importance of spirituality and family life. His understanding of why Christian enlightenment went on overdrive is also very informative. But he loses it when he start stereotyping people based on hemispheres.

For one, he seems to have seen a few cities in the west and generalized it for the entire country. People in the small towns of US (especially the southern Bible belt) are extremely religious and conservative. They have family values just as strong as ours. Their marriages are "arranged" within family friends and at church meetings. Imran might be glad to know of the existence of Mormons in Utah and the pacific north west. Their (retrograde) practices are pretty aligned with beliefs in our part of the world.

The shocker was his take on the theory of evolution. I wonder if Imran believes the earth is only 5000 years old and that god "put dinosaur bones" on earth to test our faith. It might also to worthwhile to ask him if the earth revolves around the sun or if he believes vice-versa.

He then resorts to typical rhetoric of "ours better than theirs" by trash talking concepts of freedom of religion, freedom of choice, equality of mankind and such. I love the dialog from Swades where SRK says we always use phrases like "Hamari Sanskriti" to gloss over our inadequacies as a nation like lack of professionalism, aimless politicians, corruption and social intolerance. That argument extends to all people who have the literal "holier-than-thou" attitude. The first concept of all religions is to not judge, or have an ego based on your level of religious belief. Imran seems to miss this fact, and I believe most subcontinental people fall into this trap.

The culture of the west is theirs and it their right to live by it. We have chosen faith, religious sayings and holy books to shape our cultures, while they have chosen reason, logic and hard evidence for theirs. I don't think we have an opinion on one being better than the other. To each his own.

 

[Nima]

He is our Ali Daei .... and no one touches Ali Daei or Imran Khan

I hate ali daei!
selfish pig

 

[sensenreason]

I hate ali daei!
selfish pig

Sorry but who is Ali Daei?

 

[sensenreason]

This article has a few good points. He is correct in pointing out where the "eastern" cultures have identified the importance of spirituality and family life. His understanding of why Christian enlightenment went on overdrive is also very informative. But he loses it when he start stereotyping people based on hemispheres.

For one, he seems to have seen a few cities in the west and generalized it for the entire country. People in the small towns of US (especially the southern Bible belt) are extremely religious and conservative. They have family values just as strong as ours. Their marriages are "arranged" within family friends and at church meetings. Imran might be glad to know of the existence of Mormons in Utah and the pacific north west. Their (retrograde) practices are pretty aligned with beliefs in our part of the world.

The shocker was his take on the theory of evolution. I wonder if Imran believes the earth is only 5000 years old and that god "put dinosaur bones" on earth to test our faith. It might also to worthwhile to ask him if the earth revolves around the sun or if he believes vice-versa.

He then resorts to typical rhetoric of "ours better than theirs" by trash talking concepts of freedom of religion, freedom of choice, equality of mankind and such. I love the dialog from Swades where SRK says we always use phrases like "Hamari Sanskriti" to gloss over our inadequacies as a nation like lack of professionalism, aimless politicians, corruption and social intolerance. That argument extends to all people who have the literal "holier-than-thou" attitude. The first concept of all religions is to not judge, or have an ego based on your level of religious belief. Imran seems to miss this fact, and I believe most subcontinental people fall into this trap.

The culture of the west is theirs and it their right to live by it. We have chosen faith, religious sayings and holy books to shape our cultures, while they have chosen reason, logic and hard evidence for theirs. I don't think we have an opinion on one being better than the other. To each his own.

I think the most interesting point the article makes for me is his explanation of the whole Anti-Religionism that exists today in the west and the 'globalised' world; as a reaction to the intolerance and barbarianism of religion in the first place.

Most of the globalised folks in the sub continent especially India can relate to his whole or part of the views...wrt religion and the west.

Someone mentioned that India is aping the west...especially the youngsters who increasingly do not respect own culture....Its true and to some extent justified by the abject lack of leadership in the polity, religions and social fabric...

Islam is a far more unifying religion compared to Hinduism, this is also demostrated by the dedication with which large majority of Muslims in the world and India carry on the culture/rituals of the past...it does have downsides as the low education levels in the Muslim world indicate...Hinduism is a far less unfiying religion atleast in the way its 'governed' across the world.

No wonder more Hindus are open to consider other philosophies..eg atheist'ism. It plays both ways as a positive and negative. For instance, it shows up in higher acceptance of western education (just as an example)...However, it also causes an identity crisis in the individual that most 'globalised' citizens of the world suffer from....that certain rudderlessness...because one is not that proud of the past...

It goes back to the age old debate about 'Nature' (genes) and 'Nurture'(environment/education/conditioning)...Globalised folks believe in 'Nuture' the others in nature...at a broad level.
With Imran Khan in the mix this debate is bound to occur as he is truly confused in what to believe....his genes or his education as the reason for his success.

