Sebastina Faulks on the Quran

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Sebastina Faulks on the Quran
OP - August 24, 2009, 02:59 PM

THE bestselling author Sebastian Faulks has courted controversy by saying the Koran has ?no ethical dimension?.

In an interview with today?s Sunday Times Magazine, he added that the Islamic holy scripture was ?a depressing book?, was ?very one-dimensional? and unlike the Christian New Testament had ?no new plan for life?.

Faulks was speaking in advance of the publication of his novel, A Week in December.

Best known for historical works such as Birdsong and Charlotte Gray, his new novel addresses contemporary London. Its characters include a health fund manager, a literary critic and a Glasgow-born Islamic terrorist recruit. Researching the latter, he read a translation of the Koran which he found ?very disappointing from a literary point of view?.

He also criticised the ?barrenness? of the Koran?s message and the teachings of the prophet Muhammad, especially when compared with the Bible.

?Jesus, unlike Muhammad, had interesting things to say,? Faulks said.

?He proposed a revolutionary way of looking at the world: love your neighbour; love your enemy; the meek shall inherit the earth. Muhammad had nothing to say to the world other than, ?If you don?t believe in God you will burn for ever?.?

Criticism of the Koran is regarded as blasphemous by Muslims.

Brave man!!!

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Re: Sebastina Faulks on the Quran
Reply #1 - August 24, 2009, 03:56 PM

Quote
"If you don't believe in God you will burn for ever."

Yeah, but doesn't the New Testament preach that kind of bullshit as well?

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Re: Sebastina Faulks on the Quran
Reply #2 - August 24, 2009, 06:31 PM

Quote from: pakman on August 24, 2009, 02:59 PM
He proposed a revolutionary way of looking at the world: love your neighbour; love your enemy;

Yeah, and since when did Xnity have a monopoly on the Golden Rule?

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Re: Sebastina Faulks on the Quran
Reply #3 - August 24, 2009, 06:42 PM

Sebastian Faulks graduated from the same college as me. Now I'm working with his father-in-law.

Small world, hey!!

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Re: Sebastina Faulks on the Quran
Reply #4 - September 06, 2009, 07:18 PM

Quote
MUSLIM CLERIC: SEBASTIAN FAULKS SHOULD FACE SHARIA JUSTICE

MUSLIM firebrand Anjem Choudary caused new outrage last night after demanding author Sebastian Faulks be tried before an Islamic court where the penalty could be possible execution.

He said the bestselling novelist should be hauled before a Sharia court to answer charges that he had insulted the Prophet Mohammed by describing the Koran as the ?rantings of a schizophrenic?.

In the interview last week, Mr Faulks added that the English translation of the Koran was a ?depressing read?.

Although the bestselling author has since apologised, Islam4UK a radical group associated with Choudary and his mentor, the banned cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed, posted an article on its website entitled, ?Sebastian Faulks on a Death Wish??

The article goes on to say that ?with other individuals having faced disturbing consequences over the last few years for similar rants, [Mr Faulks] cannot provide himself an excuse for not being aware of the repercussions of such careless comments, which is a great cause for concern?.

It concludes: ?May Allah punish the oppressors and deal with the slanderers.?

Mr Choudary, a former supporter of banned extremist group Al-Muhajiroun, denied writing the article, but said he agreed with its content.

The father of three, who sits as a judge in the London Sharia court and wants the ?flag of Allah? flying over Downing Street, went further.

He said the murder of Dutch film director Theo van Gogh, who was killed by a Muslim extremist in 2004 after criticising Islam, should serve as a warning.

?Mr Faulks was extremely na?ve for what he said and it could have some grave consequence for him,? he said.

?He?s not the first person to insult the Prophet. You can see with Theo van Gogh and Salman Rushdie and whole host of other people that it does have those consequences.

?There are many people out there who do like to take things into their own hands.

?Someone like this needs to be assessed in an Islamic court of law and if he?s found guilty then there would be capital punishment.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/124847/Muslim-cleric-Sebastian-Faulks-should-face-Sharia-justice-

Re bolding (by me), so why don t they leave it to Allah.

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Re: Sebastina Faulks on the Quran
Reply #5 - September 06, 2009, 07:23 PM

Quote from: pakman on August 24, 2009, 02:59 PM
THE bestselling author Sebastian Faulks has courted controversy by saying the Koran has ?no ethical dimension?.

In an interview with today?s Sunday Times Magazine, he added that the Islamic holy scripture was ?a depressing book?, was ?very one-dimensional? and unlike the Christian New Testament had ?no new plan for life?.

Faulks was speaking in advance of the publication of his novel, A Week in December.

Best known for historical works such as Birdsong and Charlotte Gray, his new novel addresses contemporary London. Its characters include a health fund manager, a literary critic and a Glasgow-born Islamic terrorist recruit. Researching the latter, he read a translation of the Koran which he found ?very disappointing from a literary point of view?.

He also criticised the ?barrenness? of the Koran?s message and the teachings of the prophet Muhammad, especially when compared with the Bible.

