Search results

Hi Light. I understand that “light” is a very important concept in some Sufi traditions? Is that the source of your nickname? Blasphemy is not really in my common vocabulary. I was following the principle of “when in Rome”. I was only making the point that while many of my opinions may be held...

Hi Luna. Well, you know how I can get carried away into rhetorical excess. If I've blown my own princples in any of these recent posts, I gratefully accept your rebuke. On the other hand, the particular post you're responding to here doesn't have much to do with pluralism. It's really about...

Again, several points: 1. Our difference, I believe, is that I look at Islam in historical terms, so that I make distinctions between the Prophet, his companions, the ulama, etc., while you appear to look at Islam in a unitary fashion. So I’m not putting into question the Prophet, the Qur’an...

I appreciate your passion. I’ll pick up on three points: 1. Again, I think you’re missing the fact that I’m speaking of Shariah in two senses. In the ultimate sense it’s about the path to Allah. In the conventional sense it’s about a complex legal tradition with numerous specific rules &...

Indeed. But consider that while for some the eschewing of all personal views/interpretations is an act of piety for others it is piety itself. Sincerely, Devadatta

Again, high again. Let me explain. I was looking at the idea of "Muslim", or that person who submits to God and thus experiences peace (following on a definition of "Islam" as that submission to God that brings peace) from two sides, the ultimate & the conventional. From the conventional...

Hi again. I'm not sure you want to converse with me much further since I'm dastardly & a devil! So this exchange I guess is winding down. But I take no offense. Again, I feel you misunderstand my ultimate meaning. If it's my manner of expression, then I apologize. I'm merely pointing out a...

See my response on "Islam in relation to other religions thread". Sincerely, Devadatta

Hi Aidyl. I appreciate your time. I don’t remember the debate with Amica you’re referring to here. Either you’re confusing me with someone else or I’ve simply forgotten. In any case, I’ll leave that question for another day. As for the Shariah question, perhaps we do not understand one...

Hi Thipps. For me, it all turns on what is meant by "Islam". If Islam means submission to God, then it should include all believers, all theists, including Hindus. If it means, subscribing to a particular monotheistic sect, with a particular prophet and language, then for me - with all respect...

The hadith referenced here are Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 84, 53-72. Here’s the link to these texts online:http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/084.sbt.html Preliminary remarks: - This is meant only to provide an outsider’s perspective to the problem, showing how...

My understanding of the Qur’an is elementary, to be sure, but what I see is a fairly complex, contested relationship between Muslims and the People of the Book. First, the Qur’an affirms in a number of places that Christians & Jews who follow the laws of their prophets will have nothing to...

With everyone’s indulgence, I would like to add a couple more points. First, there is the question of Shariah. I think some Muslims have the impression that pretty much anything goes in “Western” pluralist democracy. As Light suggested above, we might vote for hospitals one day and cannibalism...

I would make a couple points here: First, I think we should distinguish between democracy in its most fundamental sense as rule of the people, from the pluralist democracy of countries like the United States. I think pluralist democracy is inconsistent with traditional Islam, at least as I...

A beautiful post, Amica, and very heartening. You're the future, IMHO. Peace, Devadatta.

Greatly appreciate your post, Amica. And I think you’ve put your finger on the problem: the identification of apostasy with treason. This identification dates from the early days of the so-called wars of apostasy when Mohammed and his successors struggled with the pagans of the Arabian...

Very nice, Luna. You know what matters, IMHO. The passage on the sabath reminds me of the one having to do with pharisees withholding food from their parents to use for ritual purposes. Is this honoring your father & mother, he asks? (Your probably know where to find this.) Again, it's the...

Hi Phipps. I’ve realized that the views I’ve expressed so far in this thread are really so foreign to your worldview as to cut off all discussion. So I apologize for that. And I have to admit to having been fairly blissfully ignorant up to this point on how deeply this notion of apostasy...

Hi Thipps. Well, yes here we have a distinct difference. For me these are indeed philosophical/theological arguments, and God – at least the way I use this term – is by definition beyond such arguments. So again, for me switching one’s monotheistic tag from “Muslim” to “Christian” cannot be...

Hey Aidyl. As I've already noted, Christians, Jews & Muslims all worship the same God, so converting from one sub-community to the other is not a question of disbelief. Christian & Jews are already Muslims in the broadest sense because they recognize the One God and submit to His Will. So...