Philosophical Terms about Self and Soul

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I always spend my time around this musalla sometimes reciting Quran alone behind the musalla. My family house is just few blocks from here and I can just walk to reach here. Beloved brothers and sisters may visit me kalau sudi boleh saya belanja minum teh : )

While growing up into a 26 years old guy, I had came to experience many conflicts and bitter experiences. I counted every event that happened in my life and most of those being counted are bitter ones while only few are pleasant ones and that does not last longer since it is taken away in a blink of eyes. I heard many debates about being grateful and thankful and the notion of redha (pleased) with divine pre-destiny in the Tablet of the Holy Lord. I also found connections of the human traits and quality with the desire or self-passion with the events that happened in life such as the psychological problems attacking a person when he or she could not achieve something or simply facing loophole in their life. The true meaning of happiness in life, they could not decipher.

I sometimes use to talk about this issue with my family member when we encounter conflicts within our sphere. I don't know whether this a high issue that could not be grabbed by others though they are highly educated and excel well in academics as compared to me or maybe because people have different ways to view the world around them. I admit that I was influenced by Buddhist or maybe Hindu's worldview and metaphysics but when I return to ancestor's path, it does not differ much especially after I opened up Muslim elders' discussions in tasawwuf kitabs. This is not about 'aqidah or the fixed Islamic creed about the nature of Allah nor about the wahdat al-wujud or taniyat al-wujud stuffs. This is about creature's self-awareness.

This is a little bit philosophical not of Islamic scriptural studies. I am not playing smart here. I would also use daily occasions in explanations and if this is Hindu or Buddhist teachings, then I will mention it as it is as not to mix them up or confusing anybody who stepped in the humble site. It's not about berhala or idolatry as I didn't learn Buddhism to worship stones, lord Buddha, devas nor to worship any creature as Divinity. This is about the desire of human-being who is never satisfied with whatever that it has. In Arabic, we call the self as nafs and the same thing is also absorbed into Malay language when our ancestors bringing the path to South East Asia realm. When I was exposed to Buddhism teaching, the nafs is known as attama. Attama means the ego or the soul in Bali-Sanskrit.

Hindu-Buddhism Technical Concepts

First of all I think maybe I need to put up the comparison between technical terms between Sanskrit and Arabic. When our ancestors who were involved in philosophical studies as they entered the regions, they just translated everything into Arabic or Persian what they had understood from the lessons that they studied from non-Muslim philosophies since before the formation of the fixed creed of "Sunnah" teachings to counter some movements who dwell with confusing philosophies regarding spirituality, self-concept, perception and identity closely related to psychology. The terms such as wahdat al-wujud and stuffs came from the philosophies of non-Muslims from the Indus civilization. Some of the terms are also absorbed into Malay language right away from Sanskrit since Malay countries were previously of Hindu traditions. This is an effort from a plain Arab descent guy in South East Asia in the part of clearing the lapses faced between civilizations. Sanskrit culture, philosophies and traditions in Asia and South East Asia is like of Greek and Latin's in Europe.

The terms that I would like to share for comparison between Sanskrit and Arabic are jiwa and attama. Jiwa could be an equivalent for nyawa in Malay. In Arabic, it is a concept almost close to ruh and in English we translate it generally as soul though soul is only a part of jiwa. Attama on the other hand could be classified from lower to higher. It means the self or ego. In Arabic, we also have the term which is known as nafs and it is also subbed into few kinds of self. For those of Hindu traditions and Buddhists, attama is eternal as well as jiwa. They never die and could not be killed though being tortured, stabbed, slain, burned, shot or crucifixed. 

Then there is another thing about human and other creatures who breath in the earth and universe as to understand these words that we use and listen everyday. Human and creatures posses body and not only soul. Body in Arabic is known as jasad. Urm, I can't think any word used by Hindus for this. But when a person dies, the Sanskrit word for dead body used by Buddhists is kalevarah and in Malay it is known as bakai or bangkai. In Arabic, the body without soul is known as janazat or mayyit. For Buddhists and Hindus, body is the cage of the soul. It contains the soul. When the body has no nadi (blood flow in the vein) because the heart stops beating, the lungs stop functioning and stop producing breath that could be sensed flowing from the nose, or when the brain stops functioning, then the body is officially dead. The jiwa or the ruh is separate with the body and it becomes a mayyit.

