Good and bad believers?

Question

My old teacher once told me that the good believers (who are the extreme minority) from all of the faiths get on well, and that the bad ones (who are also an extreme minority) try to start fights and don't like each other; but that most are indifferent or apathetic (the overwhelming majority), and therefore just as destructive as the bad believers- is this true?

Thanks

Answer 1

yes to an extent. but only to themselves , they are not disstructive exaclty but not constructive to an afterlife either
maybe your teacher was saying that having no opinion means no ideas . expect nothing and you may well get axactly that

Answer 2

Aye, a wise teacher you had, there.

Good believers of various religions generally accept that other faiths can also be basis for a good and moral life; and they trust in the wisdom of their god(s)/karma/who-/whatever to ultimately reward the effort made and not the path taken.

Bad ones are unfortunately a rather vocal minority, particularly noticable among monotheistic religions. These tend to go out of their way to spread "The Truth"™ with complete disregard for the fact that if their god is wise and just, the truth is: if the only "good" one did in ones life was shoving "The Truth"™ down other people's throats as opposed to actually making an effort to be a good person and make the world better, he'll go reward heathens who did the latter and punish the excessively "faithful" for having been, well, pricks.

The majority - particularly of baptized Christians in the western world - really would be hard pressed to care either way. They're really worshipping the One True Greenback Go (or other color if outside the US), anyways - and in truth believers on paper alone. In terms of spirituality, they're really the worst kind, as paying lip service tends to be more disrespectful of a faith than not paying any.

Answer 3

Your old teacher's thoughts do have some merit. It really depends on what the believer's faith is. Healthy debate is good, as long as it conveys mutual understanding and respect. However, there are extremists of all faiths that do harm and bicker about differences. True, most believers are indifferent and indifference breeds ignorance.

Answer 4

1. How did she define "good"?
2. Even if you are very "good", you wont always get on with others from different faiths, because you would have to disagree with others and let them know the truth, even if they dont like it.
3. Most ARE indeed indifferent or apathetic.
4. Define "destructive"?

Answer 5

yes, people who are indifferent to the belief in the fairy gods at the bottom of your garden let them get away with murder, mayhem, flash floods, plagues, entire generation of first born genocide etc. the ones that actively dislike the fairies in the next door garden commit horrendous atrocities by pouring boiling water down ant holes (where we all know fairies live) and spraying the daisies with pesticide (where we all know they hang out).

Answer 6

Christians want to live in peace and harmony with other faiths even though we know they are mistaken.It's a radical minority (in any faith) that wants violence and unfortunately it's these that get the publicity.

Answer 7

Your Teacher is right and the fun part is better ones will become even better and the second hands will face no-fun in their next life.

Answer 8

Not exactly. History has many examples of people trying to manipulate others through religion. Are these manipulators believers? We don't know, but I doubt it.

Throughout the Bible are examples of people trying to manipulate God. Are those people believers? We don't know.

Answer 9

Well, your teacher made a little mistake: good belivers are bad too! The rest is correct.

Answer 10

bismillahhirrahmannirrahim......

brother'

Knowing One's Soul

Another very important piece of information the Qur'an gives us about man concerns his "soul" (an-nafs). The "soul," as commonly used in the Qur'an, means "ego" or "one's personality."

In the Qur'an, Allah explains the two aspects of soul: the one inspiring evil and wicked deeds, and the other, guarding against every inculcation of evil. The Qur'an explains this in Surat ash-Shams:

By the Soul, and the proportion and order given to it; and its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right; truly, he succeeds that purifies it, and he fails that corrupts it! (Surat ash-Shams: 7-10)

As is evident from the above verses, evil exists in every man's soul. However, he who purifies his soul will attain salvation. Believers do not surrender their selves to the evil in their soul; they simply avoid it with the guidance of Allah's inspiration. As the Prophet Yusuf (as) said: "Not that I am free from sin: man's soul is prone to evil-except his to whom my Lord has shown mercy…" (Surah Yusuf: 53), provides the right manner of thinking for a believer.

Since the soul "is prone to evil," a believer must always remain vigilant about his soul. As the Prophet Muhammad (saas) also said, "the greatest struggle is the struggle against one's self (nafs)." The soul unceasingly tempts a person and never earns him Allah's approval. As it does all these things it tries to present alluring alternatives. A believer, however, thanks to his fear of Allah, is not deceived by this "misleading" attribute of the soul. He always turns towards what is right to lead a life in compliance with Allah's Will. Such is the attitude of a wise person as opposed to a foolish one, as the Prophet (saas) said:

A wise person is one who keeps a watch over his bodily desires and passions, and checks himself from that which is harmful and strives for that which will benefit him after death; and a foolish person is one who subordinates himself to his cravings and desires and expects from Allah the fulfilment of his futile desires. (Tirmidhi)