Islam Needs an Age of Reason

News Type: Other — Seeded on Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:31 AM EDT

Article Source: The Washington Post

religion, islam, globalism, modernity, irshad-manji

Irshad Manji:

What this imam did goes beyond matters of the heart. It reflects the power of using the mind to reinterpret the Qur'an for contemporary times. He has captured the spirit of ijtihad (pronounced ij-tee-had), Islam's own tradition of creative reasoning. As globalization persists and pluralism spreads, both Muslims and non-Muslims need to know that Islam offers a positive alternative to the tribal mentality.

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Groups: Activism, Anti-War, Arab World, Counterterrorism, Hate Watch, Open Minded, PeaceVine, Political Analysis, RightsVine, Social Entrepreneurs, Worldviews
Regions: Canada , Washington DC

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{"commentId":953555,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

backroads

. . . it is in countries like the United States, Canada and Britain that we already enjoy precious freedoms to think, express, challenge and be challenged on matters of interpretation. What a precious gift.

. . . In the Islamic world, renewing ijtihad might start with liberating the entrepreneurial talents of Muslim women through micro-business loans.

{"commentId":953555,"threadId":"138859","contentId":"901716","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

3 votes

#1 - Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:33 AM EDT

{"commentId":953661,"authorDomain":"krishna109"}

krishna-167929

Good article-- more people should read it (I clipped it to a few groups).

{"commentId":953661,"threadId":"138859","contentId":"901716","authorDomain":"krishna109"}

1 vote

#2 - Fri Aug 17, 2007 2:13 AM EDT

{"commentId":953793,"authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

Raat ki Raani

I had seeded something else from the same site a few weeks ago, intending it to act as a spur for more. Really glad that you picked this backroads.

I cannot recommend the wonderful stuff on this site more highly. It is exactly what the world needs to see, hear and read about. I have long maintained that if mankind were to peel layers of crap that Islam has been wrapped up with over the centuries (by Muslims as well as others), there must be some golden nuggets lying deep within. And I say that not as a follower, merely as an observer.

{"commentId":953793,"threadId":"138859","contentId":"901716","authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

2 votes

#2.1 - Fri Aug 17, 2007 7:01 AM EDT

{"commentId":953796,"authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

Raat ki Raani

sorry to double post. forgot to add. Have added to a few more Groups that are specifically looking for this sort of content.

{"commentId":953796,"threadId":"138859","contentId":"901716","authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

2 votes

#2.2 - Fri Aug 17, 2007 7:02 AM EDT

{"commentId":954128,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

backroads

Thanks, krishna and Raat.

Key is the reintroduction of critical thinking. The faith absolutely must reform from within. Threats of death against Manji and others reveal the dire depth of that need.

I especially liked her micro loan remark. Said it before and I'll say it again, hats off to Mohammed Yunus for coming up with the idea. Empowering women may be the linchpin for reform.

{"commentId":954128,"threadId":"138859","contentId":"901716","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

2 votes

#2.3 - Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:14 AM EDT

{"commentId":954308,"authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

Raat ki Raani

I came across some more seeds by Dennis McCann and Bill Harrison earlier on this blog. They all need wider reading and sharing.

{"commentId":954308,"threadId":"138859","contentId":"901716","authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

2 votes

#2.4 - Fri Aug 17, 2007 11:16 AM EDT

{"commentId":954337,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

backroads

It's time for the voices of moderation and reform to enjoy the same prominence as the extremists, who are masters of propaganda.

{"commentId":954337,"threadId":"138859","contentId":"901716","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

2 votes

#2.5 - Fri Aug 17, 2007 11:25 AM EDT

{"commentId":954483,"authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

Raat ki Raani

exactly. action speaks louder than words. time to help each of these articles living on various columns across NV to get a higher profile. it starts with votes and comments by all the seeders.

{"commentId":954483,"threadId":"138859","contentId":"901716","authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

2 votes

#2.6 - Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:01 PM EDT

{"commentId":954522,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

backroads

No glamour, perhaps.

Now here's something from Sudan. Did you know the U.S. created the Darfur nightmare? Did you know innoculating children against polio is a plot? (This anti-innoculation atrocity has happened in Nigeria and the tribal area of Pakistan. Yes, let the children die; let spite and hatred rule instead.)

http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD168507

No more must vile voices such as this be allowed top billing.

