Re: The Reformed Islam of COEM
Reply #113 - March 30, 2010, 02:26 PM
Well as a Muslim I do "sincerely" engage Islamic mythology. The definition I offered of what a 'Muslim' is would include someone with a soft spot for Islam IF they refer to themselves as a 'Muslim'. The definition I offered was. 'anyone who adheres to the religion of Muhammad in some way, shape, or form and refers to themselves as 'Muslim''.
Under the various literalist sects of Islam we get situations like this:
The Salafis say the some Sufis and Shia are not Muslims.
The Shia say Wahhabis (Salafis) are not Muslim.
The Habashis say the Wahhabis (Salafis) are not Muslim.
The Barelvis say the Deobandis are not Muslim, and vice versa.
Some Traditional Sunnis, including the Salafis, say the Quranites and the Progressives are not Muslims.
The Ahmadis are not considered to be Muslim by Sunnis and Shia.
and so on...
However, ALL of these people are 'Muslim'. No one can say that they cannot do with the religion of Islam as they will. Each has their own argument for their reading of Islam. If we were anthropologists combing through the Islamic world we would identify ALL of these people as Muslims, because that is what they are - just ask them, they will all say they are Muslims.
So the reality of what a 'Muslim' is is much larger than what most sectarian readings of the religion allow for. Some Sufis have basically followed the definition I have given above, as a spiritual practice. I am arguing that my definition is more than just being spiritually generous, it is the reality. Now as for Muslims who view Islam from the perspective of being a mythology, that is their prerogative to do so, just like every other sect of Muslims has the right to read Islam as they see fit. I am an Atheist, I am from a Muslim background. When I discovered that Islam was mythological and not literally true I simply adjusted my fiqh and my theology - I didn't leave Islam, except in the sense that I left being a literalist, or what I call a "religious Muslim". Why should we leave Islam to be WRONGLY interpreted by the literalists? I believe that our "sect" of Islam, if you will, is the truest amongst the various sects. I believe that we have the most right to comment upon Islam.
You said that you don't find even 1 story in Islam that moves you. That's fine. You would obviously not be considered a Muslim according to my definition, on two accounts; (1) you do not follow the religion of Muhammad in some way, shape, or form, and (2) you do not refer to yourself as a 'Muslim' (I infer).
Many Islamic sects would say that if you have left Islam you should be killed. Some of the Sufis, the Progressives, the Quranis, and the sect I consider myself from, the Islamic mythologists, would welcome you to the table. Not having any literalist attachments to Islamic belief, my sect would probably be most comfortable with you. And isn't that how religion really should be anyhow? Our view and practice of Islam is imo the best one, the proof is in the pudding.
Topic: The Reformed Islam of COEM