On the "Reform" of Islam

Catholic World Report ^ | February 15, 2015 | James V. Schall, S.J.

[NYer]

James V. Schall, S.J. taught political philosophy at Georgetown University for many years until recently retiring. He is the author of numerous books and countless essays on philosophy, theology, education, morality, and other topics. His most recent book is Reasonable Pleasures: The Strange Coherences of Catholicism (Ignatius Press).

[NYer]

When we see how Allah is understood in Islam, how he is described, we are hard pressed to see what, if any, relation the Christian God and Allah have at all.

Lengthy but worthy read! Ping!

[Paladin2]

At a minimum, Islam needs to remove Mad Mo’, sharia and jihad.

[fishtank]

A good start would be for the RCC to re-write the Vatican 2 documents.

They goofed BIG TIME on Islam.

[Coleus]

we are hard pressed to see what, if any, relation the Christian God and Allah have at all. >>>

none, they are not the same and I thought everyone knew that. We had 1,5000 years to figure this out.

[Lurkinanloomin]

al-Sisi is a truly brave man. I wish Islam could be reformed.
I doubt that it can. Anyone trying will be killed.

[Misterioso]

No one thought that communism could fall except, perhaps, Reagan and John Paul II. Some elements of it still strive to hang on, to be sure, but its evils have generally been acknowledged as inhuman.

Acknowledged? By who?

[I want the USA back]

Reform? can a snake become a rabbit?

[GreyFriar]

Bingo, the God whom we worship is NOT the same ‘god’ of the Moslems. Mohammed used the drapery of Judaism and Christianity as a deceptive cloak before he began the slaughter of both groups as infidels to his pagan ‘god’.

[odds]

Islam can’t be reformed because there is no single supreme (universal) authority today for Islam, and any reformation will need to go against the koran which is viewed immutable. Only the aplication or practice of Islam can be different by muslims which already is the case.

But there are also ‘mohammadans’ like ISIS (salafis) who are purists & emulate mohammad’s actions during early days of islam in every way, not just the penal code of sharia.

[babygene]

There’s not going to be a “reform” of Islam. Islamic countries have been inbreeding for 1400 years (marrying first cousins or worse), and their gene pool is so polluted at this point that there is no going back. This is true for almost all Muslim countries.

What needs to happen is they be isolated to the extent possible. They are all marginally crazy.

[livius]

Islam can’t be “reformed,” because it is evil and wrong at its root and core.

BTW, the “Reformation” did not “reform” Christianity, but simply divided Christendom, and then we had several different strains of “reformers” killing each other and Catholics with their particular vision of Christianity (and Luther’s vision included polygamy, incidentally).

But getting back to Islam, it’s anti-rational. Judaism, even the violent, vindictive faith of the Old Testament, was never anti-rational, which was why God was able to lead the Jews into a better understanding of their scriptures (meaning, the acts or legends of their forefathers, many of them awful by most standards).

But Mohammed took these things literally because it was advantageous to him, a pagan, to create a syncretist cult that could then be imposed on the militarily conquered peoples. Islam is a combination of Old Testament Jewish law, unmitigated by rabbinic interpretation, pagan imagery, and a few distorted Christian figures. ISIS asserts that “Isa,” meaning Jesus, will come and lead them to victory.

Pope Francis is a simpleton, and he is doing no favor to anyone by pretending there is nothing wrong with Islam at its root and core. Until this is discussed, nothing can happen.

[JudyinCanada]

Islam need only agree to 3 major changes:

1) admit that the Old Testament is the holy word of God.

2) admit that the New Testament is the holy word of God.

3) admit that mohammed is a false prophet and allah is a false god.

[GenXteacher]

There will be no reform of Islam from within. It has been spread by the sword since its beginning, and those who destroy and kill in its name will rule over those do not, because the non-violent ones approve of the violent ones. The secular West will perish before it, and only a more militant Christianity akin to that of the War of the League of Augsberg or the Thirty Years War will survive it.

[Neidermeyer]

Step 1 , get their attention:

[TigersEye]

The Mohammed Factor

If you condemn murder you condemn Mohammed.

If you condemn thievery you condemn Mohammed.

If you condemn rape you condemn Mohammed.

If you condemn pedophilia you condemn Mohammed.

If you condemn terrorism you condemn Mohammed.

If you condemn Mohammed you condemn Islam.

[mosesdapoet]

It’s interesting the way socialists approach theological concepts but when it comes to Islam they are not the only ones who refuse to approach the issue. That even includes leading Christian clergy including Pope Francis.

Followers of Mohammed not only claim, but truly believe that God has authorized them to kill those who refuse to submit to their version of God’s will. That is a basic tenet of that religion. A claim which goes unchallanged. While it’s understandable for atheists which most socialists are, not to approach that claim on a theological basis simply eliminatimg those who believe in its execution will not end its practice. Islam must be discredited and condemed.

It’s bewildering why many Christian clergy concerned about “political correctness “ refuse to address what an insult to God it is and worse yet are unable to condem then convince and convert its advocates and adhearants they are followers of an evil creed .

The Koran which was not given to Mohammed by God but by some angel .Demanding enforcement of sharia law which draws heavily from the Torah.It is a pseudo religious concoction using monotheistic selected texts, taken and misconstrued from the old .(bible) and new testaments. Both of which cite the Almighty has granted free will to accept or obey his laws and is the final judge not man. Sodom and Gormora , “Let he who is without sin cast the stone” are outstanding examples from both books. One deals with sin and God’s decision toward a group the other to an individual, neither is left to man.

Yet followers of Mohammed under the severest of penalties are forbidden to read either which would refute that assertion in a creed which institutionalizes disgusting arab tribal views, observances,and customs. Claiming adhearants are authorized by our Creator to demand submission to it or suffer an ignominious death administered by followers of Islam simply because they answer the call to prayer 5 times a day.

http://www.theusmat.com/islamandfreewill.htm

[GreyFriar]

Well said. And I would make one change/addition to this sentence: The Koran which was not given to Mohammed by God but by some [demonic] angel

[piusv]

Yes, but it wasn’t a goof. The portion of VII that teaches incorrectly about Islam is part and parcel of its New Religion of False Ecumenism.

[fishtank]

Oh, I agree it was completely intentional on the part of Rome.

Sometimes I use the word “goof” and “jerk” interchangeably.., as in the sentence:

“I don’t know who was a bigger heretic: the jerk Paul VI or the goof John XXIII.”