An Atheist Explores the Qur'an Part 121: Closing Thoughts
It took half as many posts to tackle the Qur'an as it did the Bible, 120 compared to 248, but it felt like longer sometimes. Perhaps because the Qur'an is written by a single man and deals with pretty much the same topic over and over, whereas the Bible is a compilation of multiple works, some of which are historical, some apocalyptic, some laws or building instruction, some philosophical, some poetic, some a bit of each. From that point of view, I'd have to say that the Bible was the more interesting work to read.
Have I learned any great wisdom from the Qur'an?
I'd have to say … no, not really. Granted, I probably didn't approach it with a particularly deep understanding of the material in the first place, but that (as with the Bible readthrough) was always my intent. Picking through line by line is still something of a deep dive, and in both books I tried to be alert for symbol and metaphor. Doing it that way, however, it's easy to miss thematic callbacks and structural elements like chiasms. I've now had the leisure to study the Bible further and I have a greater appreciation for the construction, especially of the revelatory books, to highlight particular events. I daresay that a better appreciation for Arabic literature would maybe help me unpick some of the deeper meanings of the Qur'an beyond all the burning.
That said, I'm still not particularly convinced either book gives a very persuasive argument for their versions of God. The Qur'an, in particular, seems to think that merely asserting it a lot is a replacement for any kind of persuasive and well-constructed argument. Again, I have to give the Bible the win on that one because at least it is willing to deal with questions wrestling with how God operates and what His relationship with humanity truly is (there are several answers). That said, the Qur'an also veers between God being so above humanity that we are irrelevant to Him, to Him obviously caring enough sometimes to dish up a good smiting.
I also quite like the equanimity of the Qur'an in places. There are very few rules laid down, certainly not the extensive lists of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. And when they are, quite often it's pefectly acceptable to not carry out a particular rite or duty if circumstances are against you. You don't need to stop and pray at the appointed time if you're being chased by bandits, for example. Hey, we may be pious but we're not stupid, it seems to say.
I'm afraid to say, in conclusion, that reading the Qur'an no more made me a Muslim than reading the Bible made me a Christian. I can appreciate the ideas a sentiments (but once again, I got less in the way of food for thought from the Qur'an in general than I did the Bible) but I've seen better ideas expressed in a more persuasive fashion in philosophical texts.
Coming next: I return to the Bible with the Apocrypha, those disputed books that can be found in some traditions and not others. The DVD extras of the Bible, as I have come to think of them.
Have I learned any great wisdom from the Qur'an?
I'd have to say … no, not really. Granted, I probably didn't approach it with a particularly deep understanding of the material in the first place, but that (as with the Bible readthrough) was always my intent. Picking through line by line is still something of a deep dive, and in both books I tried to be alert for symbol and metaphor. Doing it that way, however, it's easy to miss thematic callbacks and structural elements like chiasms. I've now had the leisure to study the Bible further and I have a greater appreciation for the construction, especially of the revelatory books, to highlight particular events. I daresay that a better appreciation for Arabic literature would maybe help me unpick some of the deeper meanings of the Qur'an beyond all the burning.
That said, I'm still not particularly convinced either book gives a very persuasive argument for their versions of God. The Qur'an, in particular, seems to think that merely asserting it a lot is a replacement for any kind of persuasive and well-constructed argument. Again, I have to give the Bible the win on that one because at least it is willing to deal with questions wrestling with how God operates and what His relationship with humanity truly is (there are several answers). That said, the Qur'an also veers between God being so above humanity that we are irrelevant to Him, to Him obviously caring enough sometimes to dish up a good smiting.
I also quite like the equanimity of the Qur'an in places. There are very few rules laid down, certainly not the extensive lists of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. And when they are, quite often it's pefectly acceptable to not carry out a particular rite or duty if circumstances are against you. You don't need to stop and pray at the appointed time if you're being chased by bandits, for example. Hey, we may be pious but we're not stupid, it seems to say.
I'm afraid to say, in conclusion, that reading the Qur'an no more made me a Muslim than reading the Bible made me a Christian. I can appreciate the ideas a sentiments (but once again, I got less in the way of food for thought from the Qur'an in general than I did the Bible) but I've seen better ideas expressed in a more persuasive fashion in philosophical texts.
Coming next: I return to the Bible with the Apocrypha, those disputed books that can be found in some traditions and not others. The DVD extras of the Bible, as I have come to think of them.
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