Welcome
Preface
I
titled
this
book
Climbing
the
Stairway
to
Culture
because
the
most
significant
problem
we
face
as
a
species
is
our
tendency
to
cling
to
things,
even
when
they
hinder
our
growth.
Whether
it’s
outdated
beliefs,
harmful
relationships, unproductive environments, or detrimental habits, many people hold onto what no longer serves them, even when these things stunt their spiritual and cultural progress.
To
climb
a
stairway,
you
must
leave
one
step
behind
to
reach
the
next.
In
the
same
way,
I
believe
people
cannot
progress
religiously
or
culturally
beyond
the
point
they
are
clinging
to
if
what
they
hold
onto
is
not
aligned
with God’s will. True growth requires the willingness to let go of what holds us back and embrace the steps that lead us closer to God.
Understanding
religion
and
righteousness
does
not
require
claiming
greatness,
sinlessness,
or
prophethood.
I
do
not
present
myself
as
anything
more
than
a
repenting
sinner,
striving
to
earn
God’s
forgiveness
and
blessings
by
sharing
His
clear
message
and
warning
with
the
world.
I
firmly
believe
that
there
is
no
need
for
another
prophet
to
come,
as
the
truth
is
already
accessible
to
anyone
who
seeks
it.
The
existing
holy
books
contain
all
the
guidance necessary for those striving to live righteously today.
This
is
a
reminder
that
knowledge
and
spiritual
growth
are
within
our
reach.
Each
of
us
is
capable
of
embarking
on
this
journey
of
seeking
truth
and
righteousness,
and
it
can
lead
to
a
deeper
understanding
of
our
faith
and
a
closer connection to God. We don’t need new revelations or prophets to begin this process but only the willingness to study, learn, and align our lives with the truth already revealed.
Introduction
The
modern
world
stands
at
a
crossroads,
embroiled
in
what
many
call
the
“Culture
War.”
Unlike
past
conflicts,
this
war
is
not
fought
with
swords
or
rifles
but
with
ideologies,
values,
and
beliefs.
The
Culture
War
is
an
existential struggle for society’s soul. It is a battle between those who uphold God-ordained truths and those who seek to replace them with subjective ideologies rooted in human whim.
On
one
side,
traditionalists
strive
to
preserve
the
moral
foundations
that
have
upheld
civilizations
for
millennia.
These
values,
centered
on
faith,
family,
and
community,
are
more
than
customs;
they
are
divine
principles
that
offer stability and guidance for humanity. Traditionalists understand that culture when rooted in righteousness, serves as a vessel for transmitting wisdom, fostering human flourishing, and reflecting the Creator’s design.
Conversely,
progressives,
emboldened
by
what
they
claim
as
“modern
enlightenment,”
seek
to
dismantle
these
foundations.
Under
the
guise
of
freedom,
they
champion
relativism,
erasing
distinctions
between
right
and
wrong.
They
reduce
morality
to
a
matter
of
personal
preference,
dismissing
sacred
truths
as
archaic
constraints.
This
movement,
often
labeled
as
“woke,”
heralds
an
age
of
rebellion
against
God’s
laws,
elevating
self-
worship over submission to the Creator.
The
term
“Culture
War”
originated
to
describe
contentious
social
issues,
from
debates
on
family
values
to
disputes
over
identity
and
morality.
However,
this
term
fails
to
capture
the
gravity
of
what
is
truly
at
stake.
This
is
not
merely
a
debate
about
politics
or
personal
freedoms;
it
is
a
spiritual
conflict
over
the
very
essence
of
right
and
wrong.
Without
a
shared
moral
compass,
society
devolves
into
chaos,
with
factions
clashing
endlessly,
unable to agree even on the most fundamental truths.
It
is
tempting
to
engage
in
this
battle
on
the
terms
set
by
progressives,
debating
each
issue
in
isolation.
But
such
skirmishes,
while
necessary
at
times,
miss
the
root
cause
of
the
problem:
the
divisions
among
those
who
profess
to
believe
in
God.
These
divisions
have
caused
the
world
to
descend
again
into
the
darkness
of
moral
ignorance.
Every
attempt
to
solve
this
problem
without
God’s
light
of
moral
intelligence
and
righteousness
will
fail, leading only to greater issues. Once God’s light shines again, the darkness of moral ignorance and everything that thrives within it will naturally dissipate, for it is the nature of darkness to flee in the presence of light.
When
the
people
of
faith
are
divided,
their
collective
light,
the
moral
and
spiritual
guidance
they
are
meant
to
provide,
grows
dim.
This
leaves
society
vulnerable
to
manipulation
by
those
driven
solely
by
selfish
desires.
Without
this
unifying
light,
irrational
sentiments
and
emotions
take
precedence,
creating
an
environment
where
self-serving
individuals
can
easily
influence
and
mislead
others.
The
failure
of
believers
to
stand
united
under
God’s truth has emboldened immorality to parade itself openly, celebrated as if it were a virtue.
Core Message
The
solution
to
this
moral
decay
does
not
lie
in
compromise
or
appeasement.
It
lies
in
the
unwavering
return
to
God’s
light
of
righteousness.
This
light
is
not
the
invention
of
any
individual
religion
or
sect
but
the
eternal
truth
revealed
to
humanity
from
the
beginning.
It
is
a
truth
best
exemplified
by
Abraham,
the
father
of
faith,
who
submitted
himself
wholly
to
God
without
succumbing
to
divisions
or
labels.
Abraham’s
example
provides
the
“system restore point” humanity desperately needs, a model of submission, unity, and righteousness untainted by the distortions of modern ideologies.
