Ok, sometimes I don’t get things quite right. When I did the bit on Islam needing a reformation, I toyed with also arguing that it also needed to undergo a corresponding period of the Western world’s Enlightenment that followed the Reformation but that would have made it a bit more tedious to understand and explain. I should have taken the plunge and included it.
As it is, another person wrote a much more coherent piece than I did on why Islam needs both a Reformation AND an Enlightenment period (http://www.atlassociety.org/tni/islam-reformation). His article points out that Islam in a sense is already embroiled in its Reformation (about time, can we speed it up and get to the Enlightenment now). I just hope it doesn’t take another three or four centuries of conflict and war for them to get the message on tolerance, acceptance and compromise.
3 comments:
You are very ignorant--why don't you go to a mosque near you---it is Ramadan and you might get a free dinner---as well as be able to talk to actual Muslims---and see how the understand their religion. (The Saudi's are not the only Muslims on the planet---you know---in fact the Middle East has only 15% of the global Muslim population---it in no way "represents" Islam)
From a Muslim perspective----Islam itself IS the reformation/enlightenment. When Islam came---"civilization" was introduced---and by this I mean a conduct of behaviour based on rule of law, civility, equality of all, the pursuit of knowledge and governance of ones life and community on an ethical/moral code.
Therefore---when Muslim societies fall into "barbarism"---it is because they have moved away from the ideals of Islam.---When rule of law is subverted to promote oppression, when society falls into uncivilitty, inequality, and morality and ethics are abandoned in order to profit the powerful.
That is why when Muslims call for Islam---it means they ARE calling for what in Europe was "reformation/enlightenment"
Mr. Anonymous Muslim:
And I find hope and agreement that what you are saying is happening is happening within Islam not just without … that not only is Islam viewed as reform and enlightenment, but that it may even be reexamining the way its adherents view its doctrines. Just as I, from my western Judeo-Christian perspective, recognize that true believers in the various doctrines also see it also their obligation to bring their vision of the “reform and enlightenment” to others through their missionary work.
I understand your perspective as a Muslim. And, yes, what you say Islam/”civilization” is the reform/enlightenment of the world and is a code of conduct, a contract, that believers agree to abide by. That, in essence, really is all any religion is.
Each religion believes itself to be the enlightened way to view man’s presence and role on our small, insignificant planet in this vast universe. The key, in my humble opinion, is to recognize that reality and not necessarily to condemn it.
I agree that when ANY society falls in “barbarism” it essentially is falling away from some of its core beliefs about civil behavior, equality, morality and ethics. But is that not the truth of human frailty? Is it not true the any power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely? Do not humans enjoy the feeling of power over other things? Is this not the “natural” order of human nature?
I suggest that a lot of the conflict is due to the differences in perspective and an unwillingness to accommodate those differences in others.
I am not so blind as to not see that in my country and among those who call themselves Christians that we have those who refuse to allow others the right/dignity to practice their religion in the way that they wish. Yes, it is a conflict. Yes, it is difficult, especially to reconcile the different practices, the differing views of morality, the differing ethics.
Yet I am one who was taught to believe and accept that people are different and have a right to be different. They have the right to see God/Allah/Jehovah/Vishnu/Buddha … (I know I am leaving out s panoply of deities, but I ask forgiveness) … in their own way and accepting one or more as their vision of the “truth”.
In my humble view, only God, or Allah, knows the truth. We humans merely have perspectives of it. As the Greek philosopher Plato described it: We only see the truth as shadows on a wall.
Please, kind sir, understand that I respect your views, however I may disagree with them. I only wish more people around the world, who profess to be Muslims (as I also wish those of all religions) would be more open to according respect and dignity to those with whom they disagree.
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