Is Islam Immoral?

[Thought Criminal]

Setting aside the very liberal Muslims who are fine people but not very consistent with their religion's teachings, I ask whether the ethical system embodied in traditional Islam is immoral. I am not putting it to a vote, since this is a matter of discussion, not head count. So feel free to reply, but defend your claims.

TC

[Goat]

Now, in Saudia Arabia, a grandmother has been sentenced to 40 lashes because she had 2 unrelated men in her house that had come to deliver some bread to her.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/03/ ... /index.htm


(CNN) -- A Saudi Arabian court has sentenced a 75-year-old Syrian woman to 40 lashes, four months imprisonment and deportation from the kingdom for having two unrelated men in her house, according to local media reports.

According to the Saudi daily newspaper Al-Watan, troubles for the woman, Khamisa Mohammed Sawadi, began last year when a member of the religious police entered her house in the city of Al-Chamli and found her with two unrelated men, "Fahd" and "Hadian."

Fahd told the policeman he had the right to be there, because Sawadi had breast-fed him as a baby and was therefore considered to be a son to her in Islam, according to Al-Watan. Fahd, 24, added that his friend Hadian was escorting him as he delivered bread for the elderly woman. The policeman then arrested both men.


I don't know about you, but this extreme form of Islam morality does not
meet my concept of morality.

[Ms_Maryam]

I dislike the use of "liberal" , "moderate", and "extreme" Islam.

It's not all of that... It's just one Islam. That's it.

This story, as well as others that were posted, have nothing to do with Islam. Yes, it's in a Muslim country, but that's about it... It has nothing to do with Islam's teachings.

[Goat]

I dislike the use of "liberal" , "moderate", and "extreme" Islam.

It's not all of that... It's just one Islam. That's it.

This story, as well as others that were posted, have nothing to do with Islam. Yes, it's in a Muslim country, but that's about it... It has nothing to do with Islam's teachings.

Quite possibly.

However, these people are using Islam as justification for their extreme ways, much as Christianity has done in the past, and many extremists that are Christian do today.

If anything, this shows the danger of mixing political power and religion.

[McCulloch]

I dislike the use of "liberal" , "moderate", and "extreme" Islam.

It's not all of that... It's just one Islam. That's it.

That's right. And there is only one Christianity. We need to stop talking about liberal and conservative, progressive and evangelical, charismatic and orthodox, trinitarian and monophysite, Catholic and protestant. Just put the blinders on and we can all be united and happy.

This story, as well as others that were posted, have nothing to do with Islam. Yes, it's in a Muslim country, but that's about it... It has nothing to do with Islam's teachings.

Not quite. Don't you think that it is a bit odd that this type of story seems to come only from Muslim cultures when it has nothing to do with Islam's teachings?

[Ms_Maryam]

I dislike the use of "liberal" , "moderate", and "extreme" Islam.

It's not all of that... It's just one Islam. That's it.

This story, as well as others that were posted, have nothing to do with Islam. Yes, it's in a Muslim country, but that's about it... It has nothing to do with Islam's teachings.

Quite possibly.

However, these people are using Islam as justification for their extreme ways, much as Christianity has done in the past, and many extremists that are Christian do today.

If anything, this shows the danger of mixing political power and religion.

But what/who is at fault? The religion or the people who use religion to justify their bad actions?

I would say the people.

[Goat]

I dislike the use of "liberal" , "moderate", and "extreme" Islam.

It's not all of that... It's just one Islam. That's it.

This story, as well as others that were posted, have nothing to do with Islam. Yes, it's in a Muslim country, but that's about it... It has nothing to do with Islam's teachings.

Quite possibly.

However, these people are using Islam as justification for their extreme ways, much as Christianity has done in the past, and many extremists that are Christian do today.

If anything, this shows the danger of mixing political power and religion.

But what/who is at fault? The religion or the people who use religion to justify their bad actions?

I would say the people.

Is there a real difference? A religion IS the beliefs of the people who follow it.

[Ms_Maryam]

I dislike the use of "liberal" , "moderate", and "extreme" Islam.

It's not all of that... It's just one Islam. That's it.

