character traits were based on heredity, and sociologists held that his
social environment was responsible for all his actions and conduct.
Freudians regard him as psychologically determined, and
announced that the “ego is not master in its own house,” since all its
decisions were made by the subconscious mind which was
dominated by sex drives. Marxists viewed him as an entity
economically determined.
What does all this indicate? It is the result of that powerful grip
of “religion” of which, in their estimation, they had completely
divested themselves. Though they had mentally liberated
themselves from religious bonds, yet their subconscious was not
altogether freed. This was so because after having released
themselves from the negative thoughts of “religion,” they did not
adopt the positive thoughts of deen. And since it is impossible to
have vacuum in nature, their minds were filled with negative
thoughts from other sources. Now the exigencies of time compel
them to face reality, especially because the generation that has
sprung up under the influence of the philosophy of determinism
has no respect for law and order and does not deem an offence as
offence; for, they understand that they are not responsible for their
actions. The only thing that could work as deterrent in their path was
the pressure of society. But when society itself is made of such
individuals as have no regard for moral restriction, they will have no
difficulty in changing the law to conform to the behaviour of the
immoral society itself. So the social laws are also undergoing a
gradual change in the West, lowering the moral level. This has
awakened their thinkers from their deep slumber and they are now
discarding the concept of determinism, and learning towards the
idea of free will which, in other words, means belief in human
personality.
A question naturally arises here as to why people are so prone to
religious exploitation. The reply generally given to this very
important question is that “urge for religion” is inherent in man.
Man must believe in something – be it God or mammon or anything
else. This is, however, one of those fallacies which have come down
in history and are accepted as “Eternal Truths” standing in no need
of a careful scrutiny. The argument advanced in support of this
assertion is that the entire history of mankind bears witness to this
Introduction 11