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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy and READ the Book: Comments from a Joint-Author, March 3, 2006
The Amazon Editorial Review referred to Ali Sina and Irshad Manji as "major scholars". Neither may have claimed such honor personally. Regardless, Mr Ali Sina has extensive knowledge of not only Islam's history but also of the Qura'n and other, related tomes. Mr Sina's conclusions about Islam differ significantly from those by other, well-known writers who are also Muslim faithful. But that does not compromise his de facto scholarship of Islam. I note this, to pre-empt potential challenges to that reference. I respect Miss Manji, for her boldness to speak out. She is however not a contributor to the book's essay collection. Now, about those essays...
Muslim societies do not sport a culture of rational dialog on Islamic topics. There are rumblings for reform in many Muslim cultures; the time may have come, for them to usher in their own Period of Enlightenment. Indeed, it is time for critical inquiry into Islamic claims/traditions.
It would seem best if those inquiries were raised by Muslims themselves, as well as by others who have had Muslim upbringing. Inquirers lacking personal experience with those cultures might miss critical nuances. But Muslim cultures need to open up so rational inquiries could ensue and ideas of reform could be exchanged, without the fear of blasphemy accusations and death.
Some fundamentalist Muslims stoke the primitive mindset that killing is the only way to shut up critical inquiries about Islam's traditions. But if Allah indeed had all the power why would He need some Muslim faithful to kill, just so He was protected from `abuse'? The question may seem obvious to us, but it may escape those zealots. In cultures lacking rational discourse on the subject, zealots set up nurseries for fanaticism. Most cultures have evolved past such religious bullyism but Muslim fundamentalists seem unaware of it.
By admitting that cruelty has been perpetrated in the name of Islam throughout centuries some Muslim scholars inferentially concede that some Muslim leaders were fallible, if indeed Islam was against such cruelty. It seems puzzling, therefore, that the same scholars should deny the potential for similar fallibility by modern Muslim faith-interpreters.
Some Muslim scholars point to past atrocities in Western cultures. While those may be true but it was the Westerners themselves, who took measures to expunge those. Curiously, the same scholars as well as many practicing Muslims ignore such prevailing Islamic cultural aspects that challenge rational notions of equal rights of women and minorities.
In my opinion they suffer a serious cognitive dissonance. It is a red herring as well: by the finger pointing Islamic status-quo defenders shift the focus, contending that no reform is necessary. Interpretive fallibility by Muslim clergy is therefore sidelined/ignored. All along abuse of women and minorities, justified in the name of Islam, continues in their countries!
This book offers opinions of people that grew up as Muslims some of whom, like myself, may no longer endorse the religion. The authors nonetheless raise a collective voice of reason, suggesting objective critique of Islam--the belief, as well as its practice across Muslim cultures. Non-Muslims may learn some intimate dimensions of Islam. Hopefully, this invaluable primer will encourage more objective viewpoints on the topic.
My request to any practicing Muslim reader: Please learn to accept civil opinions about Islam that may differ from your own. If you should disagree, let's not seek blood. Please realize that, according to Islam, Jesus is not the Son of God. Although the declaration is a veritable insult to all faithful Christians, it is weaved into the fabric of Islam. Christians are tolerant of it for the most part. If they weren't so tolerant you might not have been able to migrate to, and enjoy a better life on, Western lands.
Obviously "Islamic" countries couldn't offer you an equal, if not better, economic alternative. Please ask yourself why that was the case. Is it nothing other than Western imperialism due to which most Muslim-majority countries are in economic shambles today although their rivers of wisdom are overflowing with religious scholars who are trigger-ready, to interpret Allah's perfect guidance for all humanity?
Why do many Muslims leap into a fit of rage if anyone critiques Islam no matter how civilly, while they also claim it is a religion of peace and tolerance? Why the pervasive desperate need to KILL to protect Allah although He is always conveniently absent, to approve the murders?
On one hand you demand that Christians' accept at face value the Islamic un-deification of Christ; on the other, you must also destroy embassies because someone sketched a few cartoons of Muhammad? Why the double-standard?
What if the Western world should decide to deport you? After all, you denigrate Jesus--their Son of God, by denying his divinity! What would you do if non-Muslims denied Muhammad's legitimacy? Indeed, which Muslim country can provide a replica for the tolerance, due to which you have grown roots and spread the branches of a good life on many Western, "infidel" lands?
Please buy and read the book. While you may disagree with some of its arguments it can be a rational substitute for another Mullahtic tall-tale about Allah. Most likely the Mullah has never met Allah; therefore, it is a LIE, if he claims first hand knowledge about Allah's wishes. It is reality without disrespect. Thanks for reading!
Ed Islam
Joint-Author: "Beyond Jihad: Critical Voices from Inside Islam"
March 3, 2006
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review submitted by Robert Spencer,author, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam, December 12, 2005
"The contributors to this enormously important volume are to be commended for their immense courage -- and for their honesty about the problems within Islam and what must be done about them. Such honesty is rare and refreshing in an age when distortions, half-truths, and deceptions dominate the public discourse about Islam and violence. This is the book to turn to in order to find a group of Muslims willing to stand up against jihadist thuggery and intimidation, and to articulate a sane and civilized alternative to the jihad violence that increasingly threatens the civilized world." -- Robert Spencer, author, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades) (Regnery)
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review by Chris Blackburn, March 16, 2006
Muslims and ex-Muslims must unite to be able to address the problems within the faith. Samuel Huntington's theory that there will be a `Clash of Civilisations' is starting to emerge in the minds of those that have the power to derail it, however this can be stopped. The realisation that Islam must be reformed is the only way that this civilisational battle will be neutralised. Beyond Jihad should help to start to consolidate this process and provide a pivotal building block for activists, religious leaders and scholars.
The contributors to Beyond Jihad must be applauded for their bravery and courage in tackling such a sensitive and very dangerous subject.
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