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A critical analysis of the Modernists and the Hadeeth ... - Islam House

A critical analysis of the Modernists and the Hadeeth ... - Islam House

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Bible became quite popular in <strong>the</strong><br />

Protestant churches <strong>and</strong> found its way<br />

into Catholic churches. It was an <strong>of</strong>fshoot<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> concept <strong>of</strong> 'sola scriptura' which<br />

asserts that Bible is God's written word that is<br />

self-au<strong>the</strong>nticating, clear (perspicuous) to <strong>the</strong><br />

rational reader. The Bible is its own interpreter<br />

(scripture interprets Scripture), <strong>and</strong> sufficient <strong>of</strong> itself to be <strong>the</strong><br />

final authority <strong>of</strong> Christian doctrine.<br />

The excesses <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Christian church in Medieval Europe <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> view that <strong>the</strong> Church was a hurdle to social, scientific <strong>and</strong> cultural<br />

progress gave strength to <strong>the</strong> idea <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> separation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Church <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> State - giving rise to secularism.<br />

Modern European philosophers played an important role in<br />

forwarding Modernism, by using philosophy to integrate <strong>the</strong><br />

Christian <strong>and</strong> Jewish scriptures with secular learning. Collectively<br />

<strong>the</strong>se trends were seen as 'progressive thinking,' <strong>and</strong> it was forcefully<br />

argued that religion must be primarily caused <strong>and</strong> centered on <strong>the</strong><br />

feelings <strong>of</strong> believers.<br />

In 1864, Pope Pius IX issued a document called, 'The Syllabus<br />

<strong>of</strong> Errors' that condemned <strong>the</strong> ideas that human reason is <strong>the</strong> sole<br />

arbiter <strong>of</strong> truth <strong>and</strong> falsehood; <strong>and</strong> rejected calls that <strong>the</strong> Pope<br />

reconcile himself, <strong>and</strong> come to terms with progress, liberalism <strong>and</strong><br />

modern civilization.<br />

This document was largely ignored because <strong>the</strong> trend <strong>of</strong><br />

injecting secular values <strong>and</strong> to 'fit in' with <strong>the</strong> times was firmly<br />

established; <strong>and</strong> ra<strong>the</strong>r than be a source <strong>of</strong> correction, it itself had to<br />

be re-interpreted by Catholic apologetics.<br />

The evolution <strong>of</strong> ideas, similar to <strong>the</strong> Christian dogma <strong>of</strong> 'sola<br />

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