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ArishMell · 70-79, M
Islam is considered by its followers as a way of life, not just a way to worship God, and that way of life is very different in many respects to that of many other religions and cultures.
The Prophet Mohammed wrote two books to guide following the faith he developed: the Q'ran of course, and one, whose title I forget, which is essentially a guide to living as a Muslim.
Many Muslims do manage to live perfectly well in secular, nominally-Christian but largely-secular societies, but that depends a lot on how they are treated by those societies. Like any other section of society, if they are made to feel excluded or cornered they will tend to close ranks and look unfriendly, in return.
On the other hand many Muslims live their own lives very well among all we "non-believers", (i.e. of any other faith or none). On higher theological levels their leaders are sometimes friends with those of other faiths to the extent of formal, inter-faith co-operation.
The Prophet Mohammed wrote two books to guide following the faith he developed: the Q'ran of course, and one, whose title I forget, which is essentially a guide to living as a Muslim.
Many Muslims do manage to live perfectly well in secular, nominally-Christian but largely-secular societies, but that depends a lot on how they are treated by those societies. Like any other section of society, if they are made to feel excluded or cornered they will tend to close ranks and look unfriendly, in return.
On the other hand many Muslims live their own lives very well among all we "non-believers", (i.e. of any other faith or none). On higher theological levels their leaders are sometimes friends with those of other faiths to the extent of formal, inter-faith co-operation.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@wildbill83 Among their more abrasive followers, no. Though it's hard to know how much of the bitterness in such situations is universal among Muslims, or is stirred up and kept boiling by "leaders" for their own, usually national-political, ends.
I think the schism was born in a theological dispute among Mohammed's own relatives!
I think the schism was born in a theological dispute among Mohammed's own relatives!
wildbill83 · 41-45, M
@ArishMell while blind faith isn't limited to Islam, it appears to be the most prevalent in Islam. It's naive to think religious "leaders" are infallible and/or that their word somehow carries more weight than scripture. I don't think much of the pope/cardinals either, but at least they've moved past holy wars/crusades.
At least our forefathers had the sense to realize this and implement separation of church and state; not to encourage or discourage religious practice; but to eliminate "supreme authorities" within them that could exert control over government & vice versa
no person should ever hold both political and religious authority in any religion...
At least our forefathers had the sense to realize this and implement separation of church and state; not to encourage or discourage religious practice; but to eliminate "supreme authorities" within them that could exert control over government & vice versa
no person should ever hold both political and religious authority in any religion...