The Western
scholars had divided the epochs of knowledge among human tradition into few
stages. The first is the classical period that was happened around 500 BC. This
was where the group of outstanding scholars and philosophers such as Aristotle,
Socrates and other Greeks scholar were come to exist. They were leading to the
triumph of this epoch with the colourful of knowledge that still useful until
today. Their patterns of thoughts were influencing peoples, including some of
the Muslim scholars. It was said that some of the classical scholars already
implementing critical method in their studies. They were questioning the pagans
understanding of the Reality. For example, Anaximander said that the sun is not
a god, but merely a just circle of fires that bigger than the Earth. Here, I
can conclude that peoples were already use their rational thinking and be
logical in understanding the reality.
Then, the coming of Judeo-Christianity
period which were consisting the community of early Judaism and Christianity.
Both religions were practicing exclusivism and intolerant in dealing with
others. In the angle of Judaism, they believe that only they are the best group
of people. In their scripture also portraying how the Jeremiah insulted other
peoples’ God. The history also stated that they were persecuted the early
Christians within their community. Besides, the Bible also promotes the
exclusivism to the Christians – Do not worship other gods, avoid falsehood.” However,
the interpretation also makes them feel higher than others (like what the Jews
were thinking). And after 300 years from
the time of Jesus (period of being executed), they were endorsed by the Nicaea
Council and the role of executing others belong to their hands. In this time,
we can see that there was no intellectual movement happened. They were not interested
in debates and seeking the knowledge. To make the things clear, even though in
al Quran, there are several verses that shows Islam also exclusive (e.g:
Worship Allah and get far from the toghut), but our exclusiveness is only
applied within our own community, and we do accept other communities to join
our society as long as they do not bring any chaos.
Afterwards, the dark ages taking
place. But in this period of time, Muslims were having glorious time and
achievements. The Christians people were having no freedom and not in the mood
of improving themselves, as they were really ‘adhere’ to their custom and
traditions by following what the churches said. In this time, the priests were
corrupting the religions and only they were able to read and know the content
of the Bible. Meanwhile, the laymen were listening to every words of the priest
without able to question- dogmatic atmosphere. Besides, the feudal system that
always winning the property owner also played vital role in their religious
affair. The priests always help the landlord in giving the aids to manipulate the
proletariats. Have to notice here that the Bible was only can be read in Latin language,
which was a barrier for the masses to understanding the religion.
| Renaissance-Where the art was reviving back. |
Because of this disastrous condition
of the Western world, the peoples started to revolt. The story of Renaissance and
revolution taking place in their world. It was firstly happened in Italy, 1300
CE when they started to practice humanism. The humanism is stressing on the
individualism (You work, you will earn yours) and the human improvement. These
were the revolutions in order to against the system of feudal and the
backwardness of the communities due to blindly following the religion affairs
only. Has to notice here, that the pre modern society, any religious teaching
is focusing on these three aspects; 1. God, 2. Soul, 3. Concept after life -
this was also the belief system that the European believed on. But owing to
the corruption of the churches that did not help them in having the beautiful
state of living, they turn their perceptions 360 degree differently. They
started to put effort and energy on empirical world, physical study of the existence,
which was, actually brought them the discoveries that ease and beautify their
present life. The invention of the machines, the expanding of the science study
turned to be their main aim. So the God already replaced by the universe, soul
shifted to the study of human body, and the concept of life was neglected by focusing
on exploration of new sciences such as sociology, psychology, anthropology and
others that can help the seen world as a better life to live in.
| Martin Luther |
In this period, the important event to
Christianity history also happened when Martin Luther formed a new
denomination, detached from the Catholic umbrella and set up another
denomination called as Protestant. He urged the peoples to study and understand
the religion based on self-understanding of the Bible, without depending on
priests anymore. The dishonesty of the priest set up the ritual buying the
indulgencies to help them in salvation, escaping from the purgatory was among
the factors that brought Martin Luther in against the Catholic churches. He was
not really put the dissident on theological issue, but more on the corruption
of the churches- the over powering and the fraud of the papacy system. So, the
Protestant press on finding the faith using the Bible only, without put any
worldly affair inside it. Meaning to say, you cannot fuse the study of the religion
using your own thinking and have to put aside the economic, political issue
sundry without interfering the Bible perspective. This was actually the seeds that grew the
tree of capitalism.
As they were believing that this world
is terrible, the cursed world as the punishment of Adam and Eve that were
expelled from their origin state: the luxurious heaven. So they started to
twisting the fact that when you get richer, better cars, better material goods-
that is the sign that the God is please with you. Thus the religion turn to be
the catalyst factor to further your materialism world. The essence of the real
religion faded. And some of the Muslims also not far from them as they are
thinking that the wealthier they are, meaning that Allah is gratifying them
without acknowledging that it is also part of the test in this world.
The expanding of this culture lead to
the coming of the modern world that really upheld the scientism and
materialism. Most of the scholars were atheist and no longer believe in God and
the philosophies were not attached anymore to the theology side. The science
study of why and why, actually does not bring any solid answer when they reach
to the limit. How they will answer the question, “why the milk is white? Why
the sugars taste sweet? Why the roses are smell good? Etc.” These questions
only bring them the speculative thinking as what did by the Darwin’s theory.
But, for Muslim- we do agree in the empirical studies as Allah encourage us to
think, ponder, look the surrounding in order to acknowledge the power of true
God and to our limitation, we can simply close the door of question by saying;
Allah is all powering and he knows better.
Wallahu’alam.
Reference:
Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVwF2k5KTk0&spfreload=10)
Lecture
classes of fifth semester
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