Imams Quotes
Historically, this quotation shows that the negative relationship between the West and Islam and negative views of Islam was not a new phenomenon at the beginning of the 21st century. It existed long before, and as with the 21st century concerns, violence and war were the major concerns.
Spinoza was one of the most feared intellectuals in human history—feared that is by the established power structures. He is the only known person who was excommunicated by the Catholics, the Jews and the Muslims—all were forbidden to read his works. He was the enemy of authority and advocated personal reason as the guide for men.
Spinoza was one of the most feared intellectuals in human history—feared, that is, by the established power structures. Spinoza’s ideas were considered so radical and dangerous that he was the only man in history who was excommunicated by the Catholics, the Jews and the Muslims. This quotation is an example of why the religions were so fearful of his ideas. Essentially, he stated that Priests, Pastors, Rabbis, Imams and all clerics have no monopoly on understanding, knowledge, or wisdom. Each man was to think for himself and clerics should have to prove their claims and convince people, not ask them to have faith in their ideas and instructions. Spinoza himself was a religious Jew and produced all his work to try and persuade others. He challenged all clerics of all religions to do the same. When people started to listen to Spinoza, the clerics wanted to get rid of his influence. Therefore they banned all from talking to him and above all banned his books and other writings.
His views are a mix of modernism and fundamentalism. He favors democracy and elections but also favored the Taliban destroying the great ancient Buddha statues when he was called an idol worshipper for urging the preservation of art.
Physiologically a very young girl is often capable of getting pregnant, but physiologically is not able to bear children without high risk to both children. A similar risk pattern exists with women over the age of 40. While there are a number of Islamic countries that do sanction pedophilia within marriage, there is nothing inherent in Islamic theology that justifies this. Modern Islamic nations like Turkey and other Muslim majority nations do not allow marriage at such a young age. Also, it was not to long ago, in historical time, that Christian nations also sanctioned marriage to very young girls.
This would be like an American President firing the congressional chaplains. However this is only one small, but telling, example of Atatuk’s secularization of the nation which had a great deal to do with Turkey becoming a modern great power—by far the strongest and most developed of the Islamic world.
The Roman Catholic Clergy as well as the Vatican was quite corrupt in Luther’s time which was one of the reasons for his reform effort. Throughout history some clerics have abused their positions and roles and acted as impediments to the faith in their own religions.
A publicity seeking fundamentalist Christian minister in Florida had publicly burned a Koran to the moral condemnation of the President and most other government leaders, as well as clergy of all faiths. However, after the President of Afghanistan condemned the act, there were attacks on a United Nations compound in that country and a number of innocent people were killed and two beheaded. Yet most Muslim clerics were reluctant to morally condemn the murders while they were vociferous in castigating the Koran burning. Some were intimidated and feared that they would be attacked if they criticized the Islamic fundamentalism that advocated the murders and terrorism.
See {583817} for how France was more assertive in handling this problem.
Al-Maarri’s quotations are not only meaningful in their own right, but they illustrate the openness and free thinking that was allowed in the early days of Islam before about 1100. If anyone wrote such things today in most Islamic countries he would at least be jailed if not executed for blasphemy.
The Caliph was both the religious authority and the civil authority. Islam traditionally sees no desirable separation between church and state.
Son of Reverend Billy Graham
This is a particularly noteworthy quotation as Muslims are often accused of intolerance and here is a Muslim who argues that it is the responsibility of religious leaders to present religion in a tolerant manner.
Modern versions are “practice what you preach”. Hypocrisy was always recognized if leaders did not set an example. The Caliph was both the civil ruler and the religious ruler as well. Therefore he made rules for the clergy as well as civil officials.
Mullahs are Muslim Clerics who at the time controlled Iran which was a Fundamentalist, Islamic Theocracy.
