Comments on: Contradictions http://www.eatbees.com/blog/2006/10/28/contradictions/ "If not now, when?" Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:12:06 -0800 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: eatbees http://www.eatbees.com/blog/2006/10/28/contradictions/comment-page-1/#comment-7 eatbees Wed, 08 Nov 2006 22:33:54 +0000 http://www.eatbees.com/blog/2006/10/28/contradictions/#comment-7 You know, I agree with you completely. I was raised outside of religion by secular parents (originally Catholic) who believed that religion and science are contradictory. But as I have discussed religion with my Muslim friends in Morocco, I have come to see Islam in the way you describe. There seem to be at least two levels of understanding Islam, those who feel that it is about "following the rules," praying in a certain way and so forth, versus those who can understand what I mean when I say that "I am a Muslim, Christian, Jew, Hindu and Buddhist at the same time". All religions pay tribute to the same universal Intelligence, and no one religion "owns" knowledge of God. Allah can be known by observing the universe (science) or by meditating on why we are here (philosophy). The details of prayer, fasting and so forth are to remind ourselves that we are part of a religious community, not because it "adds" to God in any way (a logical absurdity). Unfortunately Muslim dialogue with non-Muslims often comes in the form of "proofs" which are only convincing to someone who is already a believer, or even made-up stories about the conversion of Jacques Cousteau or Neil Armstrong. I don't see how any of this could be persuasive to a thinking person, because religion isn't trophy-hunting to see which famous people have converted. To a Westerner it is more convincing to use a philosophical approach, and show that Islam is open to dialogue and committed seeking knowledge. I was lucky to have friends like that in Morocco. They stretched my understanding of Islam and I stretched theirs! This is what needs to happen, and will happen as Islam participates more and more in the global conversation. I think the age of "regression" as you put it is over. You might also enjoy some of the other articles on eatbees like <a href="http://www.eatbees.com/blog/2006/10/28/islam-is-democratic/" rel="nofollow">Islam Is Democratic</a> and <a href="http://www.eatbees.com/blog/2006/10/14/progressive-islam-conversations/" rel="nofollow">Progressive Islam (two conversations)</a>.... You know, I agree with you completely. I was raised outside of religion by secular parents (originally Catholic) who believed that religion and science are contradictory. But as I have discussed religion with my Muslim friends in Morocco, I have come to see Islam in the way you describe.

There seem to be at least two levels of understanding Islam, those who feel that it is about “following the rules,” praying in a certain way and so forth, versus those who can understand what I mean when I say that “I am a Muslim, Christian, Jew, Hindu and Buddhist at the same time”. All religions pay tribute to the same universal Intelligence, and no one religion “owns” knowledge of God. Allah can be known by observing the universe (science) or by meditating on why we are here (philosophy). The details of prayer, fasting and so forth are to remind ourselves that we are part of a religious community, not because it “adds” to God in any way (a logical absurdity).

Unfortunately Muslim dialogue with non-Muslims often comes in the form of “proofs” which are only convincing to someone who is already a believer, or even made-up stories about the conversion of Jacques Cousteau or Neil Armstrong. I don’t see how any of this could be persuasive to a thinking person, because religion isn’t trophy-hunting to see which famous people have converted. To a Westerner it is more convincing to use a philosophical approach, and show that Islam is open to dialogue and committed seeking knowledge. I was lucky to have friends like that in Morocco. They stretched my understanding of Islam and I stretched theirs! This is what needs to happen, and will happen as Islam participates more and more in the global conversation. I think the age of “regression” as you put it is over.

You might also enjoy some of the other articles on eatbees like Islam Is Democratic and Progressive Islam (two conversations)….

]]> By: From the Eyes of Baba http://www.eatbees.com/blog/2006/10/28/contradictions/comment-page-1/#comment-6 From the Eyes of Baba Wed, 08 Nov 2006 06:46:26 +0000 http://www.eatbees.com/blog/2006/10/28/contradictions/#comment-6 I think there are a lot of misperception about Islam and what it stands for. This problem is not only prevalent among non-Muslims but, unfortunately, also amongst Muslims themselves. For example, in Islam, believers of every other faith have a place in an Islamic state/country. Unfortunately, this has never been explained in great clarity, length and dept. Another example is in the pursuit of knowledge. Historically, Islamic scholars were the most advanced in terms of pursuit of knowledge. Not only knowledge of the "after-world” but also all those related to the worldly needs. What happened? Muslims, unfortunately, have regressed as the world progress. What today's Muslims failed to understand is that the pursuit of "new” knowledge would enable them fully appreciate the creation of the Almighty Allah/God!!! I think there are a lot of misperception about Islam and what it stands for. This problem is not only prevalent among non-Muslims but, unfortunately, also amongst Muslims themselves.

For example, in Islam, believers of every other faith have a place in an Islamic state/country. Unfortunately, this has never been explained in great clarity, length and dept.

Another example is in the pursuit of knowledge. Historically, Islamic scholars were the most advanced in terms of pursuit of knowledge. Not only knowledge of the “after-world” but also all those related to the worldly needs. What happened? Muslims, unfortunately, have regressed as the world progress. What today’s Muslims failed to understand is that the pursuit of “new” knowledge would enable them fully appreciate the creation of the Almighty Allah/God!!!

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