❖ The Reality of Intellectual Coercion and Exploitation Under Secularism ❖
◈ The Secular Objection Against Religion and Its Consequences
✔ The Secular Claim: Religion Causes Conflict
Secular individuals argue that religion is the source of division, conflict, and discord in human societies. According to them, reconstructing society and governance on rational foundations is necessary so that humanity may be free from such issues.
✿ What Do Historical Facts Reveal?
The 300-year history of secularism reveals that under secular ideologies:
- Mass killings of human beings
- Genocides of nations
- Violation of moral values
- Exploitation of the weak
have all occurred on a massive scale. These atrocities are unparalleled in human history, even though they were often committed under the guise of secular principles.
◉ Is This Due to Human Weakness or Something Deeper?
Secular advocates claim that such barbaric behavior stems from individual weaknesses or selfish interests, not from secular ideology itself.
However, the truth is far more complex and profound.
⚖ The Contradiction Behind “Freedom”
In secular societies:
- There is no consensus on the definition of “freedom.”
- Every group considers its interpretation of freedom to be correct and imposes it on others.
- This is no different from how religious individuals promote their beliefs.
As a result, secular societies are also fragmented into conflicting groups and sects, contrary to their claims of unity.
❗ Intellectual Oppression in the Name of Reason
Secularists base their arguments on “reason” and often label those who disagree with them as:
- Irrational
- Ignorant
- Backwards
Human rights advocates consider those who do not adopt their framework as unenlightened or unworthy. This creates a culture of intellectual arrogance and intolerance, wherein secular individuals become extremist, dogmatic, and condescending toward others.
🔍 Exploitation Through the Authority of Reason
In any society, there is no equality between those labeled “rational” and those deemed “irrational.”
Reason dictates that those considered irrational must be suppressed, as they are perceived as a threat to reason and humanity.
This exact mindset justified:
- The genocide of Native Americans
- The dehumanization and killing of Mujahideen by the U.S., under the pretext of being irrational or uncivilized
⚔ Why Secular Jihad Becomes Brutal
Religious individuals:
- See themselves as accountable to God or a higher being, which acts as a restraint on their behavior, preventing complete barbarism.
Secular individuals:
- Are accountable only to themselves or man-made laws, which they can violate and still pardon themselves.
🗣 Rorty’s Theory of Self-Forgiveness
The famous secular philosopher Richard Rorty said:
“We wronged the Native Americans, but we are autonomous and can forgive ourselves.”
This is the very principle through which America and other secular powers justify their human rights violations, continuously absolving themselves of accountability.
✦ Religion vs. Rationalism: A Moral Contrast
Religion:
- Places moral limits on human behavior
- Prevents total barbarism on social and state levels
Modern Atheistic Civilization (Secularism):
- On secular grounds, justifies mass killings, exploitation, and genocides
- Not only considers such acts legitimate but often takes pride in them
📌 Examples of Secular Atrocities:
- Massacre of Native Americans
- Development and use of nuclear weapons
- Colonial plunder of entire continents
These are products of modern atheistic and secular civilization, the likes of which are absent in ancient civilizations.
✅ Conclusion: A Dangerous Intellectual Framework
The atrocities committed in the name of “reason” under secularism and their intellectual justifications clearly show that secular ideologies have led to far more dangerous outcomes than religion ever has.
Within the framework of rationalism, these ideological conflicts can never truly be resolved, and conflict and confrontation will always persist.
