Democracy, not terror, is the engine of political Islam

Hamidumdum2 Sahib,
Sir,
Why have you selected the perpetual role of Mullah Ji Do pyaza for yourself? It's so demoralizing to see you be the straight man for all the Beerbal wannabee horrible hindoos on Chowk, who display their wit easily against you to the detriment of the Oomaa.
Have you ever tried emulating Noor Jahan? :)

Re: # 189

Thanks KaalChakra!

Tahmed #59 {"
You also call me a hypocrite and wish death upon me. And for this you mention the one issue ("Stranded Pakistanis") which you have been using for years on chowk to abuse me without burdening yourself with what my views are on this issue and the reasons for those views.

There is nothing I can do to stop you from this kind of behavior on chowk. But rest assured that I am not intimidated by such bullying. "}

Tahmed Saheb,
Most decent people start off by admitting their mistake and apologizing for their offensive rhetoric. I am not bullying you any more than your own esteemed conscience should be doing. Peace. :)

Zahid # 184 was a particualarly good exposition of a part of Islamic view on monotheism. Zahid, welcome to chowk.

Islam's followers are not insecure as has been unfoundedly suggested here but their religion gives them the greatest innate urge to confront the evil and subdue it.

Though sometimes, a momentary lapse of reason on the part of some juvenile followers results in some unruly behavior inconsistent with the Islamic ethical code but even then that behavior often falls short of the mosques-destroying pogroms of the pagans with no exalted socio-ethical system.

cult: small unpopular religion
religion: large popular cult

islam: cult with the most insecure followers who threaten to behead anyone who says anything about the cult leader..that is, mo..

You are bothered by a nuance in Islamic theology regarding life after death, and not the usual degrading of people of other faith almost always done by muslims, especially the jews.

Pakis choke again!!!!

Go India!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Laddu Sahib and Ranjit Babu,

That attitude which is perceived by many as absolutistic is a natural outcome of the unshakable belief in the oneness of God. Many gods represent prima facie a more ‘democratic’ and ‘open-minded’ picture but a closer look demystifies it as a confusing cacophony. The rest is done by the lack of a big spiritual picture mainly because the frolicking gods and goddesses look more focussed on the fulfilment of their human-like drives rather than educating the human being which could only explain the missing universal message and an exalted socio-ethical system in the pagan beliefs. As I said earlier there is not much room for theological distraction in monotheistic religions in particular about the oneness of God. You make a compromise here and the whole system of thought collapses. So, you can not be a monotheist and puzzled about and wavering in your God’s image at the same time.

#174 Ranjit
"I do not believe in such nonsense. No hindu has lived beyond normal life spans. Anyone who says otherwise is a charlatan".

That is not the point. You and I could dismiss it all we want, as do many other people I am sure. But the fact remains that lots of Hindus believe it; and not only does it not weaken their faith, I am certain that it strengthens it. The phenomenon of abnormal longevity, whether real or imagined, does not adversely affect the faith of a believer.

So you original question is answered; The prolonging of life span, by whatever means, is not going to lead to weaking of faith for muslims.

ranjit
[...its emphasis on equality and egalitarianism of all men...]

Not true. Not for ALL MEN, only Muslim Men... women in islam are not equal... even the "eqaulity" of men itself is subject on a scale of piety...

Islam is nothing but a tribalistic cult system... sure, there are some redeeming features, but it has nothing to do with equality human beings in general...

Re: #180
Dear Laddu Sahib and Ranjit Babu,

You’ve left many parts of my description unmentioned and’ve chosen to focus merely on the Arabic outfit of Islam. Why is this so should be answered by some Tableeghi.
You question the concept of an all-encompassing world view of monotheistic religions and give the predominant Arabic part of Islam as an example. I myself have great reservations about this confusing of the timeless and universal Islamic message with the Arabic culture of a certain time. The unfortunate fact is that not many Muslims share this view and interpret Islam in the context of the events that unfolded themselves in Arabic world. And that’s why I found the article of Daniel Berk very fascinating. I’d urge you to go through his article where he’s explained the evolution of the Islamic thought and has touched the issue that you’ve raised. It’d be a nice idea if Daniel Berk could join us here.

