Can Islam change?

Question

That was the front page and the cover story of New Statesman on 13th September 2004. Just found an old copy as i was clearing out ...
But then i ask the question ... why just Islam?
Can Christianity change? Can Judaism change?
How should they change if you think they should?
Ultimately it is not the believers but the clerics that make organised religions into intolerant beliefs system with all the consequences showing in war and hostilities. What you think?
Please save the abuse, i'm none of the above and am not favouring one over the other. I live in hope that one day people can respect each others religious convictions.
I put this in current events to stay away from the religious gang btw ... hoping to get some objective answers if you know what i mean ...

Answer 1

yes as the generation is going to be too much advanced and now its fact islam will be change badly and so many branches will be opened because every one like to live in free air not like to live like prisnors in the jail and due to this only islam will be change its fct as i am saying and i like it to be change for freedom of ladies who are living like a prisnors in their own house

Answer 2

I think this is the kind of question you can ask about any religion and in the end show more about the thinking of whoever is asking the question who is most likely anti whatever they are asking the question about. eg Can the sulphur smelling GWB change?

Islam has a basic set of beliefs just like communism, capitalism, judaism etc. This defines the belief "system" and without this it does not exist. eg if Christians don't believe Jesus Christ existed, then christianity does not exist. After this, there are things where change/choice is available (eg. is it ok to wear a white shirt rather than a grey one)

In Islam, the most important beliefs are in one God (Allah), his angels, the dinively revealed books (Quran, Gospel, Torah, scrolls of Abraham), his messengers (prophets including Muhammad, Jesus, Moses, David, Abraham, Noah...), the life after death (heaven and hell) and predestination and supremecy of the divine.

Muslims say that they are following the religion of God that this is the same God as all the other religions. The only difference being that it was people like the one who asked the question that kept changing the original message (for convenience, money, political advantage etc) which is why new messengers and books had to be sent.

Islam is merely the completion of this process where Muhammad was the last of the messengers and the quran is the last of the divine books (the only one to survive in its original text and language - the last testament).

There is a long history of myths and false accusations against islam and muslims in Europe and the Americas. I think a lot of issues could be solved if people decided to find out about islam from muslims instead of relying on people such as the pope.

Answer 3

you are right. that is amongst the most succinct summations I have heard regarding this issue. keep talking and hopefully people will hear you. it is true, it is the clerics with Islam, but it's not necessarily the preachers with Christianity. it's that whole protestantism thing, especially in independent minded USA where small communities get together and develop their own interpretations of the Gods word. Problem with the clerics is they are ignorant and making petty power plays with C4 and guns. Problem with Christian fundamentalists is ignorance and making petty power plays