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Responses to Questions from Respondent 1

           

1. Why do we need religion to define morality

 

This is a good question. We are both finite and infinite beings. Our body is finite, which means it will be destroyed. However, our soul will not since it is infinite or eternal. Our minds cannot comprehend absolute morality, but our soul can. Therefore, we need religion to define morality.

 

2. Is morality fixed or relative

 

Morality that is based on the mind is worldly in nature, therefore relative. Activities that take place in Papua New Guinea influence the mind of the people there, and activities that influence people’s minds in Las Vegas are different than the ones in Papua New Guinea. Morality that is absolute is morality that is based on activities on the infinite level.

 

3. What is Freedom. Is true freedom possible 

 

Freedom is the ability for us to get rid of ourselves from our mind and bodily activities. Yes, true freedom is possible, and it is timeless and spaceless. It is in our infinite being through our soul.

 

4. What is the meaning of life

 

We are in this world not just for the preservation of the life, but also for the salvation of the soul. This is the main purpose of life. Philosophers only disagree on what is the purpose of life. Some believe that the purpose already exists in nature, while others argue that the purpose can be comprehended through our reason. It is not just for the greed of the market, but for the grace of the cathedral, or in my case, the grace of the mosque (the grace of the divine).

 

5. What happens to a person after they die

 

Their body and mind die, but their souls do not, since they are infinite. There are many ways to explain this phenomenon. Some use karmic law and others follow the Afterlife’s principles of justice. However, for those who subscribe to atheism, humans live only once, and we are here by random process. Hence, no such thing can be comprehended as an Afterlife for this group.

 

6. What is love

 

True love is the love between your soul and mine, It is internal, and is the love of God. Another form of love is animalism, which happen between animals and human beings. While the former form of love infinitely flows, the latter is temporal.

 

7. How do you know what is real

 

Everything is relative to our own experience which develops either from our family, genetics/gender, countries, cultures, ethnicities, etc. Real things are beyond all of this. It has no identity. It is about the soul and is only comprehensible through the inner process or commonly understood as religion, remembrance of God, or meditation. However, we cannot negate the immediate reality which is part of our body and mind—the finite.

 

8. Is it always wrong to lie

 

It is not about what we do, but our intention. If we do not want others to lie to us, the best advice is not to lie to others. However, It is not just about the intention, but also the consequences. If we do not want bad consequences to happen to us, it is advised not to allow bad things to happen to others as well.

 

9. Why do we dream

 

I heard that it is part of our amygdala process as mentioned by Michio Kaku. Dreams are activities that are real at that level, but has no meaning when we wake up from our it.

 

10. Does fate exists

 

It works in two levels. The primary cause dictates everything, but it does not mean that the secondary cause does not operate. For example, we are by fate auto-cruised beings. However, this does not mean that we cannot steer right or left.

 

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Responses to Questions from Respondent 2

 

1. What is the purpose of our individual lives? Is it a dedication to ourselves, a service to others, a worship to the Almighty or it has no meaning, merely an inconsequential existence? (My answers tend to differ based on my mood for the week, but I am inclined to think it is an overinflated existence, we exist for no poignant "grand purpose" but it doesn't mean we should stop dedicating this life for ourselves, providing service to others, prostrating to the Almighty).

 

We are two beings, finite and infinite. The former is our body and mind, while the latter is our soul. The body and mind are subjected to activities around us, and as we die, they die too. The latter is eternal and continues to exist as our finite being dies. Hence, we have the purpose in this life to aim for the happiness of both our finite and infinite beings.

 

2. Do we truly have free will? Is everything in life set in stone (Qada & Qadr) and to what extent do we have the freedom to choose? Do our choices then branch off to more free will or is there a predestined path based on our earlier choice?

 

Our choices are the function of our previous choices, or influenced by those previous choices, including our parents' and grandparents' choices. It also implies that when women choose to buy make ups, it is their gender which influences their choice, not necessarily free choice. The fact that we human beings didn't choose ourselves to be human, and that there is no way to choose to become monkeys or plants, implies that there is a grand choice governing us. In a nutshell, there is a primary law that causes worldly events, but it doesn't mean that a secondary law doesn't operate. We are by nature autocruise beings, already naturally set towards a specific direction, but it doesn't mean that we can't turn right or left. We are responsible for those decisions to turn right or left.

