I enjoy reading all sorts of blogs, all different opinions and frames of reference. Some I agree with, some I don't, but all of them make me think. Make me stop and question, which is always good. If you aren't questioning, you end up following. Never let it be said that we are blind followers of any man.
This blogger has recently come to my attention, and particularly this post. He asks an interesting question: how could a reformist in the model of Martin Luther change the trajectory of Islam? Could someone brave enough to try to separate the religion of Islam (yes, I have a problem calling it religion, but will for this post) from the governments of Muslim nations succeed without literally losing his head? When the central text of Islam calls for caliphates, effectively theocracies, can it be hoped to move the religion towards separation of church and state? Is it possible? And if so, would it be successful? I mean, if Christians stopped following the teachings of the Bible, would they still be Christians? If Muslims stopped following the Koran, would they still be Muslims? Can you cherry pick the parts of the Koran to follow to make it less destructive of non-believers?
I've heard of "moderate Muslims", and I've asked for clarification from moderate Muslims on the calls to violence and destruction that are key to their central beliefs. Not one has offered an explanation beyond "You are an nonbeliever and wouldn't understand." Okay, if you can't explain how to reconcile a life of peace with a text that calls for death and destruction, how am I supposed to believe it's possible?
Anyway, go check it out. And his other posts, he has some really good things, well thought out posts.
Makes you think, and that's a good thing.
http://goldengeesenews.blogspot.com/2013/06/to-martin-luther-of-islam-where-are-you.html?showComment=1370534815029#c3785208795325784400
8 comments:
From the religion of peace. Ever hear muslims use the word hypocrite? That is their word for so called moderates.
The Quran contains at least 109 verses that call Muslims to war with nonbelievers for the sake of Islamic rule. Some are quite graphic, with commands to chop off heads and fingers and kill infidels wherever they may be hiding. Muslims who do not join the fight are called 'hypocrites' and warned that Allah will send them to Hell if they do not join the slaughter.
There's my crankyjohn!!!! *hugs* buddy, missed you.
The catholic inquisition was corrupt men twisting the bible to their own ends. The reformation did not CHANGE what was in the bible, it just tried to get the church BACK to what it was meant to be. There can not be a reformation in Islam unless they rewrite half the Koran. The more devout a muslim gets, the more violent and radical they get. It not because radicals have hijacked a peacful religion, its just the devout doing what the Koran and Allah command. There can never be a reformation in Islam, then it wouldn't be Islam.
Cranky is right. When you start out with a book that speaks of love, peace, kindness, etc. (the Bible), it's possible to diverge from that into violence, but you can always return and read what it says and turn the ship around. The Qur'an, on the other hand, instigates violence. Instead of move toward it, you have to move away from it to promote peace.
Fred
And here was me thinking the islamic word for "moderate" was "apostate" - and apostasy is a crime punishable by death under sharia. The problem with islam is that it's a completely closed, viral system. The only way to pacify it is to eradicate it IMHO.
I understand the complaints about Islam, but I have to believe that the vast majority of its followers do not condone or believe in what the worst of them are saying and doing, they’re just afraid to speak out against it. There are segments of Christianity that have strayed a long way from what most people consider traditional Christian doctrine, and have survived and thrived. If some leader could get moderate Muslims to overcome their fear, I believe that some type of reformation could occur. The end product may not look anything more like Islam than Mormonism looks like traditional Christianity, but what difference does that make. As long as Muslims have a choice to follow some teaching that does not advocate violence and hatred, that’s all I care about.
The only religious document they have is the Koran, it is central to Islam. It IS Islam. The teachings of Mohammed in the Koran advocate violence and destruction. Unlike the Bible, which was scribed by many men over centuries, and reflects God's teaching moving from vengeance (Old Testament) to grace (New Testament), the Koran is one man's teachings which to the end of the text become increasingly vengeful. The only way a moderate Muslim can live peacefully is to cherry pick or abandon completely the central teachings of the Koran.
I am Lutheran, and I can tell you that Lutherans are EXPERTS at cherry picking. Maybe they could learn something from us.
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