Religion

Intercession

islamoyankeeMay 9, 2004

Apikorsus says we’re only occasionally about theology; she’s right. The funny thing is, when I got the group together it was because I felt the religion of Islam had gotten short-shrift in media coverage and I wanted to talk about the theology of Islam as I understood; it’s what my background is in at the master’s level. Events have clearly moved us into a need to be much more responsive than long, meandering posts on theology would allow us to be, but it doesn’t mean I don’t have a few cooking. There is a theological issue we’d like people’s help…

Religion

verses

islamoyankeeMay 7, 2004

If all the trees of the earth were pens And the oceans ink, With many more oceans fro replenishing them, The words of God could never be written. Truly he is all-mighty and all-wise. (31:27) read in the name of your lord who created created man from an embryo read for your lord is most generous who taught by the pen taught man what he did not know. (96:1-5)

Religion Weblogs

Question

islamoyankeeMay 3, 2004

I went to Dawnsinger‘s site today. Followed one of his links to Radio Free Blogistan. For those of you who don’t know, most of the islamicate collective are Apple fans, and we’ve been considering voting Sam I Am off the island for not having an iPod. Anyway, on RFB, I saw this link about news aggregators. I use NetNewsWire Lite, and so looked at Pulp Fiction. On his blog he had a question, that I wanted to share with you. Question: How do you feel about the statement: “Any god that would condemn me for seeking the truth isn’t worth…

Current Affairs Religion

Milad un-Nabi

islamoyankeeMay 2, 2004

Yesterday was the birthday of the Prophet (Milad un-Nabi). I had wanted to do a lengthy post on the various world traditions associated with the celebration of the day. When I went on-line to try to pull resources about Egypt, Pakistan and Indonesia, all I kept getting were sites decrying the celebration of the Prophet’s birthday. Apparently because he never celebrated it, we shouldn’t either (leave aside the irony of the “guardians of faith” making this decree on the internet.) I celebrate birthdays of my friends and family, people who are important to me. I can’t think of a more…

Religion Weblogs

Public Intellectual

islamoyankeeApril 30, 2004

Ran across this interesting article on how “grassroots” are Progressive Muslim academics. If you haven’t already read Edward Said’s Representations of the Intellectual, you should.

Religion Weblogs

©1974, my soul and my genetic material

islamoyankeeApril 30, 2004

Just so we are clear, I was “published” in 1974, and am exercising legal control over my soul and genetic material. My thoughts, until published, are part of the Creative Commons. I was inspired to protect myself after reading a good post on copyright by Dawnsinger. More of my thoughts are in the comment section of his blog.

Current Affairs Religion

Left Behind

islamoyankeeApril 29, 2004

I read the book Left Behind a few months ago, and was quite taken by it. I’m intrigued by how other people view their own faiths, and theological texts are often not the best way to do so; I much prefer things like literature or autobiography, things that give me a greater sense of the lived tradition. I was doing some research on the No Child Left Behind Act, and something occurred to me. According the Left Behind series children will experience the Rapture for two reasons, they have not consciously sinned and they are ignorant of the world. The…

Religion

Which Muhammad? (More than a hand?)

islamoyankeeApril 28, 2004

I was watching the documentary The Rockstar and the Mullahs, and a particular segment leapt out at me. One of the self-styled mullahs (I say this because his formal education in the religious system seems to have been non-existent) says that the world will be better when we start doing things like cutting off the hands of thieves. He’s quite happy to say only he and his followers know what true Islam is, and all others who call themselves Muslim are “sons of pigs.” I’m sure he and his ilk would be more than happy to decry people like the…

Current Affairs Religion

Where’s the outrage?

islamoyankeeApril 27, 2004

I know quite a few Muslims and Muslim organizations are upset about the loss of Muslim lives in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kashmir, etc.. However, none of them seem to be upset by the fact that the largest slaughters of Muslims (this is opinion, I don’t have the numbers to back it up yet) in the last ten years has been committed by other self-styled Muslims, namely Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. In the last 48 hours I’ve seen three headlines (1, 2, 3), which are what have gotten me thinking about this issue. Why aren’t more Muslims decrying this loss of life…

Religion Weblogs

I am a [insert liberal label here] because I am Muslim

islamoyankeeApril 22, 2004

Amy Sullivan over at The Gadflyer has a good post on why liberals shouldn’t bash religious people. Campaign Desk reports on a counter-point. I have to say, I really do agree with Amy. I am a liberal because I am religious. The Qur’an has a strong moral and social justice message; I couldn’t be a liberal, and occasional progressive, without my faith. Along those same lines, I am an environmentalist because of my faith. Clearly I am not the only one who considers this world a trust from God, to return to Him, or to give to the next generation,…