28 min listen
Conforming to Survive or to Go Astray
FromQuran Talk
ratings:
Length:
21 minutes
Released:
Apr 5, 2018
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
Assyrian Proverb: “The tallest blade of grass is the first to be cut”
This element of conformity to not be targeted is evolutionarily instilled in us
Across the entire animal kingdom you see a similar pattern with fish and birds
The reason for this is that it makes it difficult for the animal to focus on anyone out of the group to target so the hunter gets confused and fails in their approach
Zebras blend in to confuse the lion
The thought is that if everyone is responsible then by theory no one is responsible because it is hard to assert blame when everyone is involved
While this works for animals in the wild to preserve their physical survival, the opposite is true for our spiritual survival
A sure-fire way of not making it to heaven is thinking that if we stick with the majority and just believe what we were told by our parents or religious scholars will be sufficient
[74:49] Why are they so averse to this reminder? [74:50] Running like zebras. [74:51] Who are fleeing from the lion!
We are each responsible for what we believe and how we choose to live our life. On the Day of Judgment, we cannot say that we were only following the group.
[6:116] If you obey the majority of people on earth, they will divert you from the path of GOD. They follow only conjecture; they only guess.
The Majority of People Do Not Believe
[12:103] Most people, no matter what you do, will not believe. [12:104] You are not asking them for any money; you simply deliver this reminder for all the people. [12:105] So many proofs in the heavens and the earth are given to them, but they pass by them, heedlessly!
The Majority of Believers Destined for Hell
[12:106] The majority of those who believe in GOD do not do so without committing idol worship.
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to reform (or pause and reflect).”
“When you're the only sane person, you look like the only insane person.”
[19:73] When our revelations are recited to them, clearly, those who disbelieve say to those who believe, "Which of us is more prosperous? Which of us is in the majority?"
Luckily for us God made the Quran easy to learn. You don’t need to be a scholar or even know Arabic to understand the Quran
[54:17] We made the Quran easy to learn. Does any of you wish to learn?
Those who are sincere will understand it
[6:20] Those to whom we have given the scripture recognize this as they recognize their own children. The ones who lose their souls are those who do not believe.
Additionally, God holds us responsible each individually based on what information we know and the decisions we made in our own lives. And God made the Quran easy to learn.
Crucial Advice
[17:36] You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself. I have given you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brain, and you are responsible for using them.
Following Parents Blindly
There are millions of beliefs in this world, ask yourself what is the probability that the belief you were born into was the right one? Maybe it was, but statistically this is pretty low.
Maintaining the Status Quo: A Human Tragedy
[2:170] When they are told, "Follow what GOD has revealed herein," they say, "We follow only what we found our parents doing." What if their parents did not understand, and were not guided? [2:171] The example of such disbelievers is that of parrots who repeat what they hear of sounds and calls, without understanding. Deaf, dumb, and blind; they cannot understand.
We Are Born With Instinctive Knowledge About God*
[7:172] Recall that your Lord summoned all the descendants of Adam, and had them bear witness for themselves: "Am I not your Lord?" They all said, "Yes. We bear witness." Thus, you cannot say on the Day of Resurrection, "We were not aware of this." [7:173] Nor can you say, "It was our parents who practiced idolatry, and we simply followed in their footsteps. Will You punish us because of what others have innovated?" [7:174] We thus explain the re
This element of conformity to not be targeted is evolutionarily instilled in us
Across the entire animal kingdom you see a similar pattern with fish and birds
The reason for this is that it makes it difficult for the animal to focus on anyone out of the group to target so the hunter gets confused and fails in their approach
Zebras blend in to confuse the lion
The thought is that if everyone is responsible then by theory no one is responsible because it is hard to assert blame when everyone is involved
While this works for animals in the wild to preserve their physical survival, the opposite is true for our spiritual survival
A sure-fire way of not making it to heaven is thinking that if we stick with the majority and just believe what we were told by our parents or religious scholars will be sufficient
[74:49] Why are they so averse to this reminder? [74:50] Running like zebras. [74:51] Who are fleeing from the lion!
We are each responsible for what we believe and how we choose to live our life. On the Day of Judgment, we cannot say that we were only following the group.
[6:116] If you obey the majority of people on earth, they will divert you from the path of GOD. They follow only conjecture; they only guess.
The Majority of People Do Not Believe
[12:103] Most people, no matter what you do, will not believe. [12:104] You are not asking them for any money; you simply deliver this reminder for all the people. [12:105] So many proofs in the heavens and the earth are given to them, but they pass by them, heedlessly!
The Majority of Believers Destined for Hell
[12:106] The majority of those who believe in GOD do not do so without committing idol worship.
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to reform (or pause and reflect).”
“When you're the only sane person, you look like the only insane person.”
[19:73] When our revelations are recited to them, clearly, those who disbelieve say to those who believe, "Which of us is more prosperous? Which of us is in the majority?"
Luckily for us God made the Quran easy to learn. You don’t need to be a scholar or even know Arabic to understand the Quran
[54:17] We made the Quran easy to learn. Does any of you wish to learn?
Those who are sincere will understand it
[6:20] Those to whom we have given the scripture recognize this as they recognize their own children. The ones who lose their souls are those who do not believe.
Additionally, God holds us responsible each individually based on what information we know and the decisions we made in our own lives. And God made the Quran easy to learn.
Crucial Advice
[17:36] You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself. I have given you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brain, and you are responsible for using them.
Following Parents Blindly
There are millions of beliefs in this world, ask yourself what is the probability that the belief you were born into was the right one? Maybe it was, but statistically this is pretty low.
Maintaining the Status Quo: A Human Tragedy
[2:170] When they are told, "Follow what GOD has revealed herein," they say, "We follow only what we found our parents doing." What if their parents did not understand, and were not guided? [2:171] The example of such disbelievers is that of parrots who repeat what they hear of sounds and calls, without understanding. Deaf, dumb, and blind; they cannot understand.
We Are Born With Instinctive Knowledge About God*
[7:172] Recall that your Lord summoned all the descendants of Adam, and had them bear witness for themselves: "Am I not your Lord?" They all said, "Yes. We bear witness." Thus, you cannot say on the Day of Resurrection, "We were not aware of this." [7:173] Nor can you say, "It was our parents who practiced idolatry, and we simply followed in their footsteps. Will You punish us because of what others have innovated?" [7:174] We thus explain the re
Released:
Apr 5, 2018
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
The Best Psychology (Part I): Have you noted those who received a portion of the scripture, and how they choose to stray, and wish that you stray from the path?4:44 by Quran Talk