Understanding Islam

[spally]

My Moore College course this semester is Understanding Buddhism and Islam but we are just focusing on Islam for the first half of the course. It's been a great course so far. Our lecturer has been wonderful and he has collected great textbooks and resources for us. The last few weeks of class have been especially amazing. We had a field trip to the

Comments

[anonymous]

the key difference between Judaism/Islam and Christianity is the concept of original sin. Judaism and Islam do not have original sin--God is merciful and forgiving to those who ask for forgiveness. That is why both religions emphasize doing (action).

[spally]

Oh yeah, I forgot about that!

(P.S. which anonymous reader are you?)

[spally]

Hey Simon

Sorry, I didn't express that very well! I was expecting nuance but I was expecting it to be exactly like Christianity is. As a Christian you can attribute labels to yourself - you can say things like "I'm a Calvinist" or "I'm a Southern Baptist" or "I'm a sixth day creationist" or "I'm a charismatic Catholic". People will understand that there might be differences between these Christians on some points of theology. There is a basic unity but also an acknowledgement of differing opinions.

What I've found surprising so far with Islam is not that these differences exist, but they are kind of smothered over in the name of unity. There are scholars that shape opinions and thought but there are not really denominations with leaders, and nowhere near the variety of defined theological labels that Christians have to compartmentalise their theology. So the differences exist but they aren't expressed or publicised like they are in Christianity. That being said - I stil have heaps to learn. Maybe they are there and no one has talked

[nuranar]

I understand that some of the differences within Islam stem from the fact that the Koran is not itself consistent - in fact downright contradictory in more than a few places. Have you found that to be true?

[spally]

Yep I think that's part of it. One of the interesting things that I have been taught that Muslims believe is, as the Koran was revealed gradually to Mohammed, each revelation superceded the previous ones. So anything if anything contradicted a previous revelation the new one was the correct one.

I'm not really sure what to make of that doctrine. Muslims believe the Qu'ran is a replica of a true Qu'ran stored in heaven. Maybe they are just OK with their holy scriptures having inconsistences. I find it weird, but then I remember that we worship a triune God, which they also find weird! So coming straight out and labelling things as illogical or weird is probably not a good place to start :P

On a side note, I think a lot of the different attiudes towards Jews and Christians come from this inconsistency. Some of the earlier revelations spoke very kindly of the Jews and the Christians and their scriptures, but I'm under the impression that the later revelations didn't tend to do that.

[nuranar]

Hmm. My instinct would be then to revise backward and make sure the earlier things were fixed! :D But seriously, it must be hard to rely on something that's not internally consistent.

Now I remember I have heard that about Jews and Christians as well. Matter of fact, I think it was in context of discussing the inconsistencies.

[unmowngrass]

I love the way you're approaching this. You've really got your head screwed on and are being very mature about something potentially inflamatory - perhaps more than I could do.

[spally]

Thanks :) to be honest I was finding it hard not to flip out until we went on the mosque visit (maybe that explains my lack of posts about the subject until now?). It's been pretty hard to get upset after seeing something so beautiful!