Quote:
Originally Posted by ruth nasrullah
The issue of predestination and free will is challenging in any belief system; it's not unique to Islam. I assume the same questions exist in Christian theology. If God sent Jesus to save us from the sin we are born with, why not just keep sinning once you've achieved salvation through Christ? Why for that matter did God allow Adam and Eve to be banished from Paradise at all? (The same story exists in Islam except Adam and Eve are equally guilty.) Allahu alim - God knows best.
|
Ruth,
I have lived in and out of Muslim countries for over 20 years now and wanted to ask your opinion on the following.
The biggest problem with islam is, for the most part, islam itself. There are so many people giving so many different versions of the quran that it not only creates more problems for everyone than it really does solve issues.
On one hand, the Quran, if read word for word in certain sections goes on about the infidel or the unbeliever (i.e. non muslims) but you will always hear religious scholars talk about how islam is a religion of peace and so forth.
The problem is Islam does not have a "vatican" of sorts who decide on religious policy for ALL muslims and sets a standard, for all men and women (and children). Instead, its left to over zealous clerics who interpret the Quran depending on if they are liberal, in the middle or right wingers and this in turn also determines how conservative or ultra society in a particular country is.
Look at Malaysia, Indonesia and then compare it to Saudi and UAE. You will see a totally different interpretation of Islam amongst men, women and the religious clerics in all 4 countries...which is bizzare to say the least.
I think if Islam is going to stop situations like these (passengers being off loaded), it needs to be consistent in what it preach's to the masses (be it muslim or non muslim).
There has to be some consistency and islam as a whole MUST renounce all violence and fundamentalists like AQ and the taliban across the board.
You go to Pakistan again, it's bloody inconsistent.
Look at the way women are treated there and how people are happy to stand by and justify everything OBL has done as being "islamic" and for "jihad" despite the fact he was the man who initiated 911, the London bombings, and encouraged the bombings of the embassy's in Jakarta and the bombings in Bali. In Pakistan, you can speak to 90% of the people there and they will justify it to death with a whole lot of nonsense.
It's like talking to people who just do not understand what it means to be civilized or "normal."
I am not trying to hammer you or to "tell you off" but I hope you can understand what I am trying to say.
There are a small percentage of muslims who will always try to explain that we, the non muslims have got it wrong but the problem lies in the fact the vast majority of muslims themselves don't seem to understand many issues within their own religion and are so easily mis-directed in their understanding and beliefs to the point of madness.
Don't know if that made any sense but...would appreciate your views.
1) Why do different countries have different interpretations of the Quran?
Example:
-in one country, a muslim can marry a non muslim and the non muslim does not need to convert to islam (singapore). But the same is IMPOSSIBLE in Malaysia.
-