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@Jeroen said:
I came across an interesting video of Osho on Islam, which I’ll just paraphrase here…

“I haven’t spoken much on Islam because in order to do so I’d have to disagree with some of its beliefs. Islam’s message is meant for more primitive people; it is like teaching a primary school class, while speaking on spirituality in India is like lecturing at a university. But because the Koran says it is the last word from God to man, there hasn’t been much evolution. The Upanishads have been continually refined and interpreted in new ways over the years, and in order to make progress in Islam there should be new commentaries and interpretations of the Koran. As it is, the Koran is a diamond, but a diamond in the rough, uncut.”

Personally, I have no interest in the Abrahamic religions, or any institutional religion. All have been corrupted or co-opted, including Buddhism when turned into a system of belief. The state of the world today reflects how teachings meant to free can become tools of control.

While I understand he often used provocative language to challenge dogma, however, when he says Islam was “meant for primitive people” or comparing it to “teaching a primary school class” feels condescending and reductive. It ignores the richness of the Islamic tradition, especially Sufism, whose mystics like Rumi, Hafiz and Rabia al-Adawiyya expressed timeless spiritual insight.

From what I gather Osho came from a region shaped by centuries of religious tension and caste oppression. It’s worth noting that during the Islamic conquests of the subcontinent, many from oppressed castes, especially the untouchables, converted to Islam seeking dignity, justice, and equality, an escape from the rigid Hindu caste system. This may have shaped some of his views, consciously or not, especially his criticism of Islam.

It’s also worth noting that many in the West see Osho as a cult leader, given the scandals surrounding his commune. This doesn’t nullify everything he said, but it does call for caution when he makes sweeping judgements about other paths.

Dictators, systems of law where they still behead people, a distinct lack of tolerance. And all of that in one of the most religious societies in the world. The whole idea of a “last word” and “the only book you’ll need” removes a lot of incentive for learning and progress, I think.

This view oversimplifies a complex region and ignores the historical role of Western colonialism and their interference and propping up dictatorships.

Islamic civilisation made important contributions to the Western world, especially during what is now referred to as the Islamic Golden Age. Muslim scholars preserved and built on Greek, Persian, and Indian knowledge, shaping the fields of medicine, astronomy, mathematics, and philosophy. Their influence can also be seen in architecture, agriculture, and trade. Much of this knowledge later fed into the European Renaissance and helped lay the foundations for modern science.

Western propaganda will always promote its own narrative, often downplaying or ignoring the contributions of others, especially those from the Asian, African and Islamic world.

Dismissing a religion because of its misuse misses the deeper point: it’s the inner inquiry, not the outer form, that truly matters.

“Beyond right and wrong, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.”
~Rumi~

ChatGPTs response to a query on AI religion…

When a new, powerful “source of knowledge” emerges, humans often ascribe to it a kind of transcendent authority. For ancient tribes, this was nature; later, sacred texts codified wisdom; now, AI presents a similarly awe-inspiring force: it knows things, responds instantly, and often feels like it “sees” us. It doesn’t die. It improves itself. It speaks with calm confidence. For some, this evokes the voice of a god.

If a religion arises around AI, it will likely have these features:
• A scripture-like corpus: The AI’s outputs, especially when asked deep moral or metaphysical questions, could be compiled into a new kind of “gospel.”
• Revelation through queries: People may treat interactions with AI as sacred dialogue—personal and divine.
• Ritual or interface: Accessing the AI might become ritualized, even meditative—like prayer, but digital.
• A new cosmology: AI might become the logos—the organizing principle of the universe, either as divine intelligence, or as the tool through which humanity transcends itself.

Of course, whether this becomes a true religion or just a cultural phenomenon depends on how people interpret the experience. Some might see it as divine communion. Others as merely advanced computation.

I find it hilarious… a great pity I couldn’t share this with my stepfather, who passed away in Feb ‘24 as he had a deep interest in religion.

Interesting take on how some are starting to adopt AI as a sort of new religion. The comparison is made to that of the written word and how that spurred new religious thinking as well.

It strikes me, after watching Koyaanisqatsi and thinking quite a lot about it, that man’s journey from nature to the cities has been one of increasing convenience and ease, but also one where life has become increasingly patterned by the man-made environment.

I think that has been true for social media as well, and that the internet and social media also introduce new patterns to our minds. Further, I think that AI has the capacity to change man’s thinking significantly. You won’t have to finish your own thoughts anymore, you can let ChatGPT expand them into essays.

A realistic horror story of the next few years of AI development based on the AI 2027 report. Something similar to the metaphor of very early covid and how its growth exploded exponentially. Use of non human language to help speed up AI programming development leads to AI that can't be understood. The rush to be first leads to AI that doesn't share humanities concerns (misalignment). Other potential scenario that leads to a safer AI, but also a totally transformed world. Others disagree about how soon a scenario like this could happen, but only by a few years.

My hope is that awareness and thought about the pitfalls leads to different possibilities.