Religious Witness Against Torture

Did you know Muslim men can trade in their wives like used cars? Neither did I, but apparently it’s in the “Koran.” I’m not sure if mentions used cars specifically, or more like used camels. I’ve never seen this version of the “Koran” before, but anti-Muslim pastor in Australia says it’s in there, so it must be true. I don’t know if I like this idea of legislating tolerance to be honest, I struggle with hate crimes legislation in the US as well. This trial though is bringing me a great deal of comic relief as I realize what people…

Here are my notes on Karen Leonard’s keynote address. Please keep in mind that this is a stream of consciousness capture of my interpretation of what she had to say. (sorry for the terrible formatting – no time to fix it right now)

I understand that in some “Progressive Muslim” circles it is almost blasphemous to criticise Khaled Abou El Fadl, but I am going to to do it anyway. Let me state first off that I think all Muslims and non-Muslims should read ” A Conference of the Books: The Search for Beauty in Islam”. It is a moving, well written, collection of essays that will forever change the way one thinks about Islam. I will read anything by El Fadl and consider him to be one of the foremost thinkers on Islam today. He is a great legal scholar and one…