That's right. And there is only one Christianity. We need to stop talking about liberal and conservative, progressive and evangelical, charismatic and orthodox, trinitarian and monophysite, Catholic and protestant. Just put the blinders on and we can all be united and happy.

This story, as well as others that were posted, have nothing to do with Islam. Yes, it's in a Muslim country, but that's about it... It has nothing to do with Islam's teachings.

Not quite. Don't you think that it is a bit odd that this type of story seems to come only from Muslim cultures when it has nothing to do with Islam's teachings?

I wouldn't say odd. I think we should start to realize many people are incorporating their culture with Islam. The issue isn't with Islam, it's with the individuals. Just like there are many Christians who do un-Christian like things, there are many Muslims doing unIslamic things... Does that mean Islam promotes/teaches it....? No, it doesn't. The actions of Muslims doesn't change with Islam teaches.

[Ms_Maryam]

I dislike the use of "liberal" , "moderate", and "extreme" Islam.

It's not all of that... It's just one Islam. That's it.

This story, as well as others that were posted, have nothing to do with Islam. Yes, it's in a Muslim country, but that's about it... It has nothing to do with Islam's teachings.

Quite possibly.

However, these people are using Islam as justification for their extreme ways, much as Christianity has done in the past, and many extremists that are Christian do today.

If anything, this shows the danger of mixing political power and religion.

But what/who is at fault? The religion or the people who use religion to justify their bad actions?

I would say the people.

Is there a real difference? A religion IS the beliefs of the people who follow it.

I definately think there is a difference. A religion is not the beliefs of the people who follow it. A religion is a set of beliefs. If it were the beliefs of the people that follow it, then there would be no certainty because people do whatever they please. I'll use some real simple as an example: Islam teaches us not to eat pork. There are some Muslims who eat pork, some who don't.... Therefore, according to your definition, Islam teaches not to eat pork AND to eat pork. Obviously, I don't even have to say it's a big contradiction.

[Goat]

I dislike the use of "liberal" , "moderate", and "extreme" Islam.

It's not all of that... It's just one Islam. That's it.

This story, as well as others that were posted, have nothing to do with Islam. Yes, it's in a Muslim country, but that's about it... It has nothing to do with Islam's teachings.

Quite possibly.

However, these people are using Islam as justification for their extreme ways, much as Christianity has done in the past, and many extremists that are Christian do today.

If anything, this shows the danger of mixing political power and religion.

But what/who is at fault? The religion or the people who use religion to justify their bad actions?

I would say the people.

Is there a real difference? A religion IS the beliefs of the people who follow it.

I definately think there is a difference. A religion is not the beliefs of the people who follow it. A religion is a set of beliefs. If it were the beliefs of the people that follow it, then there would be no certainty because people do whatever they please. I'll use some real simple as an example: Islam teaches us not to eat pork. There are some Muslims who eat pork, some who don't.... Therefore, according to your definition, Islam teaches not to eat pork AND to eat pork. Obviously, I don't even have to say it's a big contradiction.

Yes, not everyone follows all the restrictions and such.

However, in this case, the 'morality' police are interpreting the Koran in a very strict manner, and using passages in the Koran to justify their actions.

Not all Muslims will interpret the Koran the same way. However, the motivations for these actions are claimed to be based on the Koran.

[Ms_Maryam]

Yes, not everyone follows all the restrictions and such.

However, in this case, the 'morality' police are interpreting the Koran in a very strict manner, and using passages in the Koran to justify their actions.

Not all Muslims will interpret the Koran the same way. However, the motivations for these actions are claimed to be based on the Koran.

Exactly!

They are just that. "Claimed" to be based on the Quran. But you know what, I bet most of the people couldn't provide the lines in the Quran which justify their acts.

Those who call themselves Muslims, yet kill completely innocent people. I don't know what's going on in their mind, but they cannot read the Quran and still believe their actions are justifies in the Quran.

I just think that this is the big issue many can't see past. People's interpretation of the Quran. Mistaking different interpretations of the Quran for the actual teachings of the Quran. Muslims believe that the Sunnah and Hadiths help explain to Quran. The Prophet (pbuh) said that: "One who interprets the Quran according to personal opinion he makes his place in fire (Hell)."