Islam ?

[headheart]

What don't you like about Islam, and why?

Sincerely,
Eric J. Sawyer

[Oolon Colluphid]

Islam is a big religion - nearly a billion and a half adherents. Any short answer to this question can only be, at best, a hopeless approximation, and at worst, an Islamophobic generalisation. With that caveat in mind, I'll give it a go.

I think it's the unflinching certainty and finality of it. The Koran has the last word on everything. The Prophet received the final revelation from God (ingenius not to deny previous revelations, but simply to claim that theirs is the final one) word for word. This fact, coupled with a characteristically literalist approach to interpretation accounts for why there has never been, and probably never will be, a reformation within Islam. This approach stifles renewal and denies Islam access to the benefits of progress. Hence we still see, by comparison with other religions and world views, a rather brutal and unreformed approach to justice and punishment, and an attitude towards women that most other cultures have consigned to history thankfully. Treating the Koran as the final and unalterable word from the divine (and putting the Hadith and Shariah Law on the next step down) goes a long way towards explaining the continued presence of amputations, beheadings, so-called 'honour' crimes and stonings in some (though by no means all) parts of the Muslim world. I'm well aware that not all Muslims consent to these things, and that many have courageously and humanely resisted them. Furthermore, there are those who would credit such courage and humanity to their Islamic faith. If someone wants to tell me that these things are not vital parts of Islam if one takes a less dogmatic and literalist interpretation then I'll be happy to agree with them, but I think it's impossible to deny the culpability of Islam for these things to a certain extent.

[Seasanctuary]

It's basically Old Testament Christianity.

[YourMaster]

What don't you like about Islam, and why?

Sincerely,
Eric J. Sawyer

I'm sure there's good Muslims, but of course I don't believe its religious claims, and to the extent I'm familiar with Islamic culture (which is not very much) they don't seem like the most enlightened bunch.

[headheart]

...... they don't seem like the most enlightened bunch.

I am originally from South Africa, and with exception of a few, I have found them to be extremely intelligent, insightful and compassionate. In fact no more or no less enlightened than any other, of my friends.

Sincerely,
Eric J. Sawyer

[headheart]

It's basically Old Testament Christianity.

Really. Please explain your view ?

Sincerely,
Eric J. Sawyer

[headheart]

......... less dogmatic and literalist interpretation then I'll be happy to agree with them, but I think it's impossible to deny the culpability of Islam for these things to a certain extent.

Perhaps part of the problem with outsiders, is that they have not experienced the reality of friendship. Once one has experienced that, the prejudices should begin to roll away. I have made extremely precious friends, that have neither waned nor diminished over the years.
A persons personality should not be based upon one's beliefs alone, but on a free association with all sentient beings. Though there are those who dogmatically adhere to their beliefs ( whether corporate or individual ), there are others who have learned to sample and hold onto that which is beneficial to the survival and improvement of the human race, and are unafraid to live out those beliefs in day to day life.
I have experienced more in support of the idea that Islam can be a wonderful way of living, than the latter.

Sincerely,
Eric J. Sawyer

[Tassman]

What don't you like about Islam, and why?

Sincerely,
Eric J. Sawyer

I can only repeat what I said about this on a different thread.

My dislike of Islam is no more or less than my dislike of ALL the major religions and for the same reasons. Religion claims a divine mandate to impose its views on the populous in the name its god. At the very least it demands legislative recognition of its claims, but when it has attained greater power it has a history of taking control over all areas of life and demanding total submission.

After all, how can mere mortals argue against god’s will, as exercised by the religious authorities who are the very representative of the “one true god” - whichever god this happens to be. This is true of Islam today and has been true of Christianity in the past, with many Christians seeking similar power today by advocating a theocracy or worse - “dominionism” as supported by the likes of Pat Robertson.

http://www.theocracywatch.org/pat_robertson.htm

[headheart]

Tassy,

You address the herd mentality of all mankind, but not the heart/content of the beliefs shared by those who have a more enlightened approach to life, regardless of their particular religious affiliation or not.

Sincerely,
Eric J. Sawyer

[Tassman]

Tassy,

You address the herd mentality of all mankind, but not the heart/content of the beliefs shared by those who have a more enlightened approach to life, regardless of their particular religious affiliation or not.

Sincerely,
Eric J. Sawyer

Why not state the obvious? Yes I too know many lovely, decent people who are Muslims or Christians. And no doubt there were many stunningly wonderful people residing in the Soviet Union, but this is not the point. It is the system at fault, not individuals.

Regardless of the “more enlightened” ones, it is the “herd mentality” which generally prevails with religious demagogues invariably taking control whenever a religion becomes too powerful and is not checked by the state. This is the lesson of history and has been common to all powerful religions – check out the power of Islam in Saudi Arabia or Iran or the power of the popes and clergy during the middle ages.

This has been the inevitable consequence whenever the separation of Church and State has been blurred – as many religious fanatics are attempting in the USA today and also in secular Muslim states like Indonesia and Turkey. There is a constant push by religion for more power and control. After all, god deserves no less.

Best, Jamie.

[robertb]

I suppose that it is true that fundamentalist Muslims tend to make the nightly news and that they tend to make a fine bogey man, for the less enlightened among us.

However, knowing quite a few Muslims myself, there is the vast moderate middle, similar to what one finds in Christianity, that tend to take many things a bit more allegorically.

[headheart]

Yes I too know many lovely, decent people who are Muslims or Christians. .

I know many people too, but how many of these people are your friends?

After all, god deserves no less.

A very telling comment.

Sincerely,
Eric J. Sawyer

[Tassman]

I know many people too, but how many of these people are your friends?

This is beside the point. The OP asked what one dislikes about Islam and why. I have given my reasons above. Inevitably there will be many people – the majority no doubt – who are normal, decent people just trying to get on with their lives despite the religio-political system of governance.

And yes, I have several Muslim and Christian friends in Australia – they tend to be thin on the ground where I’m based in Buddhist Thailand

A very telling comment.

It was a sarcastic comment, meaning that this is the sort of argument religion uses in seeking more power, namely "god deserves no less".

Sincerely,
Eric J. Sawyer

Best Jamie.

[headheart]

This is beside the point.

You are missing the point. Perhaps you aught to listen more closely to the words of your so-called friends.

Islam is a religion of peace and preaches tolerance and coexistence..

Sincerely,
Eric J

[Tassman]

You are missing the point. Perhaps you aught to listen more closely to the words of your so-called friends.

Islam is a religion of peace and preaches tolerance and coexistence..

Sincerely,
Eric J

No YOU are missing the point. Let’s simplify this.

The OP asked what one dislikes about Islam and why. My response was that I dislike Islam because, as with ALL religions, it claims a divine mandate to impose its views on the populous in the name its god. This has been true in history and it is true today. This is why I dislike Islam and all religions in general.

The OP did NOT address individual Muslims. As I said above there will inevitably be many people – the majority no doubt – who are normal, decent people just trying to get on with their lives despite the religio-political system of governance.