If There Really is One Correct Religion, Life is a Lottery Game
Because chances are — you simply inherited them from your parents.
Life would be… unfair
What are the odds of you being born into that one true religion or sect if it really does exist? In a diverse world of billions — quite low. We are all born with this natural tendency to unquestioningly and uncritically submit to those very same beliefs, traditions, customs that our parents and family held.
It’s gotten quite out of hand in Pakistan, where I’m from. A fellow young man I personally know, perhaps about 12 in age, was made by his parents to memorize the entire Qur’an (6,000+ verses!) which is impressive and all — but equally shocking when you discover that he doesn’t know the actual meaning of a single verse.
The point is, our relationship with God (or whatever belief) was almost lent to us. At least initially. You probably didn’t make much of a conscious effort in substantiating it. You took a lazy route, and chose the path of your parents as your truth.
Now, you’d be quite unlucky if this path happened to be the ‘wrong’ one. Imagine then: God punishes you for those wrong beliefs (which you were mostly “lent”), but rewards that one lucky child who was contrarily lent by his parents the ultimate, one true interpretation of religion. This would be life then:
A luck game, with the odds heavily stacked against you.
What if that’s not the case?
Though I haven’t memorized the Qur’an like that guy, I did make a genuine effort to understand parts of it. For the sake of this universal dilemma, I sought the answer to the following question.
How will God judge between all the differing beliefs and practices we humans hold?
The answer. It’s a satisfying one.
“You can only find out what you actually believe (rather than what you think you believe) by watching how you act.” — Jordan B. Peterson, 12 Rules for Life
It turns out, labels we assign unto ourselves are … a joke. To truly find out who you are, as Peterson says, you must simply watch how you act. What you call yourself is a pronounced belief. It’s the “I’m fine” that we unthinkingly say to the “how are you". It’s the “دعا میں یاد رکھنا” to the “خدا ھافذ"(if you get it, you get it). It just holds very little weight. A lot less than many think.
I’ll tell you why. I know a person who believes in a specific sect in Islam. This person? One of the most humble, kind, generous and loving people I’ve ever met. It turns out — extremist groups believe in the same sect he claims to be a part of, and interpret it in a way to justify the killing of innocents.
The dilemma: both a man of peace and a killer called themselves people of the same sect.
Now, most people would resort to either of two conclusions:
- The killer represents the sect’s true values.
- The man of peace represents the sect’s true values.
Let’s actually assume it’s A — in which we discover clear evidence of the sect promoting killing of innocents. In that case, ask yourself: should God punish the man of peace for believing in the wrong sect, yet actually being the opposite of what it taught; a man of peace? It turns out…
Your true values seldom lie in what you say, express, or claim to believe. Rather, they are implicit in your actions.
His actions embodied a man of sincerity and good faith — even though his pronounced belief entailed the opposite. And just so, God says:
And those who take protectors besides God say, "We only worship them so that they may bring us nearer to God” — Indeed, God will JUDGE BETWEEN THEM concerning that over WHICH THEY DIFFER. Indeed, God does not guide he who is a liar and disbeliever .
— The Quran, 39:3
It’s shocking how often the phrase “...God will judge between them in what they differ” is repeated throughout the book. Just to name a few more references: 32:25, 22:67, 2:113, 16:124, 22:67.
Your judgement stems way deeper than your pronounced beliefs (which I call a joke!). If God had to insist dozens of times on our differences being factored into our judgement, it must be a very, very exclusive “to each of his own” type of judgement. Things like your conscience, intentions, and integrity — you cannot even quantify.
I think this emphasis of us being judged between our differences solves so many problems. It’s almost as if now our differences aren’t even about who’s right or wrong. We just leave it all to God. It’s like when someone says “I’ll see you in court”, except the judge isn’t an 70-year old man, it’s God. Who would naturally take into account everything (hint: ‘everything’ includes your actions). The truth will be your lawyer. There is no bribery or deception. The outcome won’t be based on any abstract law or constitution like a court judgement. Pure justice!
“And the record of deeds will be placed open, and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, “Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?” And they will find what they did mentioned. And your Lord does injustice to no one.” — The Quran,18:49
The Takeaway
What I’d want you all to take from this is — a person shouldn’t be concerned with another’s pronounced belief. Look at how he actually treats others. His manners. His integrity. His honesty. What’s there — not what isn’t.
The man of peace wasn’t a man of peace by virtue of his pronounced belief. If that was the case: life would be a lottery game — but it’s not.
The truth is: God guides whomever He wills — The Quran, 28:56
I leave you with a final, powerful verse.
“We shall set up just scales on the Day of Resurrection, and no soul will be wronged in the least. Even if it be the weight of a mustard seed We shall produce it and We suffice as reckoners.” — (21:47)
