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| Britain |
| Islam needs Reformation: Rushdie |
| 2005-08-11 |
| ISLAM needs to go through a new Reformation to bring the faith into the modern era, novelist Salman Rushdie wrote in a British newspaper today. Rushdie said a broad-minded interpretation of the religion would lead to better relations with Western communities and lessen the alienation which led young British Muslims to become the alleged suicide bombers who killed 52 innocent people in London in July. Rushdie was forced into hiding after the former Iranian spiritual leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or religious edict, in February 1989, calling for his execution because of alleged blasphemy and apostasy in his novel The Satanic Verses. Rushdie, Indian-born into a Muslim family, had a $US2.8 million ($3.68 million) bounty placed on his head by a Tehran-based foundation. "What is needed is a move beyond tradition - nothing less than a reform movement to bring the core concepts of Islam into the modern age," Rushdie wrote in The Times. "A Muslim Reformation to combat not only the jihadi ideologues but also the dusty, stifling seminaries of the traditionalists, throwing open the windows of the closed communities to let in much-needed fresh air." Rushdie wrote that many Muslims in Britain lead lives apart from the rest of the community, and in such insular circles, "young men's alienations can easily deepen". The novelist said very few Muslims had been permitted to study the Koran as an historical document and it was "high time" believers could. "The insistence within Islam that the Koranic text is the infallible, uncreated word of God renders analytical scholarly discourse all but impossible. "Why would God be influenced by the socioeconomics of seventh-century Arabia, after all? "If, however, the Koran were seen as a historical document, then it would be legitimate to reinterpret it to suit the new conditions of successive new ages. "Laws made in the seventh century could finally give way to the needs of the 21st. The Islamic Reformation has to begin here, with an acceptance that all ideas, even sacred ones, must adapt to altered realities." The novelist's forthcoming tale, Shalimar the Clown, concerns a young Muslim boy who is guided by a radical mullah to become an Islamic terrorist. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #14 BA Mike & Ptah, Amen! brothers. I think this meat is finished marinating. So, I won't pour anymore spicy liquid. Ptah, Better late than never. Welcome, to other side of the Replacement Theory. |
| Posted by: Poison Reverse 2005-08-11 22:34 |
| #13 Bah, a lot of people CLAIM to believe every word in the Bible, but you'd be amazed at how many filters people have in place: I once believed the Christian Church replaced Israel, and yet read passages in Romans that explicitly denied that belief for YEARS, and didn't realize the impedance mismatch until last year. Sheesh. The Bible is indeed God's word: telling me otherwise is being far too late, since I have benefitted and profited from following it for too many years. You may not Believe it, but I KNOW it, and the last time I looked, knowing gained from personal life experience trumped mere opinions of strangers. I'd tell you to peddle your Opinions in Waziristan, where there is a far more gullible audience, but another franchise has already moved in... |
| Posted by: Ptah 2005-08-11 22:18 |
| #12 bk- FWIW, I believe that the KJV Bible is the inerrant, perfect word of God. I also believe in the absolute right of any other faith or branch to say that their scriptures are the right ones...as long as they don't insist on my death for not agreeing with them. When that happens, I will get every bit as intolerant and closeminded as you THINK I am. When it doesn't, it's live and let live, just like 99.99% of the rest of America. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2005-08-11 17:03 |
| #11 BK: I resemble that remark. Guess you mean like "Turn the other cheek", "Love your neighbor as yourself," etc? It amazes me how closely the left WANTS to be in that type kumbaya world, with bunnies and duckies, but fight so hard against Christ's true teachings. Methinks you have some very deep personal issues here. And, furthermore, the true Christian faith shows the exact opposite. Christ died at the hands of men for all of us (a TRUE martyr, as were His immediate followers), NEVER did he say (or show by example) any of the traits of the "true" believers of Islam (suicide bombings, homicides, torture, beheadings, ramming jets into buildings, blowing up trains, yadda yadda yadda). I'ma guessing you've had some personal issues with Christians, maybe the likes of "love the sinner, hate the sin", eh? Not to start a flame war, but we're on the same side (supposedly), and these NONSENSE comparisions of the Jihadis and the Christians REALLY tick me off! |
| Posted by: BA 2005-08-11 14:22 |
| #10 by taking every single word of the Bible as absolute God given truth there are those in America that can be accused of the same kind of close mindedness Yes, but bk, they aren't in power, and even if they were they wouldn't do their best to kill off all those who don't agree with them 100%. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-08-11 12:35 |
| #9 by taking every single word of the Bible as absolute God given truth there are those in America that can be accused of the same kind of close mindedness |
| Posted by: bk 2005-08-11 11:58 |
| #8 Islam needs Reformation: Rushdie It's more like a car with a bent frame. No matter how much effort and money you put into it......when you drive it.........it is still a car with a bent frame. |
| Posted by: Al-aska Paul 2005-08-11 11:08 |
| #7 The best thing that could happen to Sal is another fatwa on his ass. Might help him sell more of his horseshit books. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-08-11 11:00 |
| #6 Reformation via the Strategic Air Command. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2005-08-11 08:52 |
| #5 a $US2.8 million ($3.68 million) bounty placed on his head by a Tehran-based foundation western foundations fund cancer research and charities. |
| Posted by: PlanetDan 2005-08-11 08:51 |
| #4 Is this a suicide attempt? |
| Posted by: MunkarKat 2005-08-11 08:50 |
| #3 However, he has no influence in Islamic circles. That's not true. They follow him everywhere he goes. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-08-11 07:51 |
| #2 Rushdie had his op-ed in the Wapo earlier this week. Rushdie has some influence in leftist circles. However, he has no influence in Islamic circles. |
| Posted by: mhw 2005-08-11 07:48 |
| #1 Lol, F**kin' Duh, Sally. Reform or Perish has been in neon lights for almost 3 yrs, sonny. You're late. This was interesting: "Why would God be influenced by the socioeconomics of seventh-century Arabia, after all?" It begs several other questions, the kind that cause a nasty atheist to giggle, such as the 72 Virgins thingy, the Dome of Pearls, Streets of Gold, yadda³. None of these Earthly treasures make sense in Paradise or Heaven - unless there's an Earthly body with an Earthly nervous system to feel the sensations and a 7-11 on the corner that takes pearls in payment for Slurpees and smokes. BTW, who in their right mind would want a virgin? Untutored and inexperienced? Pfeh. Give me a Pro who can stop time dead in its tracks. Only naive sexual novices and cowards who live in fear of ridicule would think virgins are preferable. Squirrels. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-08-11 04:17 |