The Buddhists and Hindus believe in the reincarnation of jiwa as it is not a subject to death like what I had mentioned above. The subject to sufferings and death is only the body. However, jiwa is not free from attachment to worldly desires. It needs to be liberated from desires. So, here comes the attama. Attama is more related to thoughts and desire. It leads human from the lowest to the realization of highest self. 

What actually makes human happy? Is it a disastrous life, simple and plain life or a luxurious life? When we wanted to achieve something say, the degree for an example... How long would we take to achieve it? Is it a comfortable or an enduring difficult process? For what is the degree? It is for career improvement or simply for a topic of discussion when we meet people as not to lose our face. Why we need a career? We need to survive in this modern world with it. It is to get a suitable job. What if we can't get suitable job after that? Won't we feel that it is a pointless thing? What if we get a suitable and desirable job? We can further continue to other stage of life. But how long would we feel happy with it? It's not long isn't it? We would face other things which will follow. The jiwa is learning through the pain and pleasure of temporary worlds. Both hell and paradise is temporal in their belief. This is related to the creation of universe (brahma) and cosmology in Buddhism as well as Hinduism about the cosmic system exploding stuff giving way for new cosmic system which consists of time and space. A very long-winding story and I had once learned about the planets cyclical calculations for predictions though I wasn't good at maths in school. I think it is almost close to astrologers' science and illegal in Islam. But I still remember some of the the lessons just never practice it anymore, hehehe. 

I'm just sharing about philosophical view of life and spirituality in this post which makes up some part of me today. Not about Islamic matters yet and not about tasawwuf angle related to Islam since we don't want to mix them up. In Hindu-Buddhism, there is also a term known as brahmalikhittam. It is almost close to the meaning of taqdir ilahi or qada' and qadar for Muslim and I am aware about these concepts too. It is mentioned in hadith qudsi of imam Nawawi compilation narrated by Umar r.a and summarized again in the Islamic pillars of faith. 

So, as per Hindus, the mind of a person who's not attached to external sense objects enjoys happiness of the inner-self. They will realize the ultimate truth. It is through the knowledge of uniting the consciousness of oneself with the ultimate consciousness that he enjoys the unlimited bliss. This is the word of Krishna to Arjuna during the Kurukshettram war in a part of Mahabharata which was separated into Bhagavadgita (chapter 5 verse 21). Buddhists always discuss about developing one self to achieve nibbhana (free from psychological and physical suffering). From where the atman comes is not important. 

Whoa, such a long post I need to stopppp!!!!

I thought that it is just a mere writing about terms but it also includes worldview and few topics which could be developed more. Today I just feel quite sad and I text Amir which is my undergrad friend who's still in contact with me. I just talk about appearing "dead" to all of my contacts. I also think to shut-down my recently opened facebook account but nevermind... Let it be there... I won't log in nor checking the news of the brothers that I came to know in Tekun hostel anymore. I also received the text from Azren which was also my undergrad classmate and a senior of European studies postgraduate class. He talked about his loathe with accountants who love to yell at people and know no respect to people also saying that he hates corporate culture. Then when he asked me about my job interview. I just answer him that I won't go far from my father. It is ok if people treat me like a person with no feeling because they hardly see me crying in front of people or losing my temper. I am a very patient person. I'm not bragging but this is a fact. I know who is my self.

I made a hard decision which is to take care of my bed-ridden father rather than going out to find job because my sisters are busy with their life and my mother could not handle it alone. She also has other ceremonial responsibility. I went out for a moment taking opportunity from the visits of my two aunties tonight. I just went out to musalla chanting dzikr and Asmaa' al-Husna after I can't hold my tears during maghrib service to calm down myself and shave bald my head, hehe. It symbolically shows that I am willing and ready to be a sacrifice and I will sacrifice everything in myself whether external or internal for my father well-being after I talked with Allah. May Allah helps my father and cure him, inshaAllah. I believe Allah is my Protector and Friend. He never leaves me and He knows what is the best for my soul so He educates me with His Mercy and Love.       

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!    

Theory of Religion Evolution: Islamic View III

 
Prophethood Tasks

Islam was actually revealed to Adam a.s and it is the inheritance of his descendents whom are human-beings. After his descendents expanded and multiplied, there were additions and modifications to what had been revealed to him. 

