From: aaldoubo@copper.denver.colorado.edu (Shaqeeqa)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.turkish,talk.politics.mideast
Subject: Re: Islam versus Religion
Date: 22 Nov 92 03:01:07 GMT
Followup-To: soc.culture.turkish
Organization: University of Colorado at Denver

In article <1992Nov21.023943.3872@urartu.sdpa.org> dbd@urartu.sdpa.org (David Davidian) writes:
>
>I don't know what you learned about "religion", especially Islam, but it WAS a
>way of life, a culture, by definition!. It was a way of life for Beduin Arabs 
>that made their lives better, healthier, than before Islam. I suggest you 
>locate a reference on the way of life of Beduin Arab women before Islam. You
>would find that Islam was an emancipation for these women. Today, Islam can 
>look foolish or has been made to look foolish in this context, because the 
>world from which we view Islam from has changed.

I agree with you very much, David, but I feel a little uncomfortable with
the word beduin because you seem to suggest that it was confined to these
people only.  The message of Islam reached so many different people - from
the cities (remember that Mecca was a major city of interest and trade) as
well as in the countrysides and even outside of the Hijaz - to kings and
other leaders during that time.  It was a complete turning point socially
as well as historically, and was a very strong unifying factor for Arabs
everywhere.  But of course it isn't the religion of the Arabs, as it is
for all mankind regardless of their color, gender, or race.

>It's when a way of life of a social group becomes an institution, that is 
>becomes a "religion" as we know it today. Just read the Quran, it is a program 
>for a way of life. If the tenets of Islam are not viewed from within the
>context from which they were set -- from the social environment from which
>they were established in -- Islam makes little sense, and thus can be "viewed
>for the West" by those who are opposed to what Islam represents today. 

I think every philosophy tries to set a role model for moral values and
social system.  Not everyone knows about Islam and how indepth its
doctrines and teachings are, which, as you stated, encompasses this set
of values and encorporates it into the daily life and practices of
people.  It includes (and details) everything from marriage, the roles
and responsibilities of both men and women and their rights, children,
divorce, property rights and inheritance, science, philosophy, and
history, among other things.

>Viewing Islam today, with today's values, can make it look foolish, as can
>most any "way of life established many centuries ago".

True - especially since Islam requires discipline (which is viewed
by today's standards as too harsh or too confining) and dedication
in maintaining tradition within the context of a completely
different system of values, laws, and lifestyles.  But it is not to
say that there doesn't exist different levels of practices and
observances by Muslims themselves.  Even if Muslims have a central
core of belief, each country has its own traditions and values that
are observed and even encorporated into their own lifestyle.

Thanks for your insight and understanding.  Very good points also.

:-)  Anisa