 

[Nima]

Sorry but who is Ali Daei?

Ali Daei (Persian: علی دایی, pronounced [ʔæliː-je dɑːjiː]; nicknamed Shahriar [ʃæhrijɑːr], meaning the King; born 21 March 1969 in Ardabil, Iran) is a former Iranian football player and coach.[2] He is a former captain of the Iran national football team, and is the world's all-time leading goalscorer in international matches. Daei as of June 2007 is also a member of the FIFA Football Committee.[3] At the moment, Daei is the manager of the popular Iranian team Persepolis F.C. and signed a 18 month contract with the club in late December 2009.

on the right

 

[sensenreason]

Ali Daei (Persian: علی دایی, pronounced [ʔæliː-je dɑːjiː]; nicknamed Shahriar [ʃæhrijɑːr], meaning the King; born 21 March 1969 in Ardabil, Iran) is a former Iranian football player and coach.[2] He is a former captain of the Iran national football team, and is the world's all-time leading goalscorer in international matches. Daei as of June 2007 is also a member of the FIFA Football Committee.[3] At the moment, Daei is the manager of the popular Iranian team Persepolis F.C. and signed a 18 month contract with the club in late December 2009.on the right

Very Impressive !

 

[a.dagha]

One of the problems facing Pakistan is the polarization of two reactionary groups. On the one side is the Westernized group that looks upon Islam through Western eyes and has inadequate knowledge about the subject. It reacts strongly to anyone trying to impose Islam in society and wants only a selective part of the religion. On the other extreme is the group that reacts to this Westernized elite and in trying to become a defender of the faith, takes up such intolerant and self-righteous attitudes that are repugnant to the spirit of Islam.

Imran got this slightly wrong. First off, us i.e. the 'westernised elite' aka anyone going for secularism in the public domain, are assumed to be aethiests without proper knowledge of Islam. This is highly speculative and I do not think Imran is qualified enough to judge anyone's grasp on Islam. Second, imposition robs a religion of its spirit. "There is no compulsion in religion". Much like one cannot be forced to love, no one can be forced by any other human being to practice Islam a certain way.

We, the 'westernised elites' think that Islam should be a private issue. When we as a nation can't even run worldly institutions, how can we even think about running Godly institutions without corruption. Much like Imran, I learnt my basic Islamic principles at home. I then went and researched it myself. The state had NOTHING to do with it. My shahadah, namaz, roza, zakat and hajj were taught to me by my parents, not the government. I do not NEED the government to tell me what I should and should not do as a muslim.

To say that I only practice Islam partially is the easy way out. It is tantamount to ignoring the fact that I am really uneasy in giving society the right to tell me what I can and cannot do as a muslim. That choice is ultimately my own and as Allah has told us numerous times in the Quran, it is at my own peril.

 

[Durran3]

Philosophers like Darwin , who with his half-baked theory of evolution had supposedly disproved the creation of men and hence religion, were read and revered.

LOL Darwin was NOT a Philosopher, he was a biologist, a scientists who collected thousands of different specimens of different insects, birds and many species. He traveled to various continents for years to do his research and has tons of publications on the anatomy of many different species. A theory is not something you wake up one morning thinking about, its based on a comprehensive analysis of the subject your studying, looking at many subjects and seeing the changes that many different species go through by looking at heritable traits and fossil studies as well as looking at the same species in many different environments.

Darwin's study was based on a Monster research that he had done for more than 25 years. Calling him a philosopher just shows how ignorant Imran khan is. Darwin was NOT against religion he was a scientist who just wanted to be left alone and did what he loved doing which was studying about Variations in different birds, insects and animals. Darwin's The Origins of species barely contains anything religious and is strictly sticking to his research. I bet Imran never even read his books let alone has no idea about evolution.

For starters if your smart i'd recommend you start with wikipedia

Evolution - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[ice_man]

the probem with HUMANS is we try copying the super power of the time!

when Egypt was a super power the world tried to copy there art,culture even make up etc.

this was followed by rome & the world tried to make a political cultural system like the romans!

then it was the turn of the Muslims & all over EUROPE arabic & islamic monuments & arts were being replicated:

Featured on the Web: Understanding Islamic Art and its Influence

Islamic Art, Definition, History: Muslim Visual Arts, Architecture of Islam, Calligraphy, Ceramics: Moslem Artists, Art Movements


NOW its the US & EUROPEAN who are AGAIN leading (notice i am not living a vague term western) the way! hence everything they do the world wishes to copy imitate!

wait and watch if tomorrow a new super power rises out of the "east" the world will lock to it & start imitating it.

hence people who are currently advocating the European way of life will change their stance. because after all they don't have their own personal stance they just don't like stepping out of line!