The God through His Mercy had sent prophets to bring human-being to the track. Each time deviation happened, the God will send His prophets and messengers among human-being to transmit the message to other human-beings. Prophets were not teaching anything new but transmitting again the creed of human ancestors. Only the Way differs according to period of time as the Way appears to be related to the development of society, culture, and intelligence of human to accept it. It is also according to time span.

The religion of the universe is only one which is the nature, Islam. It was first being revealed to ancestors of men who is Adam a.s. Prophets and messengers of the God are all Muslims. So, non-Muslim fellows, according to our belief, Jesus Christ is a Muslim just like others who spoke revelation or Word with their tongue. It does not matter whether he is a Son of God or being a deity when performing miracles. We respect him the same as we respect noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w and Moses a.s. We worship only the God and not spirits which dwell in earthly vessels and that does not mean that we degrade a noble person. All of prophets propagating His teaching and purifying His teaching according to the necessities of their era.

Says the God in His revelation:  "Abraham is not a Jew and not a Christian but he is a straight person (in faith) who submits himself (to the God) and he is never among polytheists." (Surah Āli-'Imran verse 67)

The first messenger of the God is Adam a.s. Muhammad s.a.w is the seal of the prophethood and the final messenger as his era or time span reaches the resurrection. Glorious Quran only reveals 25 of prophets and messengers of the God. Between Adam and Muhammad, who knows how many messengers and prophets of the God. Only the God knows. The God does not tell us in detail in the revelation.

Says the God: "And for every nation there was prophet. So, when came to them, being judged amongst them with justice and they are not tyrannized." (surah Yunus verse 47)

All of 25 prophets and messengers revealed by the God with revelations mentioned in the Quran struggles in Mediterranean region and generally are Semites. Noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w is also a Semite. However, there were also non-semite prophets as there are also human who live in other parts of the world since before the birth of Muhammad s.a.w.

Says the God: "Verily We sent messengers before you in which some of them that we tell you their story and some we do not tell you. And it is not (possible) for the messengers to bring signs except with the permission of the God. Thus, when comes the order of the God, the true judgement will be delivered while those who stood by falsehood will be lost in vanity." (Surah Ghafir verse 78)

Hence, it is not something to be surprised if there are also monotheism ideology with the command to perform charity and chastity in primitive society outside of Islam, Judaism, or Christianity coverage. Usually these primitive societies are civilized and possessing manners or ethics, far from other barbaric primitive people.

As for Muslims, Muhammad s.a.w is the final messenger and prophets for the closing of eras. The Way revealed to him is appropriate according to the era from his ordination to the end of the world and the authority of the teaching demands the usage of mind and intellect power besides the faith. There is no more prophethood after him as he is the seal of eras, now is the period of the end. We are waiting for the destruction to give way for Resurrection and Judgement as what is mentioned in al-Fatihah, the mother of scripture where it mentions about the King of the Day of Religion which refers to the God. 

Muhammad s.a.w the Final Messenger

It is mentioned that the God has perfected the Law toward mankind in the Glorious Quran...  

Says the God: "Prohibited upon you carcass, blood,  the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than the God. And (those animals) strangled or by violent blow or by head-long fall or injured by the goring horns (for their flesh), and those from which a wild animal has eaten, except what is (properly) slaughtered and those which are sacrificed on stone altars and (it is prohibited) from seeking decision through arrows (fortune telling). That is indeed evil for you. This day, those ingrates who have despaired from your religion; fear them not, but fear Me! This day, I have perfected for you, your religion and completed upon you My favor and have approved for you Islam as the (Divine) Law. But whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination toward sin; indeed the God is All-Forgiving and Merciful." (Surah al-Maidah verse 3) 

The verse signifies that celestial revelation stopped from descending to the earth after Muhammad s.a.w passed away. This verse is the final Word divinely descended upon Muhammad s.a.w in the year of 10 H (632) while performing his last pilgrimage with his 124,000 companions in the holy city, Mecca. It signifies that prophetic task of prophet Muhammad s.a.w in receiving revelation and transmitting it toward the universe and mankind is finished. It signifies the era of revelation is sealed with Muhammad s.a.w through the Glorious Quran.  

Muslim nations reject anyone who came after Muhammad s.a.w and claim himself as the messenger of the God. There were also people who teaches religions and way of life to others before Muhammad s.a.w but their name is not mentioned in the Glorious Quran. Thus, we could not determine whether they were prophets or not, messengers of the God or else since the God never mention anything about them. We only have 'possibilities.' If we look through theology angle, those who taught the teachings never taught people to carve or making idols or icons for concentration in worship or meditation. Those practices were added by people after they passed away.

