From: sherwani@sol.cs.wmich.edu (Naveed Sherwani)
Subject: Why we must not ban others from speaking ?
Organization: Western Michigan Univ. Comp. Sci. Dept.
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 06:54:15 GMT


     Islam is Tolerant but Pakistn is Not
      -----------------------------------

    In this post, in two parts we will establish that 
Islam's foundation is based on listening to others and have
the capacity of tolerance. We will also propose that Pakistan
falls much short of expectation of Mohd[swt].

Part1:
-----
We must NEVER stop listening to others and exchanging
ideas. Islam was born that way. If people of Mecca had
a policy of not allowing a person to speak their mind,
perhaps Islam would not have spread. In other words,
they did not BAN Mohd[swt] from stating his case. They
did make it very hard. 

In every society, there are people we are out to shut up
everybody who disagrees with them. It is upto the rational
thinking individuals to allow freedom of speech and
other basic rights.

Mohd[swt] himself (at least in earlier period of Islam)
was a very tolerant person and taught others to be tolerant.
The whole discussion of set of beliefs vs. Science was based
on the notion of entertaining all points of view. Science
allows consideration of all points of view while a set of belief
system does not.  However, Mohd[swt] followed a tolerant
set of belief system, which did allow expression of opposing
opinions but did not allow their serious consideration.

As far as I am concerned, if Pakistan can progress from
a set of belief system (SBS) to tolerant set of belief(TSBS), I would
consider that a great achievment. Notice in doing so they would
not be doing more than than what their prophet asked for!

In other words, if Pakistani (and muslims, and other religious folks)
can show tolerance, they would merely be following their
prophets.

Part2:
-----

One wonders how far TSBS is from Science.
Well the only difference between Science and TSBS is acceptance
of a opposing idea. TSBS does not allow it while science does.

Mohd[swt] was born a non-muslim (this is true about all religious
leaders) and then changed his religion. He showed that he had
capacity to recognize that something is wrong with the existing
system and there is need of a new system. This is very scientific
approach. He also accepted the change. Thus he did not follow
TSBS. In other words, while he accepted change (from non-muslim
to muslim ) he  encouraged others not to consider change
from muslims to other religions. He followed a psuedo-scientific
method to arrive at a conclusion and forbid his followers to 
ever follow his path.

If we were to follow his path, we must question our current
religion and seek guidance (whatever that means) and find out
for ourselves what is our true calling.

So while the foundation of Islam is based on accepting change,
it quickly forbid all further changes. Thereby inviting the question, why
consider the first change.


Conclusion:
---------- 

 Islam is a TSBS. Its followers actually think it is SBS.
Pakistan is SBS based society.  The Prophet of Islam used 
science and accepted change but  preached TSBS. 
His followers (as in Pakistan) degraded the system from
TSBS to SBS, when they adopted it.
 
My personal opinion is that Science is better than TSBS, which
is better than SBS.


regards,

-Naveed