“The antidote to the almost blanket saturation of these pundits is not (imo) to engage them in argument as such - they are not after all, very well-versed in their chosen subject - but rather to keep putting the facts out there and encourage open and free discussion in areas where the facts are not yet established. In line with this, I thought I’d address their favourite (only?) line of attack: Islam as barbaric/backward/evil religion.”
right on the money!
It seems from my experiences, and I include myself in this critique, is that many are very much wrapped up in the form of these things. The form of how ‘religion’ must appear, the form that ‘demoncracy’ must need appear, ect. I see so many of my own community frustrated with the fruits of this, that it seems epidemic.
But, I think your approach to this dillema is a fresh one; avoid the arguments that depend on literalism, and walk the walk, so to speak. Bravo!
asallam alaykum
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Posted by kevin on 08/11 at 09:01 PM
Hi Kevin
Thanks for your comments. It is a very difficult thing these days to not take some of the more belligerent critics on. Many times in the past few years I have heard things that would be inconceivable even 10 years ago. Some of these things are offensive and they hurt - our trained reaction is to react, to ‘sort them out’ (mine is anyway) and learning to walk away and ‘turn the other cheek’ is one of the hardest lessons imo.
Sometimes putting the facts out is merely a help for oneself when the going gets really tough and you want to let someone have it with both barrels! I suppose this is all part of learning! I hope!
Posted by on 08/11 at 09:38 PM
Tajdid and islah are integral features of Muslim social and intellectual history. I am surprised not a single Muslim blogger, of whatever persuasion, has commented on this.
assalamu ‘alaykum
Posted by on 08/19 at 03:04 PM
Literalism
It is rather fashionable these days to bash Islam - unfortunately this is true in a literal as well as figurative sense, I was reading today that since the London bombings violent crimes against Muslims have increased by nearly 600% - and there are many ‘experts’ that have emerged to do it that have created a new genre and cottage-industry in ill-informed and dangerous comment.
The antidote to the almost blanket saturation of these pundits is not (imo) to engage them in argument as such - they are not after all, very well-versed in their chosen subject - but rather to keep putting the facts out there and encourage open and free discussion in areas where the facts are not yet established. In line with this, I thought I’d address their favourite (only?) line of attack: Islam as barbaric/backward/evil religion.