Regarding Buddha, Ustad Muhammad Fawzi Awang in his book, Religions of the World published by Pustaka Aman Press in Kota Bharu, Kelantan (1964) page 83 mentions:

Both Ustad Muhammad Farid Wagdi and Ustad Mahmud Yunus mentioned that Buddha is a weird case. He is not far from being classified as a messenger who transmits teaching and there is also no prohibition to have such an opinion except for those sub-sects showing dissents on something which possibly being innovated by religious groups. It happens everywhere in other faiths in other places as well. The verse from Quran for this is from the God saying: "...there are some messengers who we tell to you their stories while others are not being told." If Ustad Muhammad Fawzi mentions something about Buddha Gautama, perhaps the formula could also be applied to others who teaches religion such as Zoroaster, Kung Zi, and Lao Zi. This is according to Dr. H. O. K. Rahmat H. S. (1979). 

Religion Evolution Theory: Islamic View II

Standard Within Islamic Teaching

Masjid al-Bukhari, Alor Setar, Kedah - kingfisher78

Islam with the Way transmitted through Muhammad s.a.w sparks again at the peak where human intelligence in ratio was high. Every teachings drawn within obvious concept as it is revealed again by the God through His Mercy and without doubt. The obvious one is regarding its creed, the belief toward the God. The monotheism concept according to Islam in its Way or Divine Law is strictly monitored. There is an obvious line between ingratitude (infidelity) and faith. 

Root of teachings had been written since prophethood time by companions and disciples, recorded in the glorious Quran. Teachings based from prophet's acts, speeches, and silence of the noble prophet are memorized by hundreds of people who witnessed him. These teachings are compiled and discreetly preserved by the ninth century. Those who reports and narrating acts of the noble prophet have their background being reported by others and their background is also kept by other narrators.

Thousands of people know and mingled with Muhammad s.a.w and they witnessed him. Any hatred lies imposed to Islam or whatever under scrutiny will never bring those who knows about prophetic traditions and those who are practicing it into confusion or doubt. The matter could immediately be checked through comparison with other sources. From historical angle, Muhammad s.a.w has quite an extensive and detailed life history and there are news sources about him regarding his background and his thousand disciples and followers. 

How many people know about Ammar bin Yassir and his parents? How they were tortured as if they were animals during the beginning of da'awa to Islam as for example? Nobody magnifying their misery and torments but many other absurd stories being spread out to people around just raise misunderstanding and to serve national, racial, and self satisfaction. I guess those who do that do not have to claim that they are godly people : )    

Hatred lies are just a waste of time by those who have no life craving for attention. Only if we watch American movies about Prom Queen stuffs or pathetic girls or guys who think that they are cool or popular in American school and relate it to this. It is just the same. I remember I watched movies for example, Mean Girls, there is a scene where a popular acid-tongue girl, I guess known as Regina started a slandering rumor about her 8th grade friend, Janice telling everyone that she is a lesbo. This Regina girl reminds me to those who spread slandering lies to others, maybe because they were hurt by people who claim themselves as Muslims or perhaps they are those who can't follow their carnal desire so they accuse others as following carnal desire just like what they have in their mind. I hated Islam last time. I could even be hostile to people who talk to me about Islam without having to read those Islam under Scrutiny websites or hatred links given to me including my own family members. That was my ignorance since I could not differentiate the essence of teachings and the people who are called with the notion of religion but are not practicing, it is a simple thing : )

Islam sparks again through political strength. Muhammad s.a.w is not only a spiritual leader for nations but also leading his nations. This political strength had protected others who embrace Islam though in the beginning many were unfortunate such as Ammar bin Yasser and his parents, may Allah bless all of them. They are always my brothers and sister in soul, I pray for them everyday and many could not be enlisted had also tortured and martyred just because of their faith. They are beloved people of the God who are not fortunate in the world. Please pray for Sumaiyyah binti Khaiyyat and Yassir bin Amir souls, dear brethren :'( 

Political strength didn't stop after the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w passed away but continued by four companions whom are Abu Bakr, 'Umar, Uthman, and Ali may Allah be merciful and pleased with all of them. They lead nations from 632-661 C and later two dynasties known as Umayyah and Abbasiyyah emerged. Further, nations being divided again to few kingdoms such as the Fatimiyyah in Egypt and bani Umayyah in Andalusia in Southern of Spain. In 12th Century, another nation emerged known as the Ottoman empire in Asia Minor, it continues to be in existence until 19th C before being replaced by a republic. There are also nations in Iran, Afghanistan, and Arabian Peninsula. After the WWII, many new small countries emerged and their leaders are Muslims (if not by practice, by name) with majority of the people professing Islam as their faith. Political strength is considered by Muslims as grace from the God and it has its time where it is weak or strong according to His Will.

