Does anyone have names of Muslim intellectuals in the UK.
I heard an interview on a religious affairs programme, in which the Muslim representative argued that there is nothing on the Q'ran that prevents a Muslim from being an active and integrated member of the society of the country in which he lives.
Her went on to argue that there is no reason why Michael need change his name to Mohammed if he converts to Islam, nor why Michael need wear 'Islamic' dress, which is not actually Islamic, but derives from the cultures incorporated into Islam. Nor is the niqab de facto a religious observance, but a cultural one.
By the same token, it seems to me the 'traditional' dress of the 'traditional' Jew in the UK and the US: black suit, black hat, etc., owes more to the Eastern European traditions than the dress codes of the Old Testament.
So in short, Moslems living in whatever country they reside are not required to create a mini-Arab or Oriental state. Now there is obviously the cultural issue with immigration, and that is understandable, the Brits create 'little England' wherever they go ... but there is a risk when this becomes identified with a religious practice.
By extension, for example, some scholars have noted that the more draconian aspects of Sharia Law derive not from the Q'ran at all, but again, from the cultural habits of the country in which the law is practiced, Egypt being a prime example.
Or the case of Afghanistan, where Sharia Law is actually a reflection of tribal law (Taliban, et al), and not the Q'ran.
After the revolution in Iran, one Muslim woman noted that headscarves were a cultural tradition, and that every village would have its own colour, and market day was a riot of colour. Come the revolution, and the only colour allowed is black ...
The commentator observed that as long as extremists are allowed to set the tenor of the debate, then there will ever be conflict.
I may have got some of this wrong, and apologies if I have, no offence intended, but it seems to me the way to peace is to open dialogue, not shut it down.
Thomas
I heard an interview on a religious affairs programme, in which the Muslim representative argued that there is nothing on the Q'ran that prevents a Muslim from being an active and integrated member of the society of the country in which he lives.
Her went on to argue that there is no reason why Michael need change his name to Mohammed if he converts to Islam, nor why Michael need wear 'Islamic' dress, which is not actually Islamic, but derives from the cultures incorporated into Islam. Nor is the niqab de facto a religious observance, but a cultural one.
By the same token, it seems to me the 'traditional' dress of the 'traditional' Jew in the UK and the US: black suit, black hat, etc., owes more to the Eastern European traditions than the dress codes of the Old Testament.
So in short, Moslems living in whatever country they reside are not required to create a mini-Arab or Oriental state. Now there is obviously the cultural issue with immigration, and that is understandable, the Brits create 'little England' wherever they go ... but there is a risk when this becomes identified with a religious practice.
By extension, for example, some scholars have noted that the more draconian aspects of Sharia Law derive not from the Q'ran at all, but again, from the cultural habits of the country in which the law is practiced, Egypt being a prime example.
Or the case of Afghanistan, where Sharia Law is actually a reflection of tribal law (Taliban, et al), and not the Q'ran.
After the revolution in Iran, one Muslim woman noted that headscarves were a cultural tradition, and that every village would have its own colour, and market day was a riot of colour. Come the revolution, and the only colour allowed is black ...
The commentator observed that as long as extremists are allowed to set the tenor of the debate, then there will ever be conflict.
I may have got some of this wrong, and apologies if I have, no offence intended, but it seems to me the way to peace is to open dialogue, not shut it down.
Thomas
