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Shaking Up Islam in America
Time ^ | 9/5/04 | ASRA Q. NOMANI

Posted on 09/06/2004 4:20:48 PM PDT by Valin

Pundits have long been asking whether Islam is ready for a reform. The answer is that across the U.S., a quiet tide of Islamic reform is very much under way. In Chicago last year, the Downtown Islamic Center made room for four women on its board after they protested the design of a new mosque that would have given women inadequate space in which to pray. Instead, women got access to the main hall when the new mosque opened in July. In Dearborn, Mich., earlier this year, Imam Mohammed Mardini welcomed Christian women who weren't covering their hair, over the protests of men who wanted them barred. In Sacramento, Calif., not long ago, mosque leaders wrote their bylaws with clauses guaranteeing tolerance and gender equity. In New York City an e-magazine, Muslim WakeUp!, organizes monthly gatherings for Muslims who want to make their communities more tolerant.

(snip) But our protests have also helped bring about a transformation. In May the first woman was elected to mosque leadership. In June mosque authorities publicly reversed policy and said women could enter through the front door and pray in the main hall. Since our actions began, more women attend worship services. Last month we won an even bigger victory. A Ph.D. student declared from the pulpit that "one of the most important fundamentals of our religion is to love and be loyal to Islam and the Muslims and to hate and renounce the disbelievers," the "cursed" Jews and Christians. I immediately protested the sermon, as did others. In the past, leaders have looked the other way. This time they called an emergency meeting and did the right thing. They fired the student from his post giving sermons.

(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 2004; bush; camejo; cheney; dubya; edwards; election; gwb; islam; islamreform; kerry; mosques; muslimamericans; muslimwomen; nader; time; timemag; timemagazine
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To: Siamese Princess
That's the problem. Moderate Muslims many Freepers are Muslims Freepers who are either ignorant or, or ignore, much of this religion.

There that's better.

21 posted on 09/06/2004 4:47:50 PM PDT by Valin (I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.)
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To: TopQuark
Close.... The reforms that Judaism needs are:
1) To listen to the Old Testament prophets when they told you about Jesus.
2) to recognize Jesus as the Son of God, the Messiah, and as the means of salvation.

But at least Judaism, unlike Islam, recognizes the sanctity of human life, and still recognizes that God calls us to love all men. If I understand scripture correctly though, the Jews still need Jesus for forgiveness. That's based on the following as well as other scriptures:

I hope for all Jews sake, that there is someway that God will apply Jesus redemptive work to the Jews who failed to accept Him. But the way I read the New Testament I see that as unlikely.

And to those Jews who dismiss the Christian view of Hell, I point out Daniel 12:2 - And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

22 posted on 09/06/2004 4:50:14 PM PDT by DannyTN
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To: Xcoastie
"The law of Allah is to be imposed on believers and unbelievers equally"

What they do in their own place of worship is little of our business ( human sacrifice and other obvious exceptions )

The Swiss Guards will stop you if you expect to visit the Vatican in your shorts, and you remove your shoes in Buddhist or Hindu temples. What's the big deal ?
23 posted on 09/06/2004 4:51:29 PM PDT by RS (The Truth may be slimy, but it is never slime)
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To: Valin

Wow! They are letting women use the front door to the mosque! Incredible!

At this rate, they will be joining us here in the 21st century in about another 500 years.

Maybe by that time they will have stopped bayonetting and shooting children too.


24 posted on 09/06/2004 4:51:46 PM PDT by spodefly (I've posted nothing but BTTT over 1000 times!!!)
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To: DannyTN

True. No modernization, no reforming, no revamping, no denouncing certain writings, etc.

All false religions are from Satan, the father of all lies.

No good can come from them.

Hearts and minds must be changed, one person at a time.

And while that is being done, be on guard.


25 posted on 09/06/2004 5:08:12 PM PDT by JudyinCanada
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To: spodefly

http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=22013

Saturday, September 4, 2004
Arab columnist: All the World Terrorists are Muslims

Siege Prompts Self-Criticism in Arab Media
By SUSAN SEVAREID
Associated Press Writer
www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-arabs-russia-school-seizu
re,0,2471259.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines
September 4, 2004, 12:37 PM EDT
...

"Our terrorist sons are an end-product of our corrupted culture,"
Abdulrahman al-Rashed, general manager of Al-Arabiya television, wrote in
his daily column published in the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper. It ran under
the headline, "The Painful Truth: All the World Terrorists are Muslims!"

Al-Rashed ran through a list of recent attacks by Islamic extremist
groups -- in Russia, Iraq, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen -- many of which
are influenced by the ideology of Osama bin Laden, the Saudi-born leader of
the al-Qaida terror network.

"Most perpetrators of suicide operations in buses, schools and residential
buildings around the world for the past 10 years have been Muslims," he
wrote. Muslims will be unable to cleanse their image unless "we admit the
scandalous facts," rather than offer condemnations or justifications.

"The picture is humiliating, painful and harsh for all of us."


26 posted on 09/06/2004 5:09:01 PM PDT by Valin (I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.)
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To: DannyTN
"2) to recognize Jesus as the Son of God, the Messiah, and as the means of salvation"

I don't think that Islam teaches the need for salvation. Not needing salvation, they think they have no need for a savior. Their hereafter is assured whatever they do. No need to reform or repent. No change of heart or mind. No transforming process needed. Once a murderer, always a murderer. No penalties in the hereafter. And none on earth as long as you can justify your actions according to the many permissions in their law -- or don't get caught.

