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DISCLAIMER This thread was addressed to Muslims who are members of this forum for reaction & comment. It's been brought to my attention that the questions may have been framed in a way that could produce misunderstanding, or might even cause offence. This of course was not my intention, but it...

1. My aim was not to put any particular person on the spot. The thread was not addressed to a particular person. It was put out there as a general call for ideas & responses, with the aim of bringing out the fact that there is much interesting & varied opinion among Muslims on this general...

(Re: eyes) Oh, the gentlemen are talking and the midnight moon is on the riverside, They're drinking up and walking and it is time for me to slide. I live in another world where life and death are memorized, Where the earth is strung with lovers' pearls and all I see are dark eyes. A cock is...

Greetings. I agree. There are no simple answers. But of course these aren't the forums for simple answers - or shouldn't be. But I must admit that my use of the term "reformation" has not proved very useful so far. Let me try to clarify a little. There are two major senses to the word. One...

Hi thipps. Again, with all respect, instead of even acknowledging the questions in my last post (see above), you've retreated into a legalistic exposition of the current status of ijtihad. It's all very interesting, but do you have any opinions/responses at all to my questions? I mean even if...

I appreciate your concern Brian. But I was responding to my disappointment with some recent (non) replies, and the tenor of much of what we were recently getting from this side. So obviously I wasn't summing up everything you've been getting for however many years you've been doing this. I...

Hi Thipps. You're right, "fundamentalist", "reformation", "pluralist" are all terms derived from a different historical experience and I recognize that they all need be qualified when applied to a different historical context. When I say "fundamentalist" regime, I'm characterizing a state...

Here's a tidy summary of the many sides to the debate on the relationship between pluralism and Islam: http://www.islamuswest.org/IslamAndElections_06.html I put it here because I think it's important for everyone to see. Also, I would like to make a plea. This forum at present appears to be...

Hi Plucky. Let's leave the definition of reformation aside for the moment - since we don't seem to making verbal contact on that point! But you mention the Qu'ran and the Hadith. As I understand, both these sets of documents were set down within roughly 200 years of the Prophet's (peace be...

I understand you to be saying that pluralism should be deeper than merely a kind of secularism, that we need to respect a certain "otherness" in the depth of another person's faith that we don't understand or share. I agree with you. That in the broadest sense we share the same ground of being...

It gets done through side entrances, lost hallways, in the interstices, unscheduled, after hours, after the priests, the monks, the Brahmins, the virgins, the beadles with Elvis have left the great building, gone home, and the stained glass & painted walls are at their best, unspoiled by...

Hey, Bandit. How's it hangin'? Reasoning? Of course. I'm a reasonable type. But the second part loses me. What are you saying? Cheers & Metta.

Hi Luna. Yes, I agree that it can be a fine distinction, and the language analogy has to be carefully framed - and of course every analogy has its limitations. I think if you read through all my posts - but I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy, and you seem like such a nice person! - you'll...

I need to add - though I'm sure you know already - that this is just my spin. I'm completely unlicensed to practice! Also, I'd like to point out that here we have an example of what I'm always (obsessively) getting back to. Here you have my little description of "self", what it is, where it...

That's right, Luna, you're miles from getting it - which puts you on the very doorstep of enlightenment!

Very thoughtful as always, Path of One. And your experienial emphasis particularly resonates with me. Without this base of experience, talking religion is just a lot of wind. Doctrine is important as a reality test, as a way of comparing notes, and for a host of other practical reasons, but it...

Hi Sapon. Thanks for your patient & thoughtful answers. I know a little about FWBO and have read just a little of the voluminous works of its founder, Sangharakshita. You appear to be talking mostly about this order when you refer to "Western" Buddhism, but I'm sure you would agree that...

Hi Sapon. You indicate that you follow a Buddhist path. Does your tradition include any of the following aspects of doctrine: the transferance of merit, the saving power of the Buddha or Bodhisattvas like Avolokiteshvara, the Western Purelands, the purification of Buddha Fields. As well, what...

Hi Plucky. Thanks for your reply. I don't know if I'm quite following what you're saying here. But first of all the Reformation didn't involve changing scripture, but changing, supplementing & replacing interpretations of scripture, and the institutions based on those interpretations. Second...

Thank you, Nabeelaejaz, for your very sharp & concise reply. I need to learn some of your concision. Welcome to the forum. Cheers.