Taking a closer look at moderatism in religion
We live in a society today that has a love/hate relationship with labels. Generally speaking, in everyday discourse labels that denote some kind of deficiency (victim) are oftentimes considered a “badge of honor” while labels reflecting high achievement are oftentimes kept on a short leash.
In the political spectrum, when a person describes themselves as a “moderate”, oftentimes this means that they do not agree totally with the tenants of a particular political ideology (example: a moderate liberal or moderate conservative). A moderate could also be a person that agrees with some of the tenants of both political ideologies. In the main religious circles, you have a growing number of individuals that classify themselves as moderate Christians or moderate Muslims.
While I believe that one can make a strong case for the usage of the “moderate” descriptor in politics, I find it somewhat difficult to accept this terminology in religion. Reason? Because unlike politics, religion is largely rooted in absolutes (I am mainly referring to two of the largest religions in the world: Christianity and Islam).
For this particular post, I would like to split it into two parts: this one will look a little bit at the world of Islam and later I will do one on Christianity.
“Moderate” Islam: Who is the real Muslim?
While I may not be a man who has lived amongst the Muslim population overseas, it does not take a rocket scientist to see that the brand of Islam that is practiced here in the US is not the same as what you will find being practiced in other countries. For example, we here in America place a very high value on women who are in leadership positions. We even encourage women to be on the same playing field as men. As for homosexuals, the majority thought here in the West is that they are to be treated with tolerance. From what I have been reading over the past years, the brand of Islam that is practiced here in the West is oftentimes not considered authentic Islam by significant numbers of Muslims living in the Middle East. While some Muslim groups have come out to speak out in favor of equal rights of the two groups mentioned, the majority appears to remain silent on these issues.
Below, you will find two videos of Muslims that use the Koran to justify their treatment of women, Muslims who claim to be moderate, and their negative views of Westerners.
Earlier in this post I mentioned that by definition a moderate is a person that does not subscribe completely to a certain ideology. My basic questions here to all my Muslim readers are “Which group is practicing authentic Islam? Moderates who go along with tolerance in the West or individuals that follow the teachings in these videos? If your answer is “Moderates”, are you then picking and choosing what you want to accept as truth according to the Koran?
Video #1
Video #2 is part of a series. This is just the first part.
Temperance or, moderation, is taught as a primary virtue in all religions, especially the major Western faiths (Judaism, Christianity, & Islam). I don’t believe moderation represents a specific reaction to one policy or an amalgamation of policies. Instead, it’s an aversion to extremes — which in itself is highly subjective based on context.
Certainly, you’ll agree Islam is far too diverse for the two shrieking lunatics on display here to represent anything close to a consensus among Muslims on corporal punishment of disobedient wives (or, the larger issue of female subordination). Given moderation is to be combined with prudence and justice, most Muslims undoubtedly have no problem deferring to the prevailing social standards (ethos) in the communities in which they live. Ergo, we have American Muslim males who, by and large, don’t subscribe to wife beating and Saudis (I suspect) who do.
Comment by MIB | January 17, 2007
“Certainly, you’ll agree Islam is far too diverse for the two shrieking lunatics on display here to represent anything close to a consensus among Muslims on corporal punishment of disobedient wives (or, the larger issue of female subordination). ”
While I can agree with you here as it relates to how it is practiced here in the West, I must point back to the clear instruction that is written in the Koran that condones this type of teaching. Are there passages in the Koran that nullify passages that say it is okay to hit your wife? If so, does that take away from the claimed absoulteness of God’s word a la the Koran?
Comment by Duane | January 17, 2007
1st of all there are no absolutes in religion. Just as in the Christian faith you have those that interpret the Qur’an one way or another. I think that moderate is simply the new catch phrase of the day. It is my belief that Islam begins and ends in my personal space. I don’t try to convert people. If asked a questioned I give the answer based on what I believe is true based on my interpretation. In that way I believe that I am a moderate. You will not see me at rallies promoting the faith but I will attend Saviors Day in Detroit. You won’t see me blowing myself and others up nor teaching my children that that is Allah’s will. As for the examples that you gave of women and homosexuals. I feel that American Muslims are indeed Americans 1st and foremost. And because of the we don’t go around stoning homosexuals but we don’t condone, promote, or accept the behavior. In terms of American Muslim men treatment of women. I always find it funny that some Muslim men attempt to use the Qur’an to abuse women. The Qur’an teaches love, peace and sacrifice. No where in the entire book does it say if you wife gets out of line then smack her around. Just as the bible doesn’t say slavery was a good thing. The people that distort these books for their own cause would do it no matter religion they subscribe to.
Comment by Saudia | January 17, 2007
Well stated Saudia. Left me with nothing to chime in on.
Comment by Spike Zee | January 17, 2007
I don’t deny the Qu’ran contains hadiths that endorse violence against women, homosexuals, and non-believers. However, so does the Bible and the Torah. The point being all three texts also have contrary passages that at minimum emphasize moderation (there’s that word again!) in the exercise of one’s faith.
I took the time to watch again the two clips you’ve provided. They both exemplify a radically fundamental view of Islam not shared by most Muslims; the 2nd clip’s editorial makes this clear. Again, there are similarly extreme interpretations of Judaism and Christianity practiced here in America, and around the world.
In returning to your initial questions, my bottom line is what passes for doctrine within the world’s organized religions is frequently ambiguous and/or equivocal to the point widely divergent interpretations are a given. Each of them have a valid claim to authenticity.
