What is the ‘right’ religion?

» Spoiler alert: it’s not yours

Aleeze Asif Contributor

ny person with religious beliefs can testify that it isn’t necessarily scientifically accurate or logical. Faith after all does mean belief without evidence. So through what merit do we conclude which religion is “right”? The second we begin to argue the superior validity of one religion over another we have shot ourselves in the foot. The only proof of one religion’s superiority over another is when a religious scripture states it, which is essentially saying Christianity is superior because Christianity says so. Every religious person believes that his or her religion is superior. Faith or blind belief is a major part of most mainstream religions. When we believe without evidence there is no room for argument or discussion regarding the validity of a verse or a chapter in a holy book. So who is to say who is right? After all, there’s as much proof of the existence of God as there is for the existence of fairies or unicorns. Perhaps the teachings of a religion can grant superiority for one over another. For the sake of simplicity let’s take into consideration Christianity and Islam, the two religions with the first and second largest followings in the world. Undoubtedly both of the religious scriptures have

: an abundance of positive and : progressive messages for their : time. But once we take these

: religious scriptures off the : : pedestal and study them critically, : : we see teachings that can be : : considered archaic and grotesque : in present time.

For instance, both the

: Bible and the Quran promote

: sexism in some shape or form by

: endorsing the solidification of

: outdated gender roles in society

: and discouraging women from

: taking leadership positions (e.g,

: Timothy 2:11-12 in the Bible and

: 4:34 in the Quran). However,

: it must be noted here that

: Christianity and Islam are over

: 2,000 and 1,400 years old. Both

: holy scriptures are chock-full of

: teachings most people would

: never think to apply in the 21st

: century. When we think about

: how much the world has changed : in the last 50 years alone, howcan : : areligion or its teachings ever be : timeless? Due to the inevitable

: fact that most religious teachings : cannot face the force of time,

: [ think it’s safe to rule out holy

: teachings as a factor on our scale : of spiritual superiority.

Another problem that one

: encounters when comparing

: religions is the significant room : for variation and interpretation. : Even within the same country,

: the same religion is practiced

: ina variety of different ways.

: For example, in Swat, Pakistan

: women aren't allowed out of

: their houses, but 580 kilometers : away in Lahore, women have

: much more freedom. There are

: more than 73 sects within Islam, : and the Christian encyclopedia

: counted 33,830—and of course, : they all believe they are following : : the “right” version of the religion. : : How is one to compare two

: religions when there is so much : variation within them?

Is there really no way to

: systematically compare two

: religions? I ask: why do we

: need to compare religions at

: all? Do we really need to prove : all other religions “wrong”? For most people religion is less of a

rulebook and more of a source of spiritual solace. One religious

: scripture can resonate differently : totwo different people. That : doesn’t mean one of them is

> Q vo xX Q * Q <= ao ww cg ° 2 © fort a a 3 oo io

: higher in intellect, it just means

: they are two different people,

: who have lived two different lives : and see the world through two

: different lenses.

As long as your faith makes

: you a positive, constructive, and

: progressive person, spending time : trying to justify its superiority to

: yourself or to others is irrelevant

: and unproductive.

Faceless Day

» Gimmicky office stunts won't increase productivity or ease stress

Elliot Chan Opinions Editor © opinions @theotherpress.ca

QO: July 14, Woffice, a Chinese property service company located in Handan, took part

in an exercise that appeared to be quite similar to Halloween. Employees were given the choice to wear a black-and-white mask at the office, in an effort to reduce stress. With faces hidden behind thin plastic, workers could focus on their duties without worrying about the pressures of smiling, the stigma of yawning, and the boorishness of rolling their

eyes. So, what mask did all the

workers chose? For the day known : : male employees have to wear

: black or beige pants—excluding : jeans and sweat pants—while

: on the floor. I always wondered

: why the fabric mattered. Who is : peeking behind the bar, looking : under my green apron, and at

: my pants? I don’t know, but

apparently what I wore made your were allowed to wear T-shirts

as Faceless Day, employees at Woffice chose the character No- Face from the beloved anime, Spirited Away, and Guy Fawkes from V for Vendetta.

Now, it might just be me, but I am not sending my resumé to Woffice anytime soon. Ifa business needs to use masks to

: ease tension within the workforce, : : [can’t imagine the monotony

: of working there any other time

: of the year. True, unorthodox

: exercises such as Faceless Day are : gaining popularity in offices all

: around the world, but how about : something less juvenile?

I hate the idea of dress codes.

: I hate it at fancy restaurants, I

: hate it at nightclubs, and I sure

: as hell hate it in the workplace.

: Yes, there is an emphasis on

: professionalism, but having to

: wear a suit and tie does not make: : you a productive worker, It’s funny : : that wearing jeans to work fora : day is considered a perk in some : offices.

Fora year and a half, I was a

Starbucks barista. Starbucks has

a relatively strict dress code where DW : : jeans for most of my employment :

: and nobody (except the manager) : madea big deal about it. Well, a

: few co-workers pointed it out, but : they were merely inspired, anda

: bit frightened, by my rebellious

: ways. Don’t even get me started

: on Fridays at Starbucks. During

: my stint, only the day partners

: mocha taste better and myself a : leaner thinker.

Needless to say, I wore black

: instead of collared shirts. Ignore : my sarcasm, but that wasa real : privilege.

I believe many companies

: waste too much time, money, and : effort trying to find creative (and : not so creative) ways to motivate

: and calm their employees;

: Faceless Day is creative, while

: laid-back dress code days aren't.

: Ultimately though, these efforts

: are not going to see much, if

: any, return of investment. Don’t

Image from Vincent Diamante via wikimedia

: enforce rules and then take them

: away, expecting the workers to be : more relaxed. Don’t be gimmicky. : A workplace is for grown-ups, so

: treat employees as such; let them

: make their own decisions. And if

you really want them to relax after : ahard product sprint or dinner

: rush, buy them a beer, give them a : day off, or take them ona retreat.

: Don’t give them something else

: to wear.