the Qur'an and peace

Okay, let's avoid the term Islamism. We need to say no to political Islam and the Sharia. We need to say no to anything in the Quran and the Sunnah that violates human rights and the laws of the countries we live in.

At its core, the Islamic faith is very tolerant of other faiths and beliefs, when it is based on particular interpretations of the Quran and the Sunnah. The Islamic faith can be very intolerant of other faiths and beliefs, when it is based on a different set of interpretations of the Quran and the Sunnah. Within the Muslim world we see a struggle between these two kinds of interpretations. Ignoring the troubling interpretations would be irresponsible. Their existence is a fact.

Muslims need to acknowledge that mainstream Islam is in urgent need of reform. It's not just a problem of a tiny violent minority. The Quran needs an interpretation that works in the 21st century. Islam has to go through the same painful process as Christianity did, going from burning witches and scientists to supporting the declaration of universal human rights.

We need to focus on the first step of radicalization, when a mainstream Muslim becomes a non-militant supporter of political Islam. Any religious talk that contradicts our Western values must be met with fierce opposition from our side. Any belittling of the Sharia ('we just use it as family law to settle disputes') must be met with fierce opposition from our side. Our countries must be completely Sharia free. There is only one institution allowed to make laws: we the people when we elect our representatives. The Sharia was invented 1000 years ago and it violates almost everything we hold dear in the West. It is cruel. It discriminates people. It is actually the Sharia which contains a law that says criticizing Islam is a crime. This is why critics of Islam often need police protection.

Islam has a noble future as a faith. But Islam has to stay away from all three political branches, i.e. the legislature, executive, and judiciary branch. That's the role of the state. Period.

Mustafa Kemal Atat�rk introduced this modern principle in Turkey in 1923. So even without oil, Turkey has become one of the most successful Muslim countries in the world.



Edited by Matt Browne - 23 April 2013 at 12:51am

abuayisha wrote: Well, Caringheart, perhaps you may want to explain exactly what you "fear" of "Islamism".  I can only assume you are equating Islamism with terrorism, and indeed this is a mistake in terms. With respect to Irshad Manji, she has a reformed opinion on the permissibility of being a queer in Islam.  I simply don't desire my daughter to marry a woman.

Greetings abuayisha,

I would have no problem living with islam if islamic government would treat all people the same... regardless of whether or not they believed in Muhammad.  If I am able to adhere to the laws of the country and all the laws of God... dress code, I do not steal, I am honest and do not cheat or lie, or commit any crime against my country or my fellow countrymen... then why should I be treated any different from the rest... why should I pay any different tax than any other member of the country?  Why should I not serve my country the same as any other member of the country?  Why should I be denied the same rights and freedoms as any other?  In the past non-muslims were denied property rights... the right to own or even to ride horses... they had to leave the path in deference to any muslim that came their way... How is this right in the sight of God?

See the governing laws need to be able to make these accommodations, and will the islamic laws allow it?  To treat all people as equals.  God will judge whether or not we are equal in the next world, but in this world we are created equal... this is the biggest message of Yeshua... that all men are to be treated as brothers... as endowed with equal rights and freedoms... to treat one another as you would want to be treated... to treat one another as self.

My fear is that simply because I do not believe in Muhammad, and because I may slip at some point and be overheard to express an opinion, I could end up at worst dead, and at least, imprisoned.  It matters if I would not be free to speak about my own beliefs, while muslims were free to speak about theirs and to say whatever they wanted against my own, without punishment, yet I would be subject to punishment.  It matters not to be treated equally.

Do you know of anyone who would be content to be treated in their society as a person who was less than others?  Who had to watch every word that they say? ... Who had to 'lower their gaze' before certain people so as not to be mistaken as insolent?

The reason, I believe, that Islam does not work...  The laws that govern countries and its people must be able to change with the times and to meet the cultural needs.  The laws that govern spirituality do not change.

Salaam,
Caringheart

I'm not saying that outdated interpretations of Islam is the only root cause of terrorism. There is also terrorism committed in the name of nationalism (IRA, PKK...), in the name of right-wing ideologies (Timothy McVeigh, NSU...) and in the name of left-wing ideologies (FARC...).

I'm saying that we have to deal with all root causes. Just because people also kill in the name of fascism or Marxism-Leninism, this doesn't make the killings in the name of Islam any better.

I'm not saying that outdated interpretations of Islam is the only case of religious intolerance. There are also outdated interpretations of Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and so forth.

I'm saying that we have to deal with all forms of religious intolerance. Just because there is discrimination against women or homosexuals by some Christians, this doesn't make the discrimination against women or homosexuals by some Muslims any better.

Just like criticism of particular behavior and views of certain groups of Muslims and their interpretation of the Quran isn't Islamophobia,  criticism of particular behavior and views of certain groups of Christians and their interpretation of the Bible isn't Christianophobia.

Abuayisha hasn't come forward with a single counterargument to any of Irshad Manji's arguments listed in my previous post. There's only the pseudo-counterargument "she is a lesbian lunatic". Well, I call this intellectual bankruptcy. It includes the inability to think independently and the inability to counter criticism with arguments. Manji respects heterosexuals. And she never said that homosexuals should marry their partner. One can be against the idea of homosexual weddings, but still agree with many of the other 999 arguments Manji is making. Disagreement with one argument does not necessarily lead to disagreement with all the others.

The older brother in Boston committed a terrorist act in the name of Islam. Saying all of this has nothing to do with Islam doesn't solve anything. We need a debate about interpreting the Quran and the Sunnah.

In the past Christians killed witches and scientists in the name of Christianity. This led to a debate about interpreting the Bible.

Today people who criticize Christianity no longer need police protection.

Today people who criticize Islam still need police protection.

Unless we do something about this, this will not change. Political Islam has no future. We need a zero tolerance attitude for non-militant Islamism.

Without reform, Islam faces a very uncertain future. Manji wants to rescue the Islamic faith. She cares about Islam. And she cares about Muslims being able to be friends with Christians, Jews, Hindus and nonbelievers. She cares about peace and she is looking for ways how this can be accomplished. Her ideas are worthy of debate.

I fear Islamism, because it is cruel and it discriminates people. Islamism is a totalitarian system. Islamism is about abolishing human rights. We should all be afraid of Islamism. It is a threat to all of us. But above all, it is a serious threat to all modern peace-loving Muslims.




Edited by Matt Browne - 21 April 2013 at 3:03am

Well, Caringheart, perhaps you may want to explain exactly what you "fear" of "Islamism".  I can only assume you are equating Islamism with terrorism, and indeed this is a mistake in terms. With respect to Irshad Manji, she has a reformed opinion on the permissibility of being a queer in Islam.  I simply don't desire my daughter to marry a woman.