Is it possible to Reform Islam?

Question

When I say reform, I hope to invoke to the idea of the transition of the Catholic Church from the brutal military power it once was into the relatively benign organization it is today, I am NOT suggesting something like Islams frationing into smaller sects,(Though Protestant faith are valid as well). This question is motivated by the apparent militancy Islam has unfortunately exhibited since it's inception.

Answer 1

Please show me the Islamic militancy you claim. I don't know how you think folks? Your troops are all the place in the Islamic world killing innocents and corrupting in earth and then you are surprised that very few number of Muslims stand in Palestine (Hamas) or Lebanon (Hezbollah) to defend their land and people. We wish that all Muslim armies move against yours but our leaders are cowards. We wish to cut all oil supply that your armies use to kill us but our dictators are just servants to yours. Wake up and think again.

Answer 2

no.. theres no scope or need.. Islam is a religion for the modern world.. i know u wont believe it but just see for urself here are sum things ppl generally find wrong about islam and heres the real reason in a modern sense--

1) hijaab/abaaya/veil is a sign of oppression, a barrier to modern thought-- well all i can say is that is thinking related to skimpy clothing? a hijaab sets a woman free, she shows the word that shes not available for fun, she shows shes descent and im sure ppl have more respect for her.. dont u think?islam believes in modernisation in thought not clothing.

2)polygyny is very unfair- its a scientifically known fact that a young girl has a better developed immune system in comparision to a boy of the same age.. thats why the world population of women is larger than men.. and its growing.. infact i saw on oprah abt the life of a single woman in london and its not pretty.. every girls looking out desperately for her guy cause theres so few of them.. dont u think its better that these women live a respectable fair life as a wife of a man rather than just sumthin the man uses and throws around? and its crazy if a person says that its not fair to each wife cause we all know adultery is there everywhere in every society is that fair? isnt it better when the wives know abt the other and accept it (they have they option to tell the husband to not marry another woman) and get pefectly equal treatment as the Quraan demands.

3)too strict with too many rules and no freedom-- well theres just one word for this -- choice.. evry individual has been given the choice to follow the religion they want, do whatever they feel is right and the consequences of their behaviour on earth will be decided later.. every muslim knows this.. so if a muslim woman feels that she doesnt need to wear the abaya then well thats her choice. free will is a part of islam.. but every muslim is waned about hell before they do anything against the rules of the religion.

now whats so backward about this? and as far as the millitant attitude of the muslims is concerned its wrong.. its very very wrong.. killing is a big sin in islam why its a big sin in any religion.. so i would rather change the people than the religion..

Answer 3

I beleive I see what you mean but theres a problem..

I am not muslim but the aspects of the muslim religion that I am familiar with do no permit for the reformation you are speaking about.

The muslim religion promotes this "inidividualism" that is extremely different from the Christian way of doing things.

For instance the Muslim religion allows for the selection of something which is considered higher than what we would call a priest. And it allows room for a higher degree of different interpretation.

For example you always hear about "radical" Shiite Clerics or Moderate Sunni Clerics.

This is essentially groups of muslims whom select this one person to be their leader and head interpreter. And there is no main back bone which OKs or denies one group's selection.

So in essence you have more range for interpretation.

Also, the muslim religion allows for people to fly solo on this journey as well. There is no "force" to rejoin with the group or practice in unison.

So what im saying is the Muslim religions' ability to fraction would be a tremendous problem in this reformation because no matter what, its ok for that one guy and his following to be different. And its religiously acceptable, the only thing other muslims can do in that case is disagree.

Thats why in say modern Iraq the only reason one Cleric gets more respect than the other is nothing more than "age".

The head Cleric in Iraq Sistani is simply older than Al Sadr and thus he gets more respect as thee go to guy.
But when his time comes, Sadr will take the reins as the head and their views are different where Sistani shows restraint Sadr wants force.

Hope I helped.

Answer 4

Ehhh. It's un-American to try and shape religion. Better to give them McDonald's, Coke, and sanctioned-by-God democracy.

Answer 5

I really appreciate "Plutosangel" she showed the perfect picture of Islam, there is no doubt about it that Islam is the religion of peace and today
there is no concept in Islam to kill any innocent without any reason,
to kill any innocent is sin in Islam, but if some one kill your mother, father and your few months old son, daughter just due to this reason that you are Christian (or other religion), what you will do?

I believe, you will become terrorist, you will kill them, who will kill your family, your beloved ones....................so it's mean you are not the only terrorist, your whole dead family, kids, men, women were also terrorist and if we have very powerful media..your whole religion will become terrorist.............is it fair??? tell me?

if some one is killing us and our families only due to this, coz, we are muslim, we worship one God and believe on last prophet, what he said, and we believe that Islam is only one true religion in the world……………so this is our mistake??……..islam teaches us respect, peace and blessing, not to kill any innocent

who is terrorist now? Who wants to live peacefully or who is killing us?? If this thing will be continue happened in future ……………then trust me………….there is no time…………every one wants self defend………..and……. these terrorist will make terrorist to every one

Please ask them to stop killing our families due to oil, soil and power on the name of islam, please stop killing innocent kids, our sisters, brothers and parents, leave them on there own will...we want to live peacefully, we want to live happy….we wants, our kids to study, they will not get fear in there eyes for war...let them be happy in Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Kashmir…..no body will be terrorist, we want to alive, we want to live as you wish and have right to live, believe me then no body will be militant.

Answer 6

if all the muslims visit this site and realize the truth then maybe
http://faithfreedom.org

Answer 7

Yeah... if only they would get a leader that thinks that way...

Answer 8

no