Muslims unite! A new Reformation will bring your faith into the modern era

timesonline ^ | 8/11/2005 | Salmon Rushdie

[abu afak]

WHEN Sir Iqbal Sacranie, head of the Muslim Council of Britain, admitted that “our own children” had perpetrated the July 7 London bombings, it was the first time in my memory that a British Muslim had accepted his community’s responsibility for outrages committed by its members.

Instead of blaming US foreign policy or “Islamophobia”, Sacranie described the bombings as a “profound challenge” for the Muslim community. However, this is the same Sacranie who, in 1989, said that “Death is perhaps too easy” for the author of The Satanic Verses. Tony Blair’s decision to knight him and treat him as the acceptable face of “moderate”, “traditional” Islam is either a sign of his Government’s penchant for religious appeasement or a demonstration of how limited Mr Blair’s options really are.

Sacranie is a strong advocate of Mr Blair’s much-criticised new religious hatred Bill that will make it harder to criticise religion, and actually expects the new law to outlaw references to Islamic terrorism. He said as recently as January 13: “There is no such thing as an Islamic terrorist. This is deeply offensive. Saying Muslims are terrorists would be covered [ie, banned] by this provision.” Two weeks later his organisation boycotted a Holocaust remembrance ceremony in London, commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz 60 years ago. If Sir Iqbal Sacranie is the best Mr Blair can offer in the way of a good Muslim, we have a problem. ...."

The rest above

[Rummyfan]

Why would God be influenced by the socioeconomics of 7th-century Arabia, after all? Why would the Messenger’s personal circumstances have anything to do with the Message?

Well, far be it from me to question The Almighty, but I did want to observe it was a sh*t-hole in the 7TH century, and it's a sh*t-hole now!!!!

[AnotherUnixGeek]

The Satanic Verses is most certainly not a mediocre book. It might not be the easiest reading for some - lots of Bollwood/Hindi/Urdu slang and references to Islam might make it hard to understand - and the "magic realism" school of fiction might not be to everyone's taste. However, none of these things make it anything less than a very fine novel.

Quite frankly, I wonder if the Ayatollah Khomenei ever bothered to read it before condemning it and Rushdie. Without doubt, most of the people calling for Rushdie's head have never done so and probably don't have the faintest idea what the book is about. Their loss.

[Rummyfan]

I am always leery of any group that goes nonlinear when faced with constructive criticism.

Definite sign of weaknees, insecurity, and fear of competing ideas.

[homewithkids]

The Bible is not the literal Word of God but an account of the actions and deeds of the Hebrew and Christian God throughout history. It chronicles events that many believe are inspired by God. for example; Jesus was raised, prophets spoke, Israel was guided, Saul became Paul etc..
These are actions and events that give it authority.

The Quran claims authority by simply stating that it is the word of God. period.

For Muslims, the Qur'an comes directly and literally from God. It wasn't simply written down by inspired human authors, as is the case with the letters of Paul. No, the material in the Qur'an consists of the direct words of God. In a sense, the Qur'an is like an incarnation of God and is in some ways more akin to Jesus than the Bible.

[Rummyfan]

Isn't there a Mahdi or 'Awaited One' in Islam? Maybe he can reform Islam.... of course maybe he is Jesus Christ and the reform of Islam will consist of conversion to Christianity. Seriously, though, they can't let go. Their father's-father's-father's-father's-.......father have been living a lie for fifteen-hundred years, a lie much more monstrous than any Lenin or Mao foisted on the people. For them to admit the lie is to negate their entire existence, but I don't see any other way. The Islamic culture, or Arab culture if you wish, is finished. We are witnessing it's death throes.

[homewithkids]

Unix,
Sorry to offend but I didn't think it was that great. But I believe it was/is a catalyst to a greater understanding of the extreme measures Islamists will take to censor any criticism of their religious beliefs.
For that reason alone it is a great book!
Peace!