On the contrary, they believe they are rewarded for committing terror, mayhem, and unspeakable abominations.

Do the well have need of a doctor?

They have not yet realized they have a terminal disease.

27 posted on 09/06/2004 5:12:14 PM PDT by Eastbound
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To: Valin
They understand the eb and flow of a corrupt Godless society....all they have to do is lay low
put out press releases...make a nice show of being 'moderate' and the real imams know this
to...they must bide their time...pick their battles carefully...not give too much of their plans away..

Continue to buy off politicians with Saudi oil money...build more Mosques in areas that have NO appreciable Muslim populations...build more Islamic Centers..buy up more US rural property for Muslim Summer Camps..

Cry out against discrimination...for oppressed groups...put themselves into the same clique as the Civil Rights movement ..recruit cannon fodder...in the US military and in the prisons...
(these Muslims are on the inside ..know the culture..)

Take over American intuitions..schools...news groups...Rueters AP...television radio newspapers...

Moderate Islam is the Trojan Horse of the Purest Form......It's the nose of the camel under the Big Tent...

IMO
28 posted on 09/06/2004 5:15:00 PM PDT by joesnuffy (Moderate Islam Is For Dilettantes)
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To: Valin

I think this is a love-the-Muslims article, pandering to the bleeding-hearts.


29 posted on 09/06/2004 5:17:37 PM PDT by bboop
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To: Valin

Never, never trust an Arab.


30 posted on 09/06/2004 5:23:51 PM PDT by RAY (They that do right are all heroes!)
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To: JudyinCanada

"No modernization, no reforming, no revamping, no denouncing certain writings, etc. "

Not sure... are you FOR that or against it ?


31 posted on 09/06/2004 5:28:18 PM PDT by RS (The Truth may be slimy, but it is never slime)
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To: Valin
Ref: Your Post #24. Appreciate this condemnation. Just wonder why we don't see more of it.

Muslims who DON'T cry out in shame, do so at their own peril.

I wouldn't lay a nickels bet on how long the free world's paitence will hold out.

And yet, we don't want to, and will NEVER adopt the same horrendous, murderous tactics.

In short, somehow these people need to be ripped from the earth, probably with some serious "collateral damage" to those who wouldn't help us remove the "scourge".

32 posted on 09/06/2004 5:28:35 PM PDT by FixitGuy
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To: Valin; Siamese Princess; 2banana

Hey Val, I don't know what they're paying you to shill for the cult but whatever it is it's too much. After how many months of propagandizing this forum all you can show for your efforts is that more of us see islam for the evil that it perpetuates....but hey, if only we were as smart as you then we'd get it, right? We got it all right and as with any little propadanda puppet your failure leaves you with nothing but name-calling.


33 posted on 09/06/2004 5:31:24 PM PDT by wtc911 (I have half a Snickers...it was given to me by a CIA guy as we went into Cambodia)
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To: bboop

You know what gets me? People here piss, moan, and complain that Muslims are always saying that they don't have a problem and that they need too change. Then when someone posts something about how some Muslims are what do we see?
Stupid remarks like yours.
I've been accused of many things in my day, but being a bleeding heart has never been one of them!


34 posted on 09/06/2004 5:31:41 PM PDT by Valin (I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.)
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To: RS

I don't think that any reforming or modernizing, or whatever you want to call it would make any diffenence to most of these people.

They are what they are because they follow a false religion...one which promotes violence against so-called infidels.

They will never change that aspect of their religion. It is foundational.


35 posted on 09/06/2004 5:33:31 PM PDT by JudyinCanada
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To: Valin

This grass roots approach seems to be at odds with the arguably wahhabist university methodology. But then, why should I be surprised?


36 posted on 09/06/2004 5:34:31 PM PDT by Frumious Bandersnatch
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To: FixitGuy

Just wonder why we don't see more of it.

It's out there but you DO have to look. I could post more like this but it hurts too much to read the reply from the Nuke Mecca crowd.


37 posted on 09/06/2004 5:35:01 PM PDT by Valin (I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.)
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To: Valin

Oh yeah, "based on the principles Islam gave us in the 7th Century". So that's the construct they'll use to reform 21st century Islam. Man, if I was gonna reform Islam I wouldn't look to the murdering, plundering prophet for adivice. It oughta be fun to watch this play out.


38 posted on 09/06/2004 5:38:44 PM PDT by bereanway
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To: bereanway

See reply #34


39 posted on 09/06/2004 5:41:48 PM PDT by Valin (I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.)
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To: Valin
"I could post more like this but it hurts too much to read the reply from the Nuke Mecca crowd."

Post all you can. The Muslim community needs to take their wayward sons in hand, for their own safety, and the rest of the world!

Then will they show that they are worthy to share with the rest of the peace loving world.

I've often thought that we can't drag the whole world, kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

People point constantly to the past evils of the "Church", but it took us all a long time to "evolve" spiritually.

And we ain't done by a longshot!

40 posted on 09/06/2004 5:43:00 PM PDT by FixitGuy
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