|
We already endured 8 years of crocodile tears! |
|
|
|
Support Free Republic Or mail checks to: Or you can use: |
|
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD-- |
|
Posted on 04/06/2004 12:43:46 PM PDT by Salman
Ibn Warraq: Why I Am Not A Muslim
Summary:
Secularist Muslim intellectual Ibn Warraq - not his real name - was born on the Indian subcontinent and educated in the West. He believes that the great Islamic civilisations of the past were established in spite of the Koran, not because of it, and that only a secularised Islam can deliver Muslim states from fundamentalist madness. Little wonder that he chooses to keep his identity secret. We talk to Ibn Warraq this week.
Details or Transcript:
Lyn Gallacher: This week on The Religion Report, we're devoting the entire program to an exclusive interview with the secularist Muslim intellectual Ibn Warraq. Ibn Warraq is the pseudonym used by this author of two controversial books, Why I Am not a Muslim and The Quest for the Historical Muhammad. The name, Ibn Warraq, is one that's traditionally been adopted by dissident authors throughout the history of Islam. And in this case, Ibn Warraq uses it because he fears for his safety. He believes that there are moderate Muslims, but that Islam itself is not moderate. And, he says it's time for Western Muslims and Western politicians like George Bush and Tony Blair to stop denying Islam's role in the violence of September 11th.
Ibn Warraq is speaking to Stephen Crittenden.
Stephen Crittenden: Ibn Warraq, do you think that Islamic leaders around the world, apart from the Taliban, have any sense that the attack of September 11 represents a big crisis for them - a big crisis for Islam - perhaps even more than it does for America?
Ibn Warraq: Well the problem is of course is that there is no such thing as a Pope in Islam, so who are exactly the Islamic leaders? There are all sorts of proclaimed Islamic philosophers and spokesmen, occasionally we refer to the Al-Azhar University in Cairo as a sort of authoritative voice, but really there is no hierarchy and there is no such thing as the Islamic spokesman. But the various Islamic philosophers, thinkers, spokesmen who are sort of trundled out on occasions like this are beginning to realise that something drastic has happened, and that a real re-thought of things has to take place, that is for sure. I have seen some incredible statements from people I never expected such statements from.
(Excerpt) Read more at abc.net.au ...
Emphasis added.
Also a long one, but well worth clicking the link. Comments, FReepers?
|
We already endured 8 years of crocodile tears! |
|
|
|
Support Free Republic Or mail checks to: Or you can use: |
|
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD-- |
|
Did you even know there was a 'Mufti of Marseilles' before you read this? Is there perhaps a Mufti in your home town, who didn't make the news (yet)?
On with the reformation!
Cut the poor guy some slack. Wrap your mind around the fact that while Ibn Warraq is very ignorant of Christianity, he is very knowledgeable about Islam and not just from reading books.
OK the excesses of the Spanish Inquisition and Cromwell's Puritans were aberrations, and Ibn Warraq takes them for expressions of Christianity. Still you ought to pay attention when he talks about what he knows about, which is Islam.
Christian civilization was at it's lowest ebb when Muhammad was around. Islam is twisted Judaism with a bit of twisted Christianity. But what "Christianity" was Muhammad imitating?
Islam also contains some Jahilia (the pre-Muhammad Meccan pagan cult). Plus special pleading for Muhammad's own sexual practises.
"Allah" means "God" in Arabic. That word has been used by Christian Arabs and Arabic speaking Jews since before Muhammad. "Allah" was also the epithet of the king of the gods (the god of the moon) in Jahilia.
Muslims really do sort of "worship the same God", because they say there is only one. But their ideas about God are twisted.
I do. And I take some solace in it. But I still take major issue with his ancillary trashing of Christianity. And I thank you for your well reasoned response.
I don't really have any argument with what you are saying.
We haven't heard from Ibn Warraq recently because he is in hiding. I doubt that he would follow the current "partisan" media line of equating W's Christianity with the Muslim crazies, but of course I don't know this for sure.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