[olde north church]

Not out of any respect for islam or anything but referring to it as "moon-god" or satanism is pretty much comparable to calling evangelical christians the remnants of carnie barkers, spiritualists and proto-plasmic artists who went to where the money really was: tent revivals --> radio --> television.
Truth be told, Martin Luther, John Calvin or Henry VIII were more interested in self-indulgence than religion. Martin Luther, the world's second-most well-known disgruntled employee and nun seducer. Calvin couldn't get elected to a Swiss legislature. Henry VIII just was in a pissing war with the Pope.
Very few people walking this planet today worship any god as a result of deep thought and reflection. Although I'm sure everyone here is from a long line of towers of principle, standing up to their kings, refusing to change their beliefs at risk of their own life.
With about 1 billion slams and 2 billion Christians on Earth. The percentage of those with an educational level of say, higher than kindergarten is really not in the slams favor. Although no quarter should be given to them, they aren't well taught.

[weegee]

To acknowledge Christ in a religious text and deny Him at the same time is of an antiChrist prophet. Teh founders of Islam rewrote passages of the Judeo-Christian Bible.

It is an honest presentation of the facts.

Although I made no reference to "moon god", muslims still use crescent moon imagery.

[homewithkids]

There are some who are trying to reform Islam from within.

http://www.secularislam.org

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Sorry to offend but I didn't think it was that great.

Oh, no offense taken or meant by me either. People are entitled to like what they like - I just wanted to say a few words in defense of Rushdie's novel, which I found funny and good reading.

[abu afak]

SecularIslam (Great Site BTW.. have used it and other Former Muslim's, Ali Sina, FaithandFreedom.org) is the site of Ibn Warraq..
Former Muslim and Author of "Why I am Not a Muslim"..

But it is "from within" to some degree.. he just can't live with it the way it is and does not.

[homewithkids]

I know, I used to go to Ali Sina's faithfreedom.org alot but it seems that the site is no longer up.
Do you know what happened to it?

[abu afak]

Looks like it's gone.

I was just reading their message board a few days ago; which looks gone now too!

[No One Special]

Google cache has the answer:

This site was suspended by our host Dreamhost.com because they say our CPU usage affects other sites. Basically, we are victim of success. When I signed up there was no mention of CPU usage but now they throw this as an excuse and don't even want to refund the balance. I have found a new host and will move this site there as soon as I complete the backup of all the forum. Since this site is going to be transferred to a new server, it may take up to 72 hours for some computers to pick it up again. Sorry for the inconvenience.

http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:S13ADaPo5igJ:www.faithfreedom.org/+faithfreedom&hl=en

[Cronos]

Dude, I don't care if they even convert to a cult that worships tea-pots. Anything but slam

[John Valentine]

Very few people walking this planet today worship any god as a result of deep thought and reflection.

Yep. And those folks aren't part of the problem. They aren't blowing up buses and spraying down crowds with machine gun fire in God's name.

[Hank Rearden]

Screw it. It's time for Allah to die.

[abu afak]

Thanks.. WE'LL BE BACK .. and thanks FOR that great site

faithfreedom.org

[olde north church]

John Effin' Kerry be damned for making connotations to nuance and subtlety a mockery but I don't think you and I are too far apart. I don't engage in discrimination of islam or the slammies, it's more of a mutual derision and antipathy.
I believe we are mistaken when we demonize or dismiss our enemy. They have infiltrated our society and learned of how our society works are using it against us. They made a calculation, it had one flaw. I'm not saying we start hanging out in mosques or Indo-pak markets but we better damn well start understanding their way of life and learning how to use it against them.
They don't mind dying for their cause. Fine, I wonder how they would feel about a few sex change operations. Turn a few Alis into Aileens. Let them know of what we are truly capable.
As far as the crescent moon imagery goes, think about the sign/symbol of the Cross, the fish, and the dove. I don't know if you're Roman Catholic but add incense and candles to the mix.
Your point about acknowledging Christ then denying Him His place, the same charge could be made by Zoroastrians and Mithrists, had the Romans after Constantine and the slammies not almost wiped them out.

[olde north church]

Would you say the people who are engaging in deep thought and reflection are blowing up buses and machine-gunning innocent folks?