 

3. Is morality set in stone or does it move with the zeitgeist of time? What we deemed immoral three hundred years ago is perhaps moral or even expected of in the present. If so, what determines morality and if morality is constantly changing – what is true morality then? Can morality be fluid?

 

All worldly morality based on the power of the human mind is subjective or fluid as you rightly said. This is so because the mind is a projection of our finite being. Absolute morality does exist, and works for our infinite being (soul), beyond the mind. It is not based on arguments, but on our own inner experience.

 

4. Do humans owe our existence to a purpose and betterment i.e: do we absolutely have to continue to be better people? Is it 'right' if we decide we are content with ourselves despite not achieving our best? 

 

The golden mean we should aim for is the middle path. Every move we take, there is always consideration for left and right, but there is a target that is naturally set for us.

 

5. Are there absolute truths or merely what we perceive as the truth? If so, then what determines truths against untruths?

 

Men comprise of two beings – the finite and infinite. All truths which are the projection of the mind are worldly truths and are subjective. They work at the human finite level. Only through infinite/soul-level activities, absolute truths will reveal themselves.

 

6. Do humans have souls? If medical advancement has reached a point where each inch of the human body has been cut open and scrutinised yet there is no definite proof that humans have a soul, then does a soul exist? And if a soul does not exist, what gives humans consciousness and individual uniqueness? To what do we owe our humanity to if not to our souls?

 

Fantastic question. There is no soul in the human finite being (physical body and mind), therefore medical advancements cannot discover the soul. But we are also infinite beings where the soul is located, and it is eternal (not to get confused by the finite and infinite beings understood by the Greek thinkers, in case you decide to search further on the Internet).

 

7. My absolute favourite: If humanity was stuck in The Matrix, should we all choose to stay in the simulation or break free, given that the real world is bleak with nothing to live for? Is it wrong to choose to stay in the simulated illusion and just be happy? Are we being fair to ourselves for doing that?

 

Your question here relates to the Experience Machine/Pleasure Machine thought experiment introduced by Robert Nozick in his book, Anarchy, State and Utopia (1974). If we are just finite beings, probably it is fine to just stay in the matrix - but we are not. The infinite part of us is more wondrous (colourful, beautiful, pleasurable, and can only be known by those who are experiencing it) than the pleasure machine. Thus, you have other choices which are more superior.

 

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Responses to Questions from Respondent 3

 

1. How do we know what is the universal physical truth? Is reality simply an interpretation of the senses? E.g., Is the purple I see the same as the purple others are seeing? Does sweet taste the same for everyone? Does sound happen if no ears are present to hear it?

 

Universal physical truth is known through the laws of physics, biology, and chemistry. These laws apply only in this sphere called earth, meaning that the law of gravity is different in this sphere compared to outer space. All worldly realities are interpretation of the senses. That said, our senses are still limited to worldly truth. What do we see immediately in front of us? Our standard answer would be the material we are reading. Actually, between our eyes and the material we are reading, there are many different things, excluding even air, such as millions of atoms and tachyons that are not visible to our naked eyes, not to mention other things those who have developed their inner eyes see. There is a general law that governs our sense of sight, taste, and hearing. For example, we can confirm that the falling tree does create a sound, since the law of physics states that such an impact would release energy in the form of vibrations of high amplitude, hence creating sound. 100 identical machines can capture the same sound exactly. The same goes when it comes to the question of sight and taste. Since there are no 100 identical humans, we all perceive things according to our unique abilities/disabilities.

 

2. If babies are considered innocent, when do people cease to be innocent? Why is it the moment we can evaluate and make decisions consciously, we are suddenly flawed beings?

 

There are many ways to respond to this question. One of them is that we cease to be innocent when we are able to make conscious decisions to differentiate between what is morally good and bad, determined by different methods of maturity; biological, cultural, religious, mental, etc. We have been "programmed" to reach a certain target/destination, and once we have matured, we are able to make conscious decisions to make detours and choose different paths to reach that target. Hence, we are flawed beings if we choose to detour from the middle/straight path which leads to the target. We are "autocruise" beings, but that does not mean we are unable to turn left and right.

 

3. If fate is written for every individual, are we morally obligated to help others? What if they are fated to suffer and struggle in this world?

 

We hope that this is a philosophical, not a religious-specific question (we would be glad if religious questions are directed to religious experts). There are two laws that operate in this world. Layers of the first law dictates our fate. For example, "some people are born rich, and some people are born poor". The second law informs us that our role is just to help others, not to try and change their fate (helping others does not entail changing their fate in this world). Richness and poorness do not determine individual happiness and suffering, and worldly sufferings have no significance in the Other World, in which the first law or primary cause operates.

