Ma Bitar, Syriano:
October 6, 2026
Critical culture is considered one of the most important forms of culture; criticism applies to everything, whether sacred or profane, Sanctification stifles criticism; therefore, sanctification must be discarded to enable the practice of criticism, Today, we are witnessing the rise of *Abonement*) religious movements—hostile to thought, creativity, and all that is progressive and new—alongside the rise of Arabist movements, Together with religious *Abonement*, these forces have destroyed critical culture and the critical intellectual, The latter has been vilified through accusations ranging from contempt for religion to charges of disbelief and atheism, ultimately establishing the practice of branding others as traitors as a counterpart to branding them as infidels,The necessity of rationality and a critical culture lies in explaining the ruin that has befallen these peoples, and in striving to rebuild and undo that devastation through rational means—methods that have proven their worth among many other nations that adopted them, What is required is the rejection of the irrationality that governs the region’s peoples across all spheres—political, economic, developmental, social, military, and cultural, The prevalence of irrationality has led to the backwardness we witness today and to the hardships we endure, such as the stifling of freedoms, dictatorship, the justification—and indeed propagation—of ignorance, and the expansion of political, religious, and sectarian tyranny, Rationality is a fundamental requirement of modernity, which rests on several pillars, including secularism, scientific inquiry, the rule of law, and the rights and duties of citizenship, Rationality is a key pillar of secularism—a concept that cannot be reduced to a mere dichotomy between atheism and faith, nor viewed as a static methodology or the “end of history, The ultimate goal of secularism is to foster individuals who are intellectually independent and to build a democratic society that separates religion from state, upholds freedom of expression and conscience—encompassing both the freedom to believe and the freedom not to believe—and embraces the principles enshrined in the human rights frameworks of the United Nations and the international community, The process of modernity does not originate from the community or the masses—entities often assumed to be homogeneous, Yet, this is not a genuine, factual homogeneity, but rather a superficial, hypothetical one—a homogeneity that merely reflects coercion, repression, and tyranny. In reality, the masses know only difference—a state antithetical to the homogeneity falsely attributed to them,What is labeled “homogeneity” is nothing more than a deceptive declaration regarding a state that does not exist in practical life; life itself knows only difference, The inability to coexist with difference without descending into conflict is the primary driver behind attempts to superficially erase difference, Difference is inherent to human nature, whereas conflict and internecine strife are not traits worth preserving. Given that difference is a natural state to be preserved, pluralism must be embraced as a reality and a natural condition deserving of respect, for it is the wellspring of creativity and progress. One cannot attempt to criminalize difference while simultaneously engaging in conflict; instead, a positive approach to difference is required. This approach is grounded in a unified citizenship and equality, far removed from the fragmentation and erosion of human rights caused by pathological categorizations—such as religious minorities or majorities (the dominant group)—or by ties of blood, clan, race, lineage, and tribal or sectarian affiliations. The concept of the national bond bears no relation to local tribal-religious heritage—a heritage that neither recognizes nor acknowledges the nation-state. The value of patriotism and the nation rests upon the foundations of human civilization—a civilization that defined citizenship and the nation-state, and bestowed peace, self-sufficiency, justice, freedom, and democracy upon advanced societies, Local heritage is unfamiliar with the concept of rationality; for reason has no place in a “nation of rote transmission,” nor does a culture of critical inquiry exist within a nation defined by boasting, grandstanding, and arrogance. The peoples of the region must learn from the schools of advanced nations, not from Quran-memorization schools! Criticism is a necessity that entails no harm.