"This makes the fundamental difference between the pagan beliefs which’re no more than cultural philosophies and the monotheistic beliefs with an all-encompassing world view and an innate urge to spread the word of God and subdue the false beliefs."

Dear Zahid Saheb,

How is Islamic monotheism NOT ARABIC CULTURAL IMPERIALISM???
The call for turning every muslim into an arab speaking , mecca facing worshipped is the worst form of cultural imperialism that goes against the propaganda of Islam being some sort of a "universal" spiritual order!!
How is it encompassing 'world view' when it cannot accept any modern thought, modern cultural practice, modern technological innovation or modern political forms?

Why do these guys have to believe in every propaganda that they read about Islam in their Pak studies or those chavanni chaap tafseers.

Re: #176, 177

Dear Sahib and Ranjit Babu,

Unfortunately you're still differentiating between the absolute belief and the oneness of God as the basis of these monotheistic religions. This unshakable belief in the God who is not only The Only One but the Almighty God whose work of ingeniousness is this universe we live in. This is in complete contrast with the patchwork concept of the pagans regarding the creation of this universe. This absoluteness is a direct consequence of the belief in one God and not a personal attitude.

Pagans are usually 'open minded'. The Romans were fed up of their gods and showed intense interest in the exotic religions of the East like the way ungodly people in the West are showing an intense interest in yet another eastern philosophy, Buddhism. But the monotheists with one God at the center of their system of thought have not much room for theological distraction like the pagans who remain mostly in a confused theological state. Their belief centered around the infighting of myriad gods, pretty goddesses and demigods places them before a number of inconsistent views which is quite often interpreted by them as openness. A hallmark of the pagan beliefs is the scope of the world view that limits itself mostly to the personal, cultural and regional level. They miss the universal message and call that ensues from the oneness of the ruling God.

Pundits holding pagan epics whirling around the earth to spread the word of their gods have never been detected but the world history is full of people spreading the word of God through the Bible and the Koran. This makes the fundamental difference between the pagan beliefs which’re no more than cultural philosophies and the monotheistic beliefs with an all-encompassing world view and an innate urge to spread the word of God and subdue the false beliefs.

Re:bubba
"So if violence is taken away from today's muslims, then theologically, in your opinion, Islam has nothing to stand on?"

No, I am not saying that. Islam is a great religion with some superb attributes, especially in its emphasis on equality and egalitarianism of all men. It emphasizes on self-discipline and virtuous living. The fasting at Ramzan is a perfect example at an attempt to moderate people's natural desire to live a hedonistic life. At a social level, it has a exceptionally strong emphasis on social justice. I respect and admire those aspects of Islam.

What I find objectionable is its focus on absoluteness, especially with respect to the afterlife. In my opinion, that fosters intolerance and severe bigotry against other religions. Maybe that was necessary in the early years of Islam in order to ensure the survival of the faith. However, that mindset is anachronistic in the modern age. The day muslims shift away from that absoluteness, we will all see a very positive side of that faith.

Re: # 171

"The exclusion of rationality in the search of God may mislead the searcher to the awkward pagan beliefs where man prefers to fall down before handmade idols -- no matter whether taken as a symbol of some wrathful, benign, or mighty god or demigod -- and beseech."

Dear Muslim Friends,

I find the world of 5 times bowing cult the most "awkward" of all the beliefs.
I find the school master like formless God who is jealous, angry, frightful and always claiming to be the most merciful the most "illogical" of all the laughable beliefs. I consider the Mickey mouse to be a more believable character than the Allah of Islam.
Further , it is only a Rakshasa or a vulgar satanic view that idolators believe that God=idols and hence bow down to idols.
This is a misrepresentation of idolator's religious beliefs that has not been corrected so far by Abrahmic religions and especially Islam.
In fact, Islam insists upon stereotyping and caricatures so that it can motivate it's young ones into brainwashing so that they can embark upon the agenda of hate, extermination of idolators, looting of their lands, rape of their women and enslaving of them as slaves to these faithfuls.
Real Islam is nothing but fascism in disguise of spirituality.