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Part two<br />
have to be regarded as fabricated or interpolated on account of its<br />
irrational teachings.<br />
If the truth or falsity of something, or its logical possibility or<br />
impossibility, rests on the verdict of reason, then the principles<br />
on which salvation is said to depend must also be validated by<br />
the same authority. If it is not possible to prove the various doctrines<br />
espoused by various faiths through rational arguments—<br />
and instead, they are proven wrong, incredible or impossible—<br />
how are we to know whose doctrines are true and whose are<br />
false, or that an ancient scripture of the Hindus is invalid and the<br />
Books of the Children of Israel are authentic. Moreover, if there<br />
is no rational way to distinguish between truth and falsehood,<br />
how would a seeker after truth tell them apart so as to embrace<br />
truth and shun falsehood. Moreover, how would anyone be held<br />
accountable before God for not believing in such doctrines? ☆<br />
And if, for our salvation, we definitely stand in need of beliefs<br />
that are supported by rational arguments, the question naturally<br />
☆ Irrational doctrines whose falsity is manifestly established by reason<br />
can never be accepted as true, for otherwise, conclusive rational arguments<br />
would lose their credibility. And when the very beliefs that<br />
were regarded as the basis for salvation turn out to be wrong, those<br />
who place their faith in them will surely be denied salvation and earn<br />
everlasting torment and eternal chastisement. This is because the beliefs<br />
they called their own proved to be false and the true beliefs that<br />
were sanctioned by reason had already been repudiated by them. This<br />
becomes evident in this very life—one who adheres to illogical and<br />
false beliefs and refuses to accept those that have been shown to be<br />
true has to face a lot of embarrassment, particularly when confronted<br />
by men of knowledge. he is even reproached by his own conscience<br />
for holding such absurd and illogical beliefs. This is a kind of spiritual<br />
punishment he suffers even in this world.—Author<br />
Footnote Number 3<br />
91
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