 

4. How is it fair that you are put on this world without your consent? Why is creating a human life justified but taking one's life is not?

 

The philosophy of consent was popularised by the contractarianism school of thought which believed on the idea that authority is justified through consent. This question on fairness is only applicable to those who belong to this line of mind/thought or perspective. The closest authority that contractarians challenge is in the family. "Why must I follow your instructions when I did not consent to you being my parent?". We can go on challenging other authorities in religion, politics, and for those who believe in God, challenging God's authority. Creating or taking human life is justifiable or unjustifiable depending on two sets of beliefs. The general principle of atheism suggests that neither creating nor taking human life is a decision of morality. We can do as we wish, with worldly consequences, as only this worldly law exists. For those who believe that the Unseen World does exist, they believe that the worldly law works in tandem with the first law (mentioned in no. 3). Hence, the answer should be sourced from that other law as well.

 

5. Is there a true selfless act of kindness? If helping others makes us feel good about ourselves, are we truly selfless?

 

According to utilitarian thinking, people would not act without calculating pleasure and pain in order to maximise their own interest. In fact, they argued that those who believe in Heaven and Hellfire make decisions based on the calculation of the pleasure in Heaven and the pain in Hellfire. We are made of two beings: finite and infinite. All of our decisions are guided by our finite self; therefore no act is truly selfless. Humans should explore their infinite self, hoping that at one point they would be able to perform a truly selfless act. However, that does not mean that they should stop with the "unselfless acts" prior to reaching the point of selflessness.

 

6. Philosophy is indeed an interesting area of study. At times, I feel like it overlaps with religion a lot and I have to refrain myself from digging further. As an academician and a Muslim, what is your advice or rather tips to demarcate the two? Some questions may lead to questioning faith, how do you draw the line?

 

(Thank you. I will explain the following from the way I understand Islam.)

 

Academicians who believe in religiosity conceive philosophy differently from those with no such belief. First, how they understand the concept of tabula rasa (blank slate). Philosophers believe that when we are born, nothing is developed in our mind but emptiness. Everything about us is inscripted after that. All ideas including religion, ideologies, even to some the identity of our gender, is installed in the mind after we are born. Therefore, the idea of God is said to have come later, created by men. Meanwhile, those who subscribe to religiosity not only believe the concept of tabula rasa, but they also believe the concept of biology and spirituality. Even if our mind is empty, our biology dictates how the mind naturally develops (for example, gender identity). Spirituality works in His mystery. When we are born, the longingness towards our Creator is built-in, therefore the belief in God is not only easy but also inescapable. You may need to go to certain lengths just to not believe in God's existence.

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Religion allows us to ask any type of question, provided that we genuinely and sincerely are longing for the answer. Philosophical questions are good questions if we are really sincere when asking them. There is a good reason why Socrates only allowed philosophy to be taught to those who have matured (which, during his time, were people above 40). People who ask philosophical questions without wisdom ask them just to test the authority of the available answers or to demonstrate their anger and probably admire their own achievement, etc. If we ask questions, make sure it comes from our heart or our curiosity, and not as a way of presenting our ego. Then only can we naturally be attracted to wisdom.

 

To say something reverently, here is how the angels questioned the Almighty God, as narrated in Surah 2, verses 30-32:

 

And [mention, O Muḥammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we exalt You with praise and declare Your perfection?" He [Allah] said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."

 

And He taught Adam the names - all of them. Then He showed them to the angels and said, "Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful."

 

They said, "Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise."

 

The angels questioned the Almighty's decision but submitted to Him without further lament when given the answer. We should and must ask questions; it is a way to solve our curiosity, and it is a good exercise.

 

We should also admit that we have the tendency to think that other entities also think logically like us. For example, if He created us, then who created Him? The logic of a triangle is completely different from the logic of a circle. It is okay to ask how many corners are there in a triangle to calculate the total angle, but it is definitely wrong to ask how many corners are there in a circle for the same reason just because our mind is triangular. The point here is that many of the problems in philosophical questions lie in the questions themselves.

 

Philosophy is the study of the perspectives of truth, not the truth itself. You can have contractarianism, utilitarianism, Kantianism, Aristotelianism, and many hundred other perspectives.