Page 54 - Romanticism: A Weapon of Satan

ROMANTICISM: A WEAPON OF SATAN

something in order to gain the approval of God only. If the act is truly
done with sincerity, it is counted as worship in the sight of God. For
example, praying, fasting, giving alms, working in the cause of God,
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and all other acts of service, are to be regarded as acts of worship, only
if they are undertaken to gain the approval of God. Worship
performed without the intention of gaining God's approval is invalid
according to God's command in the Qu'ran: "So woe to those who
pray, and are forgetful of their prayer, those who show off" (Qur'an,
107, 4-6) This is also clear in the words of the Prophet Mohammed,
who said, "God accepts those deeds which were performed purely for
His sake and which were meant to seek His pleasure." 12
It is in this manner that romanticism distorts religion. It directs
religion towards a purpose other than gaining the approval of God; it
represents religion as an emotional experience, in which people may
satisfy their emotional needs, not to be practised for the pleasure of
God.

Romanticism under the
guise of religion was the
cause of the mass
suicides of many cult-
members in the U.S.A.
David Koresh (above left)
was responsible for the
death of 80 of his
followers in 1993. Under
the leadership of Jim
Jones (above) a total of
900 of his cult members
committed suicide in 1978.