To preserve the purity of Islam and its creed, there are guidelines provided such as the prohibition of individual cult or worshiping Muhammad s.a.w. The only One who deserves worship is only the God. We respect the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w just like other noble prophets and messengers of the God without exceeding the limit. During the life time of Muhammad s.a.w, there is no reference to him with saidinaa which means our lord. 

Christian fellows in the East also referring to Jesus Christ with the title marono which is Aramaic for our lord. I noticed in some prayer books that we use, there are also saidinaa reference to noble figures. I tried to avoid the usage too but that does not mean I will accuse my brothers and sisters who use the reference to respect noble figures. But for us, it is to avoid confusion. It does not mean that we do not respect noble prophet or his companions.

Muhammad s.a.w used to called as Muhammad bin Abdullah, the messenger of the God, the prophet of the God, the father of Qasim since his son name is Qasim. Muhammad s.a.w was also reminded by the God that he is just a human where through his tongue the God says in the revelation:

"Say (dear Muhammad): Indeed I am a human like you (but) revealed to me that your God is the Only God! Thus, who are hoping to meet his Lord, so do good deeds and do not associate (Him) in the worship of his Lord (He is) the One." (Surah al-Kahfi verse 110).    

This verse emphasize that Muhammad s.a.w is a human not a man-god, not an angel and not the God. He is different to other human in the sense that he received revelation from the God, while other human receive no revelation. The respect to Muhammad s.a.w is no more than a respect to a messenger of the God. There is strict guidelines regarding iconography and statues. No need for such things as to avoid from problems faced by previous nations.    

to be continued...

Theory of Religion Evolution: Scholarly Opinions

 
Opinions Regarding Tylor's Hypothesis

Commenting on the belief of primitive people, E. Adamson Hoebel who was an anthropologist in Anthropology Department of Minnesota University mentioned in his book, Man in the Primitive World:

It is quite late for civilized men with knowledge and the ability to think that primitive human mind have no capacity to reach the thought about the Great Essence or the Highest God. Tylor's biggest mistake in his opinion is regarding the concept of Highest Deity is the final evolution of intellectualism which begins with the belief towards spirits, and then developed to ghosts and ancestral worship, and turns to be devotion toward deities and the final result is monotheism.   

It could be seen that Hoebel rejects the evolution of theology proposed by Tylor. He further mentioned in his book:

Andrew Lang before this century had proved that natives of Australia, Africa, Polynesia, and Amerindian belief toward the Highest God is not reaped from Christianity. Anthropologists who were never exhausted in his studies, Wilhelm Schmidt had put in his note this notion in his four volumes the Origin of the Idea About God. 

Wilhelm Schmidt is also counted as one of historical and cultural sect follower where he studies the development of human culture and history. The result of studies will take the cultural impact on human belief. It brings the idea on how the pattern and shape of oldest culture could influence human's belief.

In order to find the purest religion or perhaps ideology which was first embraced by human, Schmidt had been collecting information and proves from every inches of the world. He concludes that the purest teaching is the teaching which proclaims the existence of the Greatest God. This ancient ideology is called as beginner monotheism. Due to historical development, this monotheism had gone through changes.

According to Rahmat (1979), we do not have to go far with Schmidt travels. It is enough for us in the Middle Island (South East Asian archipelagos) to look at the Unity of the God concept in natives' belief. It has been certified that with no influence from the Middle East be it Christianity or Islam. Christianity is a Middle East religion but grows up within European environment. Hinduism in Bali Island in Indonesia which is called as Balinese Hinduism is also different to that of Indian sub-continent. The difference is that, they have a notion called as Sang Hyang Widdhi or the One God. The Sundanese in Western Java Island before the advent of Islam called the power that they believe as Sang Hyang Tunggal which means the Only Spirit.

