Why The West Craves Materialism & Why The East Sticks To Religion

[JCamilo]

It is not dubai only and so far the only argument that east is not materiaslist is because it is written in a book (and people dont follow it completely). It is bit like arguing americans being christians - not little and seriously christians - are not materialists because at some point jesus said it was easier for the poor to enter in the realm of god.

[smerdyakov]

Sorry but I am of the opinion that the very premise of the thread is a nonsense.
Not everyone who lives in capitalistic democracies "craves" materialism and not everyone in the east is "religious". This dichotomy is laughable for anyone who doesn't have a "child's brain".
It is a moot point (like most threads on here I am noticing), and also, it is childishly naive to think in those terms. It's the kind of divisive, backward thing some uneducated, disenfranchised jihadist might utter.

Imran Khan's views are prehistoric; he should stick to the cricket. The whole article is a badly conceived series of assumptions. And it is written in such an obvious fashion as well! When he suggests things like "all morality has its roots in religion" i genuinely feel sorry for the man.All morality has its roots in mans sense of justice, that's where it always was, it didn't fall out of the sky.

Religion is "a voluntary state of madness". We need to rid the world of it.

[mazHur]

Sorry but I am of the opinion that the very premise of the thread is a nonsense.
Not everyone who lives in capitalistic democracies "craves" materialism and not everyone in the east is "religious". This dichotomy is laughable for anyone who doesn't have a "child's brain".
It is a moot point (like most threads on here I am noticing), and also, it is childishly naive to think in those terms. It's the kind of divisive, backward thing some uneducated, disenfranchised jihadist might utter.

Imran Khan's views are prehistoric; he should stick to the cricket. The whole article is a badly conceived series of assumptions. And it is written in such an obvious fashion as well! When he suggests things like "all morality has its roots in religion" i genuinely feel sorry for the man.All morality has its roots in mans sense of justice, that's where it always was, it didn't fall out of the sky.

Religion is "a voluntary state of madness". We need to rid the world of it.

Why, do you want to defeat the right of freedom of speech or dialogue?? Many a problem is undone through mutual dialogue.

[JCamilo]

Well, he has a point, the article is polite, but still bigotry as anything that is unlike him is bad, a half-baked, or else. I have no doubt that only a deep study of the Qu'ran will give you some knowledge about it, but it does not give him nothing else but other areas and his visions of west are just a bunch of prejudice. Perhaps they make sense within the Pakisthan sittuation,where indeed, the country's international interventions just help to keep it in a chaos, but that is all.

[smerdyakov]

Why, do you want to defeat the right of freedom of speech or dialogue?? Many a problem is undone through mutual dialogue.

Hi mazHur.

I'm all for freedom of speech and debate; it doesn't mean I have to agree with what the article.

[mazHur]

Hi mazHur.

I'm all for freedom of speech and debate; it doesn't mean I have to agree with what the article.

thanks

[BienvenuJDC]

Religion is "a voluntary state of madness". We need to rid the world of it.

While this might be true of some extremist religions, I think that this world would be a terrible place to live if it wasn't for religion.

Well, he has a point, the article is polite, but still bigotry as anything that is unlike him is bad, a half-baked, or else. I have no doubt that only a deep study of the Qu'ran will give you some knowledge about it, but it does not give him nothing else but other areas and his visions of west are just a bunch of prejudice. Perhaps they make sense within the Pakisthan sittuation,where indeed, the country's international interventions just help to keep it in a chaos, but that is all.

All the Pakistani politicians have been talking sweet like Imran to make a breakthrough in politics or to achieve power. Judging by his company, I am doubtful if Imran would be able to deliver what he says. The only edge he has over his contemporary politicians and is favored by younger generation is it wants Change from conventional politicians and they see a new face in Imran who is mainly popular because he had won the ex-Cricket World Cup for the country and built the largest Cancer Welfare Hospital in south Asia. Moreover, he does seem to have somewhat unblemished character (though his reputation as a Muslim was marred due to his illegitimate relations with a blond and the daughter she gave birth to ..which were not owned by Imran despite public demand for DNA test) but as far as his lifestyle is concerned it contradicts the way his country men live. (he lives in a posh farmhouse stretching over 300 Acres and has some other high-prized properties...wonder if ever paid his taxes or just got all he has in dowry from Jemima?)

With people economically crushed, acute lack of gas, water and electricity, unemployment and lack of rule of law and justice, I am not sure Imran and his team of many ill-reputed rejected by other political parties shall be able to perform as it their talk sounds...?

While this might be true of some extremist religions, I think that this world would be a terrible place to live if it wasn't for religion.

hehe!! I don't think there is ANY so called 'extremist' religion in the world. Maybe there are people who take their religion differently.

hehe!! I don't think there is ANY so called 'extremist' religion in the world. Maybe there are people who take their religion differently.

