Voices of Faith q & a
McClatchy Newspapers
Q. Who is in control of the world?
GOD IS IN CONTROL, BUT WE HAVE FREE WILL
Rushdy El-Ghussein, former president of the Islamic Society of Greater Kansas City:
A. Muslims have no doubt that God the Creator is in control of everything and that nothing happens without his permission. But God’s plans are bigger than ours.
When life goes smoothly and we experience health, prosperity and good families, how often do we think we are in control and forget God’s blessings and bounties? We think proudly, “We achieved this,” not gratefully, “God gave us this.” But when our plans and efforts fail, when we experience loss or disease, or when crime or war touches us, we ask, how could God allow this to happen? When natural disasters occur we question how a just and merciful God could destroy whole communities.
God controls the universe but has given us minds and free will. He wants us to worship and obey him, be thankful for the blessings that he has given us, and work for good in this world, not to choose to create mischief, evil and chaos in this world. God tests all of us in this world, both through the bounties he gives and through troubles that arise to let us discover how we respond.
Tests can lead to learning and growth but also to failure and ruin.
“And certainly, we shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient” (Qur’an 2: 155).
WE CONTROL OUR DESTINY
Arvind Khetia, engineer and a Hindu:
A. In Hinduism, the nature of the phenomenal world is both mental and material. As it undergoes constant change, it has no absolute existence. The apparent world that exists in relation to one’s mind is influenced by three attributes (gunas), which are righteousness (sattva), intense activity (rajas) and ignorance (tamas). Thus, the whole world, where all beings are governed by the law of karma, is viewed as the dynamic play of these three fundamental forces, also known as maya.
Behind this visible universe, however, there is an absolute, unchanging Reality called Brahman. Its highest manifestation is called Isvara (God), the Inner Controller of the universe, who is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent.
The Upanishads describe Isvara as, “An Immortal Self within, he is the Supreme Ruler of the universe. Under his control the sun, the moon and the planets perform their functions.
Because of his power, a moral order (dharma) controls the universe as well as human life.”
As the state of our inner world shapes the external world, it is crucial to control our inner world by cultivating positive (sattvic) qualities and eliminating negative (tamasic) qualities of the mind.
This requires spiritual wisdom to recognize the underlying truth of Reality that governs the entire universe.
Thus, while the cosmic universe is governed by the Supreme Power, we control our own destiny by controlling our inner world.
2011, The Kansas City Star
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