Regarding Rahmat (1979) notion about Balinese Hinduism in South East Asia, I was a Buddhist by ideology though my name is by Islamic born name and I still remember what I had learned. I did not only learn about Buddhism but also Hinduism and their philosophical schools. Sang Hyang Widdhi means the Respected Spirit who Knows. It is not the One God like Islamic theology of monotheism. It may refer to god Shiva who Destructs and who Creates the New Cosmic through Nr'ittiya (dance) as what I had learned from Javanese literature that those in Bali Island have this kind of religious syncretism between Buddhism and Shaivism school of Hinduism. Though I did not believe in the God last time... Well, I denied the existence of the God because I hate people around and I compared myself to others where I could only see others as more fortunate than me while I had to go through difficulties in many aspects of life while being only a child... I thought that it is useless for me to prostrate and pray to something which does not exist to help me. Now I realize that many people face more or less the same problem so nothing really is a big deal. We just need patience and being a servant of the God is without any choice to go through tortures since we could actually just choose one, the God or the world as our Beloved one. Last time, I know about the existence of the God through Phrommann-a-Witthiya (Brahminical Sources) and of course, I know about Islamic theology since I was also educated in Islamic schools since childhood. I was an orthodox Muslim kid born in a family who follows Shafi'ie methodology which was not really religious, I mean our parents were not so religious during their young time but I was put together into mingle with religious elders during a little child time... I turned out to be quite different in some point of this life when it comes to practices and belief after changing phases in family and environment around. It is very hard for young kid to face the world without physical or mental support.

In the Batak land of Sumatera Island, people have Ompu Mula Jadi Na Bolon which means Great Grandmother who First to be Born. It was their deity before most of them are converted to Christianity. For them, this deity is powerful in three area. It is the deity of the upper world called as Tuan Bubi Na Bolon, deity of the middle world known as Ompu Silaon Na Bolon, and deity of the lower world or the sea and thunder called as Tuan Panai Na Bolon.

Dayak tribes of Kalimantan also called supernatural powers with names related to Hinduism like Mahatara or Hatallah which is Islamic by influence. There are great possibilities that those names came later and replacing native notion of the power believed by the people while the idea of the unity of God has already been there before the arrival of Hinduism or the advent of Islam. If the native name for God could be brought up to light and not of those influenced by Sanskrit or Arabic, perhaps it would be closer to the opinion that the concept of unity of God had already exist in South East Asia region before the influence of Hinduism from South Asia or Islam from Middle East. 

From the discussion, scholars like Hoebel, Schmidt, and Lang opinion is that, the belief to one God is not the end of the evolution of human thought to God. Hoebel thinks that it is a mistake and it has flaw. Human since in the beginning of their existence had already know the Only God, the Greatest. How come that it turns out to be the belief of many gods? In the Man in the Primitive World, it says that: 

Andrew Lang suggested that the summary of the concept related to the Greatest Divinity sparked from the religious thinking which had already in existence since long ago. The existence of lower rank deities is due to the tendency of human to create myths or ancient Adam for human. It is a non-social belief to get few benefits from other companions. In this matter, it means that the Highest Essence the Purest is said as too pure to hold the role in the world, so the role was handed over and delegated to ghosts, spirits, and deities which is also formulated with pleasant, irrational and anomalous visions lowering the rank God into gods. 

That is how Lang suggested on how primitive humans reaching higher philosophical thinking. Human have also the ability to create lower level thoughts when it comes to their self necessities in the sense of detailed pantheism from wild world.

Lang further emphasize that monotheism had already exist since long. Human later adding here and there at the already existed belief until it turns out to be religions of many gods. It is from human tendency to create myths and inclination toward fairy tales which sometimes could be absurd to get attention and satisfying their listeners. Can we say, this could also apply to conspiracy theory? In Buddhism, there is a notion from lord Buddha Gautama regarding we should first stay in silence, observe, study and later we decide to believe or leave it. Because of this inclination, human created gods and goddesses, fairies, and ghosts. All of these figures and characters were given roles in stories mapped in their mind. Sometimes, it consists philosophical teachings which is embraced by the myth creators. In this development, the One God is still in vague in it. However, society prefer and paying more attention to gods and goddesses created by human mind until the "One True God" sunken down into the mist of ignorance of people who listens to myth. This is a factor which leads to polytheism.         

