
Jan 23rd, 2006, 05:59 PM
I understand that Shari'a is meant to be nothing more then laws to live by. No different then commandments.... but clearly, outsiders aren't speaking of the daily rules for prayer, or kosher laws when they discuss Shari'a. The problem is these Shari'as are not only powered by these corrupt Governments, but the Muslim clerics in the region. To claim there is a seperation between the Mosque and State dissmisses reality. You're saying these Shari'as are a politicized con with no basis in the Koran, but that's absolutely not what the leading clerics in these nations are telling your people. It makes religious leaders appear to incite these crimes. If the Koran is filled with ambigious prose, it becomes you word against theres...and sadly THEY are the ones putting taking action, not Muslims like you. I suggest you debate the verses with every suicide bomber who qoutes the Koran extensively, and holds a copy in his/her hands, as they prepare to mass murder "infidels". It would serve us all better then telling US all this. Our understanding is less of a threat to you then THEIR understanding. All I see from the Islamic community is PR work on these issues, fighting the public opinion from outsiders... and that is not a solution to the crisis within modern Islam, you admit to.
Regarding Jews, and Muslim tolerance of Jews - a story about a vindictive Jewish female, who later converts to Islam might show mercy in your Islamic eyes, but as a Jew, it says the complete opposite. Frankly, it's offensive on several levels. That's no pro-Judaism, by any stretch of the imagination. I don't want your mercy, I want to be left alone. What other kind of death could be involved in having your soul cut off from your people ? It's also concerning that Mohhamed is your moral compass when his own actions were morally questionable.
I'm also a bit troubled by your choices of other examples of Islamic harmony:
Christians in Yemen? Yet the persecution of Yemenite Jews was some of the worst.
Jordan? Cleansed the majority of it's Jews. There was no Jewish community in Transjordan when it became a State in 1946. Even today, under peace treaty, Orthodox Jews can not enter Jordan.
Lebanon ? The civil war lasted decades, and religion played a major roll in it. Lebanon remains under Muslim occupation.
Look, the region was under Ottoman administrative control for centuries. Whether there was tolerance towards Jews since the advent of Islam's domination of the region all depended on the period of time and local rulers. There were periods of forced conversion, ethnic cleansing and heavy discrimination in addition to periods of relative tolerance. Since the Arabs gained independence, Jews are not the only ones to suffer discrimination and dispossession. Saddam Hussein's war against the Kurds was one of ethnic cleansing. The Copts have been persecuted in Egypt, the Persians persecuted the Bahais...etc... these are the well known examples. Not even being a Muslim will save you in the Sudan if you're African
You just picked very poor examples. I'm sorry, but you can brag that there are 6 churches, or 1 Synagogue left from Persian Iran... but that's not tolerance. That's not proof of healthy thriving brotherhood, or acceptance. Why would you pretend it is, when you know better? You have some really solid information to offer us, why cheapen your integrity this way?
Translations : We're in agreement that the Koran should be read in Arabic. We have both made this point clearly, I think. We both agree that the Koran is being taught differently, (or inaccurately) from your understanding of it, in the majoriy of the Arab world.
When it comes to attempting to provide a translation for the Non-Muslim public, you should not assume that a Jew or Christian who has a scholarly understanding of Arabic, and Islam couldn't provide the same accuracy. Your fear of bias against Islam, is about as healthy as our fear of Islams bias when sanitizing the Koran...or bias in assuming a Jew can't be... honest! I think it's wrong to say the only accurate translation can come from someone who worships allah..though I'd agree they havethe advantage. The Koran doesn't tell you to hate us, but it tells you that we are wrong, that we are not proper. It's no different then a Christian "praying for your soul". That's not tolerance, love or acceptance. Now I don't mind someone praying for me...that's sweet....what I do mind, is active outreach.
Homosexuality: Again, Indepedence is not acceptance or protection. You say God won't punish you in this life, but isn't Islam all about preparing for the next life? You're double talking. What are the ultimate consequences for a Queer Muslim?
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