From: dbd@urartu.sdpa.org (David Davidian)
Subject: Re: Islam versus Religion
Summary: confusion 
Organization: S.D.P.A. Center for Regional Studies
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1992 18:33:59 GMT

In article <10292326.44739.4299@kcbbs.gen.nz> Hakki_Kocabas@kcbbs.gen.nz (Hakki
Kocabas) attempts a response to thh following dialogue:

[KK] [DD] In article <1992Nov20.142135.15324@sol.ctr.columbia.edu> 
[KK] [DD] deniz@mandolin.ctr.columbia.edu (Deniz Akkus) wrote, among other 
[KK] [DD] things:  
[KK]   
[KK] [DA] I think that Islam is a religion, not a way of life.  
  
[KK] [DD] I don't know what you learned about "religion", especially Islam, 
[KK] [DD] but it WAS way of life, a culture, by definition!.   
  
[KK] [DD] It's when a way of life of a social group becomes an institution, 
[KK] [DD] that is becomes a "religion" as we know it today. Just read the
[KK] [DD] Quran, it is a program for a way of life.   
  
[KK] Yeah let us read the Quran:  
  
[DD] Here is a summary of use of DIN=RELIGION in the Quran, a grammatical map:  
 
Unnecessary material deleted.

[KK] I think there is enough examples here in the Quran which gives you  
[KK] a solid over-view how you can use this word "DIN" without ending up  
[KK] in the maze of metaphysicians' "DIN" ?! (Like D.Davidian)  
[KK] Keep this as a record so that we know where we are when you use  
[KK] this word "DIN" and someone else use it. Our aim is to have a clear  
[KK] functional language so that we can communicate and use INTELLECT  
[KK] (AKL). Let me give you an extremely valuable tip, if you really  
[KK] willing to grab the workings of language, then you should start  
[KK] from "will=SHA", because this is the knot-head which will lead you  
[KK] to other words in an orderly fashion, so that you may get a full  
[KK] access to INTELLECT (AKL). Here is a simile for you: 

Non-sequitur.
 
[KK] if you don't know how to use "UNIX", then how can you gain access  
[KK] to UNIX-machine and utilize all the goodies of it ?  

How about a UNIX User's Guide, a UNIX Bible, if you wish. Alternatively, some
one could instruct you on how to gain acesss, a UNIX Guru perhaps!

Gee...Mr. Kocabas, how can one possibly use UNIX without understanding the
Kernal? How can somebody drive a car without understanding the complex
chemical processes of combustion? Well, some of us do a good job at both! 

[KK]  if you don't know how to use the words of language, then how can  
[KK] you gain access to INTELLECT ?   
[KK]  
[KK] How can you ACCESS TO INTELLECT without a sound LANGUAGE ?   
 
Well, sir, you are trying here on UseNet...you tell us!
 
First all Mr. Kocabas, what you presented must have come from a different
discussion, for I have no idea what you are tyring to prove to me that either
I didn't know or argued in opposition to. If you are angry at me for some other
reason, so be it, but please make sense in what you write. I have received
several very interesting emails as well as UseNet responses to what I wrote
on this subject -- you sir -- are a singular exception.

My point was that Islam at least was a way of life. If you agree fine, if
you disagree that may be fine also, however, you will have to answer to the
Mullas.

Are you saying that Islam is/was or is not/was not a way of life? Just answer
the question. It is not metaphysical issue, but is quite an objective question.


-- 
David Davidian dbd@urartu.sdpa.org "It has been ever thus in all things, son, 
SDPA Center for Regional Studies    Whatever we thrash we give to the wind, 
P.O. Box 382761                     We too have been blown by the world's wind
Cambridge, MA 02238                 The chaff is gone but the grain remains." 
Newsgroups: soc.culture.turkish