{"commentId":954522,"threadId":"138859","contentId":"901716","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

3 votes

#2.7 - Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:12 PM EDT

{"commentId":955665,"authorDomain":"krishna109"}

krishna-167929

It's time for the voices of moderation and reform to enjoy the same prominence as the extremists, who are masters of propaganda.

And who, in many cases, have a huge amount of funding behind them (Saudi oil money).

{"commentId":955665,"threadId":"138859","contentId":"901716","authorDomain":"krishna109"}

2 votes

#2.8 - Fri Aug 17, 2007 7:25 PM EDT

{"commentId":956238,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

backroads

It comes from more than just there, krishna. It comes from Tehran, too.

{"commentId":956238,"threadId":"138859","contentId":"901716","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

1 vote

#2.9 - Sat Aug 18, 2007 1:47 AM EDT

{"commentId":956305,"authorDomain":"krishna109"}

krishna-167929

It comes from more than just there, krishna. It comes from Tehran, too.

True. But I think that while Iran certainly supplies both weapons and money to terrorism (Hezb'Allah in Lebanon & elsewhere..more and more in Iraq)......Saudi Arabia is much more involved in the support and dissemination of the propaganda...throughout the Islamic world...even in the U.S. and Europe.

{"commentId":956305,"threadId":"138859","contentId":"901716","authorDomain":"krishna109"}

1 vote

#2.10 - Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:11 AM EDT

{"commentId":956314,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

backroads

I corresponded with a Saudi writer; he referred to the head of the snake. I pressed him, but he wouldn't reveal anything more.

{"commentId":956314,"threadId":"138859","contentId":"901716","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

#2.11 - Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:29 AM EDT

{"commentId":956344,"authorDomain":"krishna109"}

krishna-167929

I corresponded with a Saudi writer; he referred to the head of the snake. I pressed him, but he wouldn't reveal anything more."

This was in reference to what?

{"commentId":956344,"threadId":"138859","contentId":"901716","authorDomain":"krishna109"}

#2.12 - Sat Aug 18, 2007 4:16 AM EDT

{"commentId":956794,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

backroads

krishna, the root of the evil; we were talking about religious fundamentalism. Here's what he said (in '05):

I totally agree about fundamentalism, wherever it crops up. I lived and still live under its shadow and know what they can do to you and your life. As for fighting it out in Iraq, we knew this was going on and wondered how long Bush (would) tolerate his 'allies' in Saudi doing such nasty work. To this moment he has done nothing. The viper's head is in Saudi not Iraq or even Syria. That remains to be seen and dealt with. The sooner the better.

{"commentId":956794,"threadId":"138859","contentId":"901716","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

1 vote

#2.13 - Sat Aug 18, 2007 12:09 PM EDT

{"commentId":957761,"authorDomain":"krishna109"}

krishna-167929

krishna, the root of the evil; we were talking about religious fundamentalism. Here's what he said (in '05):

I totally agree about fundamentalism, wherever it crops up. I lived and still live under its shadow and know what they can do to you and your life. As for fighting it out in Iraq, we knew this was going on and wondered how long Bush (would) tolerate his 'allies' in Saudi doing such nasty work. To this moment he has done nothing. The viper's head is in Saudi not Iraq or even Syria. That remains to be seen and dealt with. The sooner the better.

Oh, Ok. Well, I agree...fundamentalism, throughout history, has been the casue of incredible evil (and mot only religious fundamentalism-- in a sense, Communism as practiced under, say Stalin or Kim Jung Il is just as bad-- it is, IMHO, another form of "fundamentalism."

However, it seems to me that in the world today...the Saudis & the Iranians (at least the leadership-- there is much opposition to the govt by many in Iran) are the main danger the world faces.

{"commentId":957761,"threadId":"138859","contentId":"901716","authorDomain":"krishna109"}

1 vote

#2.14 - Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:58 PM EDT

{"commentId":957774,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

backroads

The global network that provides material assistance and places for terrorists to hide no doubt would horrify us if it's every unearthed.

Did you see where Obama said he'd kill a number of world leaders? Yep. I wrote about that, too.

{"commentId":957774,"threadId":"138859","contentId":"901716","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

#2.15 - Sat Aug 18, 2007 9:05 PM EDT

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Islam Needs an Age of Reason

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