Rethink What You Thought You Knew

Welcome to a free life, ensure neutral education for children

Congratulations! You have been able to think beyond the beliefs you have heard and known since birth. This is a very difficult task and very few people can do it. Now you will be able to think deeply about any subject and feel a strange joy or freedom.

Now think more — keep asking questions like why this, why that. Ask questions about things you never thought about before. The interesting thing is — you will find the answers very easily. And this question‑answer game is quite enjoyable.

For example, why was a holy book written in a language spoken by a very small number of people on earth? That language is one of the most difficult languages in the world. Why must billions of people around the world travel to a specific city once a year to earn virtue when the entire universe is the creation of the Creator? Why does the menu of heaven include grapes but not mangoes or lychees from our region? What will you do with houses made of so much gold and diamonds in heaven? When something exists in extreme abundance, does it hold any value? What will you do by owning miles and miles of date orchards in heaven? Who will you sell them to? Who will eat them? The only tempting thing in heaven is the 72 maidens, and that too only for men — women will be the leaders of their husbands’ 72 maidens. Why are these things so attractive? Is a man’s only desire an untouched‑virgin woman, for which he is repeatedly tempted with such promises in heaven (Quran 55:56, 37:48‑49, 52:20, 55:58, 55:72, 78:33‑34, 56:22‑23, 56:35‑38)? Also, for men there are youthful boys (Ghilman) 52:24 — why are homosexuals ordered to be killed on earth but promised temptation in heaven? Why does the holy book never mention later‑discovered places like America, the Himalayas, the Amazon, Niagara? It mentions Pharaohs from 3000 years ago, but not Gautama Buddha, the founder of another major world religion born around 450 BCE?

Think about these questions — you will find the answers yourself, and once you do, you will feel like quite a philosopher. At the same time, you will realize that 90% of the people around you do not think, or cannot think. You are different from the rest — keep enjoying that feeling. Come out of the parrot‑like life that is taught to you, and enjoy the diversity and beauty of other countries, religions, communities, and nature — life is beautiful.

I learned to ask these questions since my high‑school days.

Think about things differently!

If you want such an environment, children must be given neutral education from an early age. There should not be any subject called religious studies in school; children should learn to think neutrally. Later, if they read, hear, or understand any religion and find it good, they can choose it. And if religious education must be taught, it can be like this —

In the current education system, instead of teaching rituals of a specific religion or fear of divine punishment, schools need to introduce a neutral subject called ‘Introduction to Religions’. Here, instead of memorizing the commandments of any one religion, students will learn about the history, origins, core messages, and major practices of the world’s major religions. When children gain a clear understanding of the cultures and beliefs of other religions, they develop respect and tolerance for people of different views. As a result, the religious hatred and extremism spread through superstition and brainwashing will naturally decrease.

Many believe that teaching religious scripture improves a child’s moral character, which is actually a misconception. The foundation of traditional religious education is fear, and fear destroys a person’s natural character. Children are naturally very curious. A child who does not even know what lies, theft, or sin are — when you teach them “lying is a great sin,” you are essentially introducing them to lying for the first time. Out of curiosity toward prohibition, children eventually become accustomed to lying, which later becomes a tool for fulfilling greed and self‑interest. Therefore, religious rituals and practices should be removed from schools and left entirely to families.

Schools should primarily teach the history and cultural interconnections of different religions. The root cause of religious intolerance in society is the belief that one’s own religion is superior to all others. This psychological superiority complex gives birth to division and violence. But if students have the opportunity to learn about other religions alongside their own, they will understand that no religion is insignificant. This mindset will increase tolerance in society. Therefore, for the future generation, a textbook should be created that includes brief introductions and histories of seven religions — Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Confucianism, and Jainism. Alongside these, they should also be given proper understanding of atheism, humanism, and agnosticism.