?Jesus, unlike Muhammad, had interesting things to say,? Faulks said.

?He proposed a revolutionary way of looking at the world: love your neighbour; love your enemy; the meek shall inherit the earth. Muhammad had nothing to say to the world other than, ?If you don?t believe in God you will burn for ever?.?

Criticism of the Koran is regarded as blasphemous by Muslims.

Brave man!!!

Brave indeed - but when someone tries to say Christianity is wonderful in the same breath it just makes me switch off - sorry!
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Re: Sebastina Faulks on the Quran
Reply #6 - September 06, 2009, 07:31 PM

Quote from: Hassan on September 06, 2009, 07:23 PM
Brave indeed - but when someone tries to say Christianity is wonderful in the same breath it just makes me switch off - sorry!

True. The christians tend to have their own agenda's. Disparaging one dellusion in support of another.
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Re: Sebastina Faulks on the Quran
Reply #7 - September 06, 2009, 07:37 PM

Plus saying that "Koran has no ethical dimension" is a bit too simplistic imho.
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Re: Sebastina Faulks on the Quran
Reply #8 - September 07, 2009, 12:30 AM

He's just leaving one barbaric religion for another...

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Re: Sebastina Faulks on the Quran
Reply #9 - September 08, 2009, 06:45 AM

Ok, I'm not from the UK...so forgive my ignorance

this Choudary dude, he is the head of the "islamic courts"? Is that that sharia law thing the UK was flirting with? Is this like a real "court"?

or, is he just like a crazy guy on the street (like that homeless guy I met the other week who kept telling me he was a special detective for the bus...and therefor deserved a cigarette).

If its the second one, why do people keep asking him what he thinks?

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Re: Sebastina Faulks on the Quran
Reply #10 - September 08, 2009, 11:08 AM

Anjem Choudary is not head of the Shari'ah courts - he is head of the group that formed after al-Muhajiroun was banned and Omar Bakri expelled.

It is a minority group that makes a lot of noise but has very little support from UK Muslims in general. Every Muslim I know considers him a complete prick.

I can't remember what he calls his group now - it was Al Ghurabaa - I think it's called "the Saved Sect" now.
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Re: Sebastina Faulks on the Quran
Reply #11 - September 08, 2009, 12:56 PM

Quote from: IsLame on August 24, 2009, 06:31 PM
Yeah, and since when did Xnity have a monopoly on the Golden Rule?

Not defending my ex-religion, but I think the positive statement of golden rule came from Christianity. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Of course it doesn't have the monopoly on the golden rule itself.

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Re: Sebastina Faulks on the Quran
Reply #12 - September 08, 2009, 03:32 PM

Quote from: brainyape on September 08, 2009, 12:56 PM
Not defending my ex-religion, but I think the positive statement of golden rule came from Christianity. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Of course it doesn't have the monopoly on the golden rule itself.

The jews & the zorastrians got there first. I wouldnt be surprised either if someone else before also said it, as it is pretty obvious when you think about it (and usually something people do subconsciously, with or without religion)

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Re: Sebastina Faulks on the Quran
Reply #13 - September 08, 2009, 04:36 PM

The golden rule has existed for ages. The Ancient Greeks had their own version and I wouldn't be surprised if people before them had it too.

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Re: Sebastina Faulks on the Quran
Reply #14 - September 08, 2009, 04:38 PM

Just googled it and found out the golden rule has existed since at least 3000BC- http://www.diamondhelpers.com/loveandlife/famousquotes/goldenrule.shtml

(and most likely before that too considering it seems to be a recurring theme throughout history).

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Re: Sebastina Faulks on the Quran
Reply #15 - September 08, 2009, 09:03 PM

Quote from: IsLame on September 08, 2009, 03:32 PM
The jews & the zorastrians got there first. I wouldnt be surprised either if someone else before also said it, as it is pretty obvious when you think about it (and usually something people do subconsciously, with or without religion)

Yes, it should have existed in mental form maybe even tens of thousand of years ago, just like language existed without scripts. But, it's a civilizational milestone when it gets documented, however easy it may seem. Even these days irreligious people too sometimes argue that it's not possible to be moral without religion, even when they themselves subconsiously obey the golden rule.

Secondly, the negative version i.e "do not do to others what you would not like to be done to you" is easier to think of. The positive form "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", may seem logically equivalent, but practically it is not, as it involves one more level of thinking to derive it from the negative. Only the positive version really compels us to reach out, rather than not just harming others. (In so far as we need the formalized statements, otherwise it's irrelevant.)

For example, these are positive statements:

"What you wish your neighbors to be to you, such be also to them." – Sextus the Pythagorean
"One should treat all beings as he himself would be treated." - Agamas, Sutrakrtanga 1.10, 1-3, from the Jain tradition, circa 500 BC
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise -Luke 6:31

Here we see, 'wish', 'treat', and 'do'. 'do' seems most positive.

I have seen Sam Harris supporting this in one video. Couldn't find it again.

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