Comment by MIB | January 18, 2007
I wanna keep this particular post on Islam (which is why I wanted to split this post into two parts). Christianity will be looked at in greater detail on the next post. In the meantime, I do need to dip for a second in order to make my following points.
I don’t deny the Qu’ran contains hadiths that endorse violence against women, homosexuals, and non-believers. However, so does the Bible and the Torah.
While I cannot speak for the Torah, as a Christian I can speak for the Bible. While I cannot speak for the “contradictions” you have apparently found in the Bible, I can say that the “contraditions” usually equate to something being taken out of context (again, which I will address in the future posting on this topic). Are the passages of the Koran that endorse the beating of your wife or forced conversions being taken out of context as well? I do not know. This is why I posed my short list of questions. Here are just some of things that concern me about Islam:
(This is not in any particular order or ranking)
1- Wife Beatings: While I can provide for you passages of the Koran that endorse this type of practice, my question here is where in the Koran do these passages –mind you, the Koran is considered God’s word–become null and void? If that is the case, can I then draw the conclusion that the God of the Koran second guesses himself?
2 - All over the world, you will find Christian missionaries who go into various countries and villages for the sole purpose of A. providing help for these individuals by way of medicine, education and job training and B. sharing the gospel message. While mostly Islamic states tend to outlaw such activity from other faiths, many Christians still continue to go many times paying for their decision with their lives. Mind you, they are not arming terrorists or promoting a political coup. They are simply sharing their faith. Not only can I provide you with news clippings of Christians that have been jailed or murdered for simply having a church in their house in these countries, but links to organizations that actually keep track of all of this. Now with all of that being said, several questions come to mind here: 1 - If Islam is generally a “moderate” religion, why such a demonstrated intolarance to people of other faiths? Mind you, these are not just tiny sects off in the woods somewhere. these are NATIONS that practice this brand of “tolarance”. 2 - Show me in recent history where Christians have put to death, jailed or committed terrorist acts against those within the Islamic faith. 3 - What kind of actions have “moderate” Muslims here in the west taken to protest against these actions against Christians AND can it be compared to their level of outrage for the depictions of Allah in cartoons?
3 - Terrorism: While “moderate” Muslims here in the West are quick to put together a press conference condeming terrorism, in my opinion these actions have been weak considering the fact that they rarely up the ante by way of boycott. Many of these “moderates” still maintain strong economic ties to their home nations who oftentimes condone the practices I mentioned earlier. In other words, put your money and your mouth in the same place!
Finally, this is an excerpt of something that I wrote last year on this topic:
It would be disingenuous for me to make a complete judgement on Islam based on a couple of videos and/or a few passages of the Koran. This is why I did this post to give the floor to folks who can factually explain who is actually practicing the real Islam. While the majority may tell me that they (moderates) are the real deal, they still continue to maintain strong ties with the deal that isn’t.
Comment by Duane | January 18, 2007
Al-Islam (it’s true name) means submission to Allah (Arabic for God). What is important to understand is the Islam is not merely a religion but instead a way of life. 2 begin addressing your points.
1. How women live in Islamic societies is an act of obedience to Allah not man. The Qur’anteaches “women should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof.” (24:31). No where in it does it say that we should wear a hijab. But instead Fatima the prophet’s daughter wore one and thus many muslim women chose to do so. My reason for bringing this up is that many people feel that muslim women are suppressed because they choose to were the hijab. When in actuality they are liberated from being seen as sexual objects. You also mentioned wife beating. In 4:34 is does say “… then beat them…” Just like with the bible the entire verse must be read. The verse is speaking of women that are have freely given of there “ntimacy or virginity. It also states that you must first “admonish them and leave them alone in bed…” But it end with “…and if thereupon they pay you heed, do not seek to harm them. Behold, God is indeed most high, great!” On the same token I found verses that state that men and women are equal in the eyes of Allah “I shall not lose sight of the labour of any of you who labours [in My way], be it man or woman: each of you is an issue (equal) of the other. (3:195), I command you to be kind to women.” “It is only the generous in character who is good to women, and only the evil one who insults them.” can’t remember the verse.
3. Much of the confusion with Islam is what the western do not understand that muslims are governed by two sets of rules. 1st the Qu’ran and the second the Sharia. Muhammad recorded the Qu’ran as his revelations came from Allah. The Shari’s were established after the death of the Prophet in order for Muslims to have a guide that would dictate to them how to live their life according to Allah’s desire as was dictated in the Qu’ran. Sharia, which was established about 1400 years ago is the religious law of Islam, but since Islam does not separate religion from all other aspects of life, Sharia law effectively controls every single aspect of life: social, sexual, political, financial etc. This is where many problems occur. Like the constitution the Sharia didn’t change with time. Those extremist that hold near and dear to it believe that what they are doing (terrorism) is the right thing to do.
Yeah I know skipped #2 running out of time gotta go but will be back.
The problems presented here are not the problems of Islam. They are problems of a lack of commitment, lack of application, or misapplication of Islamic teachings by Muslims themselves. The topics I have tried to cover here represent and exemplify the big gap that exists between the true teachings of Islam as derived from its original sources and its projected image in the West and the way some Muslims behave in the disregard of those noble teachings.
Comment by Saudia | January 18, 2007
Saudia,
As always, thank you for your comments. While I am still left with the questions that I asked earlier, it is good to hear from those from within the Islamic faith–which was always my intent.
Comment by Duane | January 19, 2007
No problem give me a little time and I will answer #2 as well.
Comment by Saudia | January 19, 2007