I began my religious journey when I was 18 years old. I am now 76. In earlier years I felt guilty if I doubted some religious teachings, but no longer. Now I am quite comfortable when my skepticism surfaces, as I am convinced that it actually strengthens my faith.
The Importance of Being Skeptical
Religious leaders often silence their followers when they express doubts about some belief with an authoritative command, “Just believe, don’t ask questions.”
This is tragic. Religious people should be skeptical. God has given us minds to think and inquire. A skeptical attitude can protect us from false teachings.
The Earth Is Flat, Not Round
Lactantius (250-325 M), a Christian advisor to Caesar Constantine (273-337 M), believed the earth was flat, not round.
Did he test his idea scientifically? Why did he reject the view of other leading Christians who believed the earth was round. Sadly, Lactantius was not skeptical of his views. Shouldn’t we be skeptical of the teachings of religious teachers? Perhaps they are like Lactantius.
Women Determine the Gender of a Child
Through the centuries religious leaders have blamed wives when they did not bear male children. Many husbands divorced their wives or took more wives if the first wife did not give them a male heir.
Science now proves that a child’s gender is determined by the husband’s chromosomes, not the wife’s.
Over the centuries religious people and leaders held to a false belief. Sadly, they were not skeptical of their belief and many wives and families suffered as a result.
Hadith about Flies and the Killing of Bacteria
The Prophet said, “If a house fly falls in the drink of anyone of you, he should dip it (in the drink), for one of its wings has a disease and the other has the cure for the disease.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari: Volume 4, Book 54, Number 537)
Here is what the medical world says: There are many bacteria and parasites that infest the fly, making flies a major factor in spreading many diseases by touching surfaces with their legs or their saliva. After walking on much excrement, flies may carry up to as many as 6 million bacteria on their feet. So be wary of foods that have been touched by a fly!
Why did Muhammad talk about the fly’s wings, when the main source of infection are their feet?
Be skeptical–throw out the drink!
Indeed, some religious leaders still defend the Hadith believing that the second wing will cure the bacteria. Will that wing really neutralize or destroy 6 million bacteria? Do you believe the teaching that the second wing will destroy the 60 million bacteria?
A skeptical and wise person will reject Muhammad’s Hadith of the Fly. He will wisely avoid consuming a drink that was a swimming pool for a fly!
The Apostle Thomas Doubted Jesus Christ’s Resurrection
All the Apostles, except Thomas, met Jesus shortly after His resurrection. When they told Thomas about this, he was skeptical.
“Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” (The Injil, John 20:24-29)
When Jesus Christ appeared again to the Apostles, He asked Thomas to place his finger into the wounds. As a result Thomas also believed.
Although Thomas was a skeptic and doubted Christ’s resurrection, Jesus did not scold him. Instead Jesus helped Thomas overcome his doubts.
It is not wrong to doubt religious teachings. Wise leaders will welcome questions and doubts. Like Jesus, they will help you seek truth.
Are you a skeptic or have questions about some teachings? Our staff will be happy to assist you. Please contact us.
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SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW
We encourage our readers to comment on the article above. Comments that don’t directly relate to the topic will be removed. Please start a dialogue with us by focusing on one of the following questions:
1. Have you ever been berated or scolded when you expressed doubts about some religious teaching?
2. Do you drink your water if it has been polluted by fly bacteria? Do you believe the Hadith or modern science? Why?
3. According to your viewpoint, should religious people be skeptical? Do you have other examples of doubtful teachings? Explain.
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Tobat says
3 April 2017 at 3:02 pm`
Wait a minute, earth is not flat. Earth is round! Do you ever see a NASA Footage when orbiting earth and fly to the moon? Scientist has proven that the Bible was wrong about earth is flat and circle like a coin.
About flies. Flies really has a virus and other kind of bacteria on the left wing and has a cure on the right side. It has been proven by the scientist. A group of Muslim scientist from Saudi Arabia did a research that there is a kind of drink and wait until the flies come. When the flies come, they dipped the flies on the first glass and throw the flies on the second glass. They found that the first glass had less bacteria than the second glass. What a miracle!
Allah Is The Biggest.
jasmin says
3 April 2017 at 9:13 pm~
Tobat,
It was written in the Bible that earth was round (Isaiah 40:22) several hundred years before the earliest scientist discovered it.
jasmin says
12 April 2017 at 10:09 pm~
Tobat,
It was written in the Bible that earth was round 750 years before Nasa launched its first rocket.
jasmin says
10 April 2017 at 6:46 am~
Tobat,
There are six million bacteria on the fly’s legs. Do you really believe that those six million bacteria are neutralized by dipping the whole fly in the drink? No scientists in the world would support that belief. Do you dip flies in your drink before you drink it? Of course not!
Please inform us of the names of the scientists in Saudi Arabia, the place and date the study was done and the scientific journal it was published in.