For
example,
I
follow
the
teachings
of
the
Quran,
making
five
daily
prayers,
observing
Ramadan,
and
adhering
to
its
guidance.
Yet,
I
do
not
identify
my
faith
as
Islam;
instead,
I
define
it
as
the
submission
of
my
will
to
God.
Describing my faith as submitting my will to God eliminates divisions between myself and other righteous people, no matter what they call themselves.
On
the
other
hand,
when
Muslims
identify
their
religion
as
Islam,
it
often
creates
separation
between
them
and
others
who
do
not
share
their
specific
belief
system.
This
includes
divisions
even
within
Islam
itself,
such
as
between Sunni, Shia, and Sufi sects, even though they all follow the same Quran. These divisions prevent them from associating with one another, whether they are righteous or not.
The
same
pattern
of
divisions
can
be
seen
among
Christians,
who
identify
by
their
denominations
even
though
they
all
read
the
same
Bible.
These
divisions
create
barriers
that
hinder
cooperation
and
mutual
respect,
even
among those who share common righteous values. This means that recognizing the Quran or Bible as the truth from God does not mean we are meant to adopt divisive labels or belong to exclusive sects.
The
path
forward
begins
with
individual
believers.
We
must
abandon
the
divisions
that
have
fractured
our
faith
communities
and
align
ourselves
with
God’s
commandments.
By
uniting
under
the
banner
of
righteousness,
we
can reignite the light of divine wisdom and dispel the darkness of moral ignorance. If the Culture War is to be won, it will not be through force or rhetoric but through the transformative power of faith and unity.
In
this
book,
I
aim
to
reintroduce
the
religion
of
Abraham
as
presented
in
the
Quran,
which
anyone
can
study
and
verify
for
themselves.
Additionally,
I
will
explore
how
the
insights
in
this
book
can
help
end
the
culture
war
and
restore
God’s
light
of
moral
intelligence
in
the
world.
My
purpose
is
not
to
convert
or
indoctrinate
but
to
encourage
individuals
to
seek
what
God
truly
wants
them
to
believe,
say,
and
do
by
learning
for
themselves.
God
desires
that
believers
think
critically
and
independently
rather
than
blindly
following
inherited
beliefs
that
cause
divisions.
The
Quran
emphasizes
that
believers
should
avoid
belonging
to
religious
sects
or
divisions,
as
both
contradict
God’s
command
for
unity
among
the
righteous.
Returning
to
Abraham’s
example,
we
can
focus
on
the
core
principles
of
faith
that
unite
all
believers,
transcending
the
labels
and
traditions
that
have
divided
us
for
so long.
Spiritual Reference
Quran
42:13
The
same
religion
has
He
established
for
you
as
that
which
He
enjoined
on
Noah
which
We
have
sent
by
inspiration
to
thee
Mohammed
and
that
which
We
enjoined
on
Abraham
Moses
and
Jesus.
Namely,
ye
should
remain
steadfast
in
religion
and
make
no
divisions
therein:
to
those
who
worship
other
things
than
God,
hard
is
the
way
to
which
thou
call
them.
God
chooses
to
Himself
those
whom
He
pleases
and
guides
to
Himself
those who turn to Him.
Quran
3:19
The
Religion
before
God
is
submission
to
His
will,
and
the
people
of
the
Book
(those
who
had
the
book
before
you)
did
not
dissent
from
it
except
through
envy
of
each
other
after
knowledge
had
come
to
them.
But if any deny the Signs of God, He is swift in calling them to account.
Quran 23:53 But people have cut off their affair of unity between them into sects: each party rejoices in that which is with itself. But leave them in their confused ignorance for a time.
Quran 6:159 As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects, thou hast no part in them in the least: their affair is with God. He will, in the end, tell them the truth of all that they did.
My Book
In
a
world
gripped
by
cultural
confusion,
moral
decay,
and
ideological
conflict,
Climbing
the
Stairway
to
Culture
presents
a
powerful
call
to
reclaim
righteousness
as
the
foundation
of
society.
Alan
Dean
Sharif
takes
readers
on
an
enlightening
journey,
exploring
the
roots
of
the
modern
Culture War and unveiling the timeless wisdom needed to restore moral clarity and unity.
Shariff
explores
pressing
societal
issues,
including
the
distortion
of
justice
and
the
influence
of
media,
religion,
and
politics
on
shaping
values.
Profound
example,
he
dismantles
divisive
ideologies
and
offers
a
unifying
vision
of
faith
that
transcends
labels,
sects,
and
historical
misinterpretations.
While
the
Quran
serves
as
a
reference,
Shariff
does
not
promote
any
specific
religion.
Instead,
he
highlights timeless wisdom that resonates with universal values transcending religious boundaries.
This
book
is
not
just
an
analysis
of
cultural
decline;
it’s
a
roadmap
to
revival.
It
challenges
believers
to
rise
above
division,
embrace
truth,
and
stand
firm
in
the
battle
for
righteousness.
Climbing
the
Stairway
to
Culture
is
a
must-read
for
anyone
seeking
to
understand
the
spiritual
and
ideological
forces
at
play
in
today's
world
and,
more
importantly,
to
take
action
to
restore
moral
integrity.
Take
the
first
step
toward
cultural
renewal
and
unity
today.
Climb
the
stairway
to
culture
and
righteousness!
Book Description
A people’s cultural condition is the moral integrity and
accomplishments that a collective group encourages each
other to achieve.
Or the moral decay and chaos a collective group of people
allows each other to descend into by making excuses for bad
conduct.
All Rights Reserved 2023 . Alan Dean Shariff
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