Regarding Prophethood, Prophets' Task, and Civilized Monotheism

Andrew Lang suggested that the development of civilized religion always struggles to bolster both the sovereignty of thinking and religious thinking. It works hard in order to place the God the Greatest at His position in human conceptional thinking. The concept in Abraham path is classified under this type of civilized monotheism. However, this Divinity concept could also be deviated with some small demands such as personal preference, ethnicity, or nationality of those who are called as 'civilized human.' 

Regarding prophets, Lang emphasized that they are reformers who struggles in order to bring back the God's sovereignty in the midst of gods' idolaters, which is the belief added and invented by human mind. These prophets worked hard in order to bring human back to the root belief and creed. The creed toward the Sovereign God, Absolute in Power incomparable to anything. According to Lang, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity teachings bridging human to their root creed.

But, the deviation of primitive human could also happen to advanced human. The proofs of this deviation could be seen whether in Islam, Judaism, or Christianity. The cause of deviations perhaps due to human's preference, human's desire, adaptation for tribal, ethnicity, race or nationality interests. 

Lang had shown that there is nothing to be surprised on primitive humans if monotheism could also revolutionized into animism, polytheism, and etc. Deviation does not happen to primitive humans but also to civilized and advanced humans.    

From this elaboration of Andrew Lang, it could be said that Tylor hypothesis regarding the evolution of human thought regarding religion is quite weak and not scholarly proved. Scholarly proves such as anthropology on the other hand states that monotheism or the belief toward One and Only God is the origin of humans' belief.    

Religion Evolution Theory and Refutation to It: Intro

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

I seek protection of the God from the accursed Satan! In the Name of the God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful! 

Introduction

Some human believe that there is God, which is the Essence that created human and the universe. In this matter, all of human being who believe in it are in common understanding. But when it comes to Divinity concept, there are varieties in it. There are those who proclaim that the God is only One. He is Unique and nothing could be equated to Him as for Muslim believe this. 

The Christians with their Trinity concept of the God with God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All three of them are One but not the same. This is the result of Kalam apart of philosophy in Doctrine and being refuted by Hanbali methodology scholars and others as well.

In Hinduism, there is an Essence known as Paramatman or Brahman. Paramatman means the Supreme Soul while Brahman means the Universal Spirit. It is divided to three according to their functions which are Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva according to school of philosophies. Besides the Hindu Trimurti concept of godheads, there are also incarnations of them into other gods based on their power and functions.

These are varieties of human believe toward Him. There are those who believe in the absoluteness of His Unity those the ideology is called as monotheism. The Abraham paths such as Islam, Judaism, and Christianity are categorized by most people as teachings based from monotheism. However, the development of these three religions are not the same. There are differences in the understanding of monotheism for each of them. 

For example, for Christianity, they believe that the God is One but with the notion of Trinity. Thus, the Absoluteness of the God Unity is not valid according to strict monotheism ideology. This is not my view, but the writer of a book's view. I would put the reference once this is done, inshaallah. As per comparison with Islamic Creed on the God, He is without any beginning nor ending. Nothing in the earth nor heaven is equal to Him. Nothing is the same to Him, nor picturesque about Him. He is unbeatable. He is not confined by time, place and space. The God needs no one, but those in existence in the universe need Him. His Will be done and nothing could obstruct Him.

While Hinduism as for example is categorized under polytheism. It is the belief in many gods which are incarnated from a God. They still believe in One God but the functions and aspects of the God is personalized into Three which is represented by the Trimurti. The gods are then portrayed in idols and paintings. Each face of God has its own worshipers. Some people worshiping Shiva, some people worshiping Vishnu and perhaps small number of people worship Brahma. All three aspects are God by their rights but each of them are worshiped more by people according to their tendencies, school of philosophies, and others. 

In primitive human belief, there are dynamism and animism. Dynamism means the belief on the power which is impersonal in beings of the universe whether alive or dead. Beings of the universe could be human, animal, plant, recorded words, and etc. This kind of belief raises up magic or act to control invisible powers stored in beings of the universe in certain manner in order to use it for ones own benefit. 

Animism means the belief that the soul or spirit could influence human's life. Spirits do not comply within normal nature's law but comply within their own law which is supernatural without any time, space, and they are eternal. Animism gave rise to ancestral worship for humans' benefit. A bit developed animism worship is called as shamanism. This kind of worship is quite popular in Africa and Eastern Asia.

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!