Capitalization of God

In this era of global capitalism, it seems difficult to let go of the grip of the capitalist system from various dimensions of life, not only from the economic aspect. Religion, which should have been far from capitalism because it is not materialist, is currently not free from the clutches of capitalism.

Many religious people think of God as a means of production so they never stop asking for all kinds of worldly fame. In the capitalist world, to control the means of production, large capital is required. In religious life, external worship is equated with capital to control God, who is considered a means of production.

With this kind of understanding, it is not surprising that so many religious followers continue to perform external formal worship in the hope that God as a means of production will make it easier for them to obtain worldly benefits. How many prayers have come out of the mouths of humans to get a raise in wages, smooth business, respectable positions, and so on, which are worldly benefits?

It is true that God commands humans to ask Him and promises to grant His servants' requests. But isn't the intention in every worship only because of God? Therefore it is somewhat unethical if we worship in the hope that God becomes a means of production giving us worldly benefits. Not only is it unethical, it doesn't make sense to ask God to do what we want because God knows better what is best for us.

In books that provide instant tips for worldly success, we often find the extraordinary properties of giving alms. Almsgiving is not an obligation in religion, especially in Islam, but God promises to repay it in return many times. However, it is not the rewards that God has promised that we should expect.

It is enough with the belief that God certainly does not break his promises to those who give charity. Because if we give charity in hopes of multiple rewards, it is not a sincere charity. In my opinion, things like this have no value of worship, because hoping for worldly benefits is called trade, not worship.

The capitalization of God is not only dangerous because it diminishes the values ​​of Tawhid that exist in every religion, but also causes horizontal conflicts in the struggle for a place with God as a means of production. This is one of the factors that make conflicts between religions never stop, we are competing to fight over the means of production to gain worldly benefits. If not worldly gain, we hope for heavenly gain.

Is God's power so narrow that we are scrambling for worldly gain let alone heavenly? With this understanding, it means that we also underestimate the power of God in providing sustenance. This superficial understanding reduces God's limitless power. If his grace in the world alone can bestow all beings, what will his grace in the hereafter? Somehow some still feel that God has a monopoly on the happiness of the hereafter only for his group.

It is this one-sided claim of religious truth that is born from this narrow understanding that often triggers horizontal conflicts between religious communities. The belief to save stray sheep (people with different beliefs) is deeply embedded in this kind of belief doctrine so that often violence is used to impose their beliefs on people of different faiths.

Again, this happened because God's promises were superficially studied. Perhaps there is some truth in Aristotle's words "Basically, humans are political animals." So it is not surprising that the goal of man is solely a matter of profit, both worldly and spiritual. If the understanding of religion is like this, what is the difference between religion and politics, where are the adherents of a certain belief nudging each other for-profit?

God is not a means of producing profit for mankind. Our inability to tolerate people with different beliefs is an indication of shallowness in thinking. The difference in belief is of course God's will, therefore we as His creation have no right to interfere in this matter by insisting and underestimating people with different beliefs. Our task as His creation is to sincerely worship Him, without expecting both worldly and heavenly benefits.

Is it true that we sincerely worship Him if we hope for profit? Of course not the answer. We worship only to get the benefits promised by God. Even though these benefits are only a stimulus so that we can sincerely approach Him. The deception of the world is what makes us aim at the stimulus.

Again, it does not mean reducing God's will. For example, a parent who gives a gift to a child who gets good grades hopes that the child will study hard so that his future is bright. The parent will be disappointed if the child's grades decline just because the prize is dismissed. Gifts are only a stimulus to stimulate the child's passion for learning, not a goal, as are the gifts promised by God.

Are we also one of the humans who capitalize God? Make God the means of production for our benefits both worldly and heavenly? Do we practice the teachings of Tawheed if we hope for profit? Isn't the religion that is accepted by Him only those that are submissive and surrender to Him?