Riri: "Romo, I found something interesting from my reading yesterday. This might shake your beliefs a little, but yeah, just try to digest it first."
Romo: (puts down his coffee, raises an eyebrow) "Oh boy, this sounds heavy... Am I spiritually strong enough for this?"
Marlon: (grinning) "You should be. But if not, we can weigh you at the shop next door. They've got a digital scale."
Romo: (squints) "You two are getting weirder by the day, huh?"
Riri: (laughs briefly, then gets serious again) "So here's the thing. All this time we've been taught that questioning religion is forbidden, right? But it turns out, in the Qur'an, we're actually required to question matters of faith. Like in Surah Al-Anbiya' verse 7:'So ask those who know if you do not know.'
Romo: (leans back, thinking) "Hmm… that's more about asking scholars, not questioning the foundation of religion itself."
Riri: "Exactly, but this verse shows that Islam doesn't close the door to the search for knowledge, especially about faith. What shouldn't be questioned are the laws, because they're the commandments of Allah that are absolute. Like the five daily prayers, zakat, fasting—those are fixed. But with faith, people are actually encouraged to think. For example, in Surah Al-Baqarah verses 2-3:'This is the Book in which there is no doubt, a guidance for the pious, those who believe in the unseen…'It means that belief comes after a process of thinking. We don't believe something just because it's handed down to us, but because we've sought its truth."
Marlon: (nods) "It's like buying a phone. You can't just take the seller's word for it. You have to read reviews, compare specs, ask a knowledgeable friend, then you're sure about the purchase."
Romo: (sighs) "Yeah... that makes sense. So what you're saying is, questioning the existence of God is part of the search for faith?"
Riri: "Exactly! Even in the story of Prophet Ibrahim in Surah Al-An'am verses 75-79, he sought God by questioning the stars, the moon, the sun, until he found his belief in Allah. That's proof that the search is allowed."
Romo: (nods slowly, then chuckles) "Oh man... I've studied philosophy, now you want me to start all over again?"
Marlon: (laughs) "Patience, Romo. Now it's your turn. Give us your perspective. Why do you think the world keeps progressing?"
Romo: (suddenly serious, then takes a sip of his coffee with a philosophically exaggerated style) "Well, based on our discussion earlier, I think… the world moves forward because humans are greedy."
Riri: (surprised) "Huh? Isn't greed a sin?"
Romo: (shrugs) "Yeah, it's a sin. But without greedy people, there'd be no progress. Who created technology? People wanting more wealth. Who made the internet faster? Companies wanting more customers. Who created robots? People too lazy to work, basically guilty of sloth. So if you think about it, technology advances to satisfy human sins."
Marlon: (laughs) "So, if we want faster progress, we just need to sin more?"
Riri: (tapping her forehead) "Marlon! That's a totally flawed conclusion!"
Romo: (laughs) "But seriously, look. People created airplanes because they didn't want to travel by horse for days. They made cars because they were too lazy to walk. Now we can order food through an app because we don't want to leave the house. All these innovations are based on human desires for comfort, speed, and profit. That's why I say the world moves because of 'greed' and 'sloth.'"
Riri: (sighs, thinking) "So, do you think these sins have some benefits?"
Romo: (nods) "Yeah, but it doesn't mean we should fall into them. It's like fire. Fire can cook, but if uncontrolled, it can burn down a house. Sins exist to push humans to evolve, but they need to be balanced with virtues. That's why the concept of balance is so important."
Marlon: (grinning mischievously) "So if I'm lazy, I can tell my parents: 'Relax, Mom, this is part of the development of civilization!'?"
Riri: (giving Marlon a sharp look) "Go ahead and try, we'll make a case study about a child who philosophizes too much."
Romo: (laughs out loud) "I'm sure if that happens, your mom will refute philosophy with a flying sandal!"
[The scene ends with them all laughing, still reflecting on the conversation they just had.]
Marlon: "Honestly, Rom, I'm kind of disappointed." 😏
Romo: "Disappointed? Why? Didn't I bring snacks?" 🤨
Marlon: "No. I thought we were going to have a heated debate like on TV. The religious expert vs. the philosophy expert, attacking each other's arguments endlessly, until we forget to eat." 🤷♂️
Romo: "Oh, sorry if I didn't meet expectations. Should I have brought a book to quote verses and point my finger at you like that?" 😆
Riri: "Yeah, then Marlon could counter with some complicated philosophy theories to make us all dizzy." 😅
Marlon: "That's the point! I was mentally prepared for a heated debate. But instead, you guys were pretty open-minded. Like, instead of rejecting right away, you actually listened to our theories."
Romo: "Well, I've learned from experience, Mar. Back when I was 'fanatic,' I thought all the answers were in just one place. But the more I studied, the more I realized the world is wide, and it's not as simple as black and white."
Marlon: "Ah, enlightenment! So, if I say that sins are sometimes necessary, you won't immediately throw a book at me, right?"
Romo: "Throw, no... But if I had a flip-flop, I might toss it lightly to make you come to your senses." 😏
Riri: "Oh my gosh, violence still sneaks in." 🤦♀️
Romo: "Relax, that's not violence, it's 'spiritual motivation'." ✨
Marlon: "In that case, I should be allowed to counter with 'philosophical motivation,' like ask you a question that'll keep you up for a week?"
Romo: "Sure, as long as if I can't sleep, you treat me to coffee." ☕
Riri: "So the conclusion of our discussion today is: truth is relative, and coffee is essential." 😌☕
Marlon & Romo: "Agreed!" 😆☕