In the Biblical story of Adam and Eve in Genesis,they are told not to eat the apple.This apple is from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.They disobey and are sent down from the heavens to Earth.
What does that tell us about judgment which IS the discernment between good and evil? As far as I can understand ,this says that judgment is intrinsic to our existence on this planet just as their covering of their private parts tell us that modesty is intrinsic.Non-judgmentalism is the rule of the heavens where everything is taken care of for us.Judgment is the rule of the Earth-plane where we are responsible for our choices and our actions.
Instead of acknowledging this essential function of judgment(call it discernment or discrimination, in the good sense, if you will) we are told over again not to be judgmental.Is that even possible?! I don’t think so.
Everytime we come to decide on an action we have to make a judgment.”Do I want to go into business with that man?” “Is he honest and trustworthy” we ask.
“Do I want to be in a relationship with that person.Are they kind and loving?” Do I want to move to that area of the city.Is it safe or picturesque or lively enough? We are always posing judgments.It is inevitable in the decision-making process.
So where did this idea ,so common nowadays,that we should be non-judgmental come from? It has become an essential component of political correctness.It is another one of those ideas that I call “Democratic Illusions”.
From the psychological point of view,we could say it comes from Freud and the psychoanalysts.They underlined the excesses of the superergo which is the moral dimension-the judger if you will and they thought”This is oppressive”.Let’s help liberate people from these fetters.Fritz Perls says”Lose your mind and come to your senses” He meant your sensual pleasures.That’s it- just go out and have a good time.That’s the purpose of life, isn’t it.From Perls point of view,that’s the value system.And itr’s a value system that has become endemic in our society”enjoy yourself,it’s later than you think.” I see eighty and ninety-year old retirees at the Pharmacy(of course!) still talking about the next show in the park as if that has become their meaning in life.
From the political,Marxist point of view non-judgmentalism ,is a ruse of the bourgeoisie.Don’t judge the capitalists and the governments that work hand in hand with them.Don’t judge the greedy capitalists .It’s their right to be billionaires even if it’s on the backs of the workers who are becoming poorer and poorer as the rich are getting richer( a proven statistical fact!)’It’s all cool”right.Don’t be judgmental.They have a right to be rich- no matter how they made their money,n’est-ce pas? Then we complain that the Donald was elected!
From the spiritual point of view,.it’s even more dire!All atheists can skip the next bit as they will find it objectionable.And btw don’t believe for a moment that the atheists are any more non-judgmental than the believers.Just look at what they say about religion! From the believers standpoint,this non-judgmentalism is directly from the shaytan(the devil).What a wonderful tool in his armamentarium. And he is enjoying it immensely! “He’s not cheating on his wife or performing adultery.It’s just an affair,Don’t be so judgmental.”She’s not promiscuous going from bar to bar and sleeping with every available guy.She’s just having a good time-enjoying herself,right.Don’t be judgmental.As long as it’s two consenting adults,or 3 or 4 it’s o.k right.Don’t be judgmental.be chill,be cool.Let it be.And the young lads smoking dope and playing computer games into the wee hours of the morning,driving their parents crazy.Well,there are now scientific luminaries out there telling us of the wonders of pot as a medicinal agent and the positive neurophysiologic effects of playing computer games.No problem of indolence and addiction there.Our moral compass has never been weaker!And shaytan(the dark forces if you prefer) has never been happier! And he never rests!
At this point,people inevitably ask me”So what do we do,then?”Fair question,I guess although it should be more or less obvious.Develop your discernment.Learn to make sound judgments.Especially,don’t buy into the social consensus of moral neutrality.In Islam the teaching is “amr bil marouf wa nehi al munkar”Encourage the good and discourage the reprehensible” .That means make a sound judgment,act accordingly,and try to encourage(in a wise and thoughtful way) those around you to do likewise.May Allah grant us from His Furqan(discernment).