Critical Thinkers for Islamic Reform [Paperback]

Edip Yuksel (Editor), Arnold Yasin Mol (Editor), Farouk A Peru (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 19, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0979671574 | ISBN-13: 978-0979671579 | Edition: 1st

Centuries after the revelation of the Quran, we Muslims have accumulated more than ketchup on our noses. We have sunk in dirt until our eyebrows since we have traded the sound, liberating, and progressive message of the Quran, with the contradictory, enslaving and regressive dogmas of fabricated sects. This book is the by-product of "A Celebration of Heresy Conference: Critical Thinking for Islamic Reform", in Atlanta on March 28-30 of 2008. The thirty scholars and activists that contributed to this book do not necessarily agree on every issue. However, we all agree on the imperative of a radical reformation in the Muslim world. A reform under the guidance of the Quran with the light of reason, our Creator's greatest gift to us... God willing, we are planning to continue organizing these conferences under the title "Critical Thinking for Islamic Reform" and publish the articles of the participants in annual anthologies with the same title.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This book is the by-product of "A Celebration of Heresy Conference: Critical Thinking for Islamic Reform", in Atlanta on March 28-30 of 2008. It was a conference that I had prayed for years before it took place. When Fereydoun Taslimi offered his help and then Abdullahi an-Naim joined us, the idea became a reality. I offered Critical Thinking for Islamic Reform as the title, while Abdullahi insisted on using the word Heresy in the title. After a lengthy and hot debate among us, we finally agreed to combine both suggestions. With the support of Fereydoun's family and friends, about hundred Critical Thinkers gathered in Atlanta to discuss the imperative of Islamic Reform.

From the Author

The contributors of this book do not necessarily agree on every issue. However, we all agree on the imperative of a radical reformation in the Muslim world. A reform under the guidance of the Quran with the light of reason, our Creator's greatest gift to us... Inshallah, we are planning to continue organizing these conferences under the title "Critical Thinking for Islamic Reform" and publish the articles of the participants in annual anthologies with the same title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 262 pages
• Publisher: Brainbow Press; 1st edition (May 19, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979671574
• ISBN-13: 978-0979671579
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,818,522 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

EDIP YUKSEL is an American-Turkish-Kurdish author and activist who spent four years in Turkish prisons in the 1980's for his political writings and activities promoting an Islamic revolution in Turkey. He experienced a paradigm change in 1986 transforming him from a Sunni Muslim leader to a reformed muslim, a rational monotheist, or a peacemaker. Edip Yuksel has written more than twenty books and hundreds of articles on religion, politics, philosophy and law in Turkish, and numerous articles and books in English. Edip is the founder of 19.org, the Islamic Reform organization, and co-founder of Muslims for Peace, Justice and Progress (MPJP). His personal site is yuksel.org. After receiving his bachelor degrees from the University of Arizona in Philosophy and Near Eastern Studies, Edip received his law degree from the same university. Edip is an Adjunct Philosophy professor at Pima Community College, and teaches various classes at Accelerated Learning Lab. He is fluent in Turkish, English and Classic Arabic; pro-ficient in Persian, and barely conversant in Kurdish, his mother tongue.


Edip Yuksel, J.D.
www.19.org
www.yuksel.org
www.islamicreform.org
www.brainbowpress.com
www.mpjp.org
ENGLISH: http://groups.google.com/group/19org
TURKISH: http://groups.google.com/group/edipyuksel
TURKISH: http://groups.google.com/group/yuzondort
Turkish Books: www.ozanyayincilik.com

Each of us must use our own mind in pursuit of truth. (17:36; 10:100; 39:17-18; 41:53; 42:21; 6:114-116; 10:36; 12:111; 20:114; 21:7; 35:28; 38:29).

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for any reform minded Muslim June 6, 2010

By Britney

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a very thought provoking book. Different authors give their own interpretations as to what went wrong in the Islamic world. Others give their perspective on the meaning of the Quranic words and verses. This is very helpful for non-Arabic speakers to understand the verses in depth. The articles are also very well-written and logical. I highly recommend this book for both Muslims and non-Muslims.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars The humanistic appraoch June 30, 2010

By Joseph C. Codsi

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Arnold Yasin Mol
The Humanistic Approach vs. the Religious Approach
How the Focus Matters
Article published in Critical Thinkers for Islamic Reform, Edip Yuksel, Arnold Mol, Faruk A. Peru Editors, Brainbow Press, 2009.

Reviewed by Joseph Codsi

This is the article I liked best in the entire collection of articles published under the umbrella title, "Critical Thinkers for Islamic Reform". The article consists in going over a series of Quranic passages where the spiritual and universal dimension of Islam is discussed. This is highly selective. As can be expected, it leaves out of the picture the other side of the Quran, where the religious requirements are discussed. Here is one of the passages that are selected:

Wealth and children are the joys of the life of this world. But good deeds that fulfill the needs of others, their fruit endures forever. Such actions are of far greater merit in the sight of your Lord, and the best foundation of hope. (Quran 18;46)

This passage illustrates what Mol calls the "humanistic approach". How does this humanistic approach differ from the religious approach? I think Mol answers this question in the following statement:

Throughout the Quran it is made clear people are judged on their conduct towards other people, not on their amount of worship. (page 176)

I think that all religions have two dimensions, a spiritual one and a religious one. The religious dimension is that of religion as an institution endowed with a specific faith, special rituals and legal requirements. The spiritual dimension, on the other hand, transcends the human institution. Because of this, there is a tension between the two dimensions. Institutions tend to emphasize the requirement of submission to their directives. Those who do not comply are rejected.

Mol has the merit of reminding the readers that many passages of the Quran emphasize the humanistic requirements and seem to ignore the religious requirements. He does not say so openly, but I think that he gives priority to the spiritual and humanistic requirements over the religious ones.

Seattle, June 30, 2010

I sent this review to Mr. Mol and asked him to comment on it. Here is what he had to say:

"Thank you for your review and that you liked my article the most. My only comment is on your last sentence:

He does not say so openly, but I think that he gives priority to the spiritual and humanistic requirements over the religious ones.

This is not true, if you look at my article, even the title, I clearly say that I believe the Quran puts humanism above religiosity. That is the whole point of my article. This is also why I do not ignore the religious points in the Quran, I focus on the humanistic verses to show how dominant they are.

You quote my sentence of page 176, but then say I ignore the religious side. From the quote you can see clearly that I do not ignore them, but that I want to prove that they are lesser then the humanistic message of the Quran. So your comment is a contradiction with the quote."

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed the book October 11, 2011

By Harry C. Riley

Format:Paperback

This book did a good job in presenting his view of Islam and the Holy Quran. The author has a view much like my owneven though our backgrounds are defferent. I would like to see a place where more of us share our opinion, a place where we could share our thoughts and worship together.