Jim Jones in Jonestown Guyana?
David Koresh in Waco, TX?
What about those Muslims who believe that everyone else should die?

I would describe these as "religions" of there own, because they have different values and goals. I understand what you are saying, but I disagree with your definitions. And I would say that anyone who worships the devil (as the Christian view of the devil) is something that this world does not need. As any of the religions of past cultures that called for human sacrifice. I bet factions of those still exist as well.

[mazHur]

Jim Jones in Jonestown Guyana?
David Koresh in Waco, TX?
What about those Muslims who believe that everyone else should die?

I haven't heard of the first two until now...
As for 'those Muslims who......................die'' I must say that\s a wrong perception as why would anyone kill anyone without some good reason??
Those Muslims who are doing that without 'justification' are deviates of their faith. Killing an enemy in self-defence or during wars is elemental in almost all religions.

I would describe these as "religions" of there own, because they have different values and goals. I understand what you are saying, but I disagree with your definitions. And I would say that anyone who worships the devil (as the Christian view of the devil) is something that this world does not need. As any of the religions of past cultures that called for human sacrifice. I bet factions of those still exist as well.[/QUOTE]

A shoe wouldn't fit all sizes, will it?? I already said it is upto one as to how he takes his religion, how he reads his Book?

[Haunted]

That is because of their law!

It's a religion-based law:

The Islam based theocracy in Saudi Arabia imposes certain laws which discriminate women in many ways from men including a ban on driving. Saudi clerics issued a non-binding fatwa, or religious edict, in 1991 banning women from driving.

That is more of a cultural problem.

It's an Islamic / religious requirement:
an educated Muslim woman does this [covering their faces] because she is following guidance from God and His prophet Muhammad recorded in the Qur'an, and in the Sunnah (the knowledge about the practice and example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)).

Again that is a cultural problem. Burqa is not prescribed by Islam...A woman can wear any dress as long as it is 'modest' and does not show her 'adornments' to the public.

See the above reply.

Do you know how much funds are reserved for education in Pakistan ?? Less than 2 per cent of GDP! More than 50 percent citizens live below poverty line, they don't have money to buy books, uniform and pay for the conveyance. In fact many do not even have enough food to sustain their families. You must know that our govt do not support anyone here....you have to 'strive' for your sustenance or just die off! In short the problem is socio-economic, mostly in remote places,not religious. Females do go to schools and there is no bar on their studying in schools. Islam doesn't stop them from doing that...

Perhaps Pakistan should divert its funding for nuclear weapons to education?

How do you want them to be killed??? Electrocuted??
I haven't heard any woman been stoned to death in Pakistan! With Saudi Arabia the case is different because that is monarchy and as you know it's the lords who make the law! Punishment for adultery is 100 lashes--for married and 80 lashes for unmarried. Both rape and fornication are punishable at Islam. Islam lays emphasis on 'chastity' and 'purity of soul and body' and looks down at behaving like animals, in this case illegitimate sex.
NB: the punishment is for both men and women convicts.

northwest Pakistan:
Footage of a woman dying under a barrage of stones. Her crime: seen out with a man.

"This is Sharia. This is an act Muhammad approved of and participated in, according to canonical Islamic sources including Sahih ("sound," "reliable") Bukhari."

I know that but I have noticed that people in the West are vehemently critical of their 'religion' and hardly take it as a 'serious matter'. I also think that it is not separation of state from religion that makes the west go as it is but
good ''management' and 'organized societal system' mainly.

You will not deny the fact that the Muslim had their Golden Age when the state and Islam were hand in hand and the West was sunk in Dark Ages!
The trouble with Muslims is that they are not organized and suffer from bad state management, their leaders are selfish and not interested in ''creativity'' at all. Truly speaking there is NO Islamic state in the world and almost all so-called Muslim states are either following the dictates of their monarchs and dictators or just ceding to the excesses of democracy.

Your assessments of Muslim states are insightful. Creativity is key to improve our way of living. But your perception of the West is flawed if you consider material inventions and innovations as bad things. The assumption that the western world is all about materialism, is just that, an assumption.

Westerners "vehemently critical of their 'religion'" because they can, under human rights and freedom of speech. And the fact that they are so critical, doesn't that tell you that religion is a 'serious matter' to them too?

You might have been misled by the western media that portray a degenerative lifestyle as examplified by such personalities as Paris Hilton and Kim Kadashian, but those are reality shows, they do it for ratings and ironically bear no resemblance to reality. We buy cars and go on vacations, but is it really materialism or just a thing called living our lives and exercising our freedom of choice?

Just because people in the West aren't religious zealots and they don't pray multiple times a day, doesn't diminish their spirituality. If you stand back and take a look at the works of the Red Cross for instance, that spirit of charity and good will is founded largely on Christian values of love and mercy.

[Scheherazade]

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