QM Forum

The Quran => Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only => Topic started by: Reader Questions on May 27, 2014, 11:27:31 PM

Title: Why Do You Stay Anonymous?
Post by: Reader Questions on May 27, 2014, 11:27:31 PM
Salam brother

Thank you for accepting my friends request on Facebook.

Firstly, why is it that you tend to stay hidden i.e no details about your studies or your background. The reason I am asking is that someone's background is important to know their validity...
Title: Re: Why Do You Stay Anonymous?
Post by: Joseph Islam on May 27, 2014, 11:44:29 PM
Wa alaikum assalam

Validity should be based on the strengths / merits of an argument and not merely on one’s background. One’s background is superfluous to the strength of a claim and does little but often serve as a distraction and give rise to Ad Hominem.

Such demands also often pander to the lowest form of human tendency which is to discriminate individuals on the basis of what is often not relevant.

For example, would a Sunni Muslim simply accept a Shia argument based merely on a Shia scholar's greater credentials? Would a Muslim accept a Christian theologian’s argument simply because of a Biblical scholar's greater credentials? Would believers accept Richard Dawkin's (atheist) argument simply because he has many academic credentials? However, there are many that would reject another simply because they are a 'Shi'a', 'Sunni', Christian, Atheist or else.

I respectfully feel that it does not take much to realise that an argument's validity should be primarily based on its own merit and strength.

This distraction of asking about one's background or credentials to muster an arguable false sense of validity also finds roots in the Quran where the folk thought of the prophet of lacking 'credentials'.

043:031
"And they said, "Why was this Quran not sent down upon a great man from (one of) the two towns / cities?"

'Truth' simply does not belong to ‘academics’ or those with certain 'backgrounds'.

Please see my humble response below which I have shared with those individuals who have asked a similar question to yours:



REFERENCE:

[1] LABOSSIERE., Dr. Michael C, 42 Fallacies, Page 2 [online] http://aphilosopher.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/42-fallacies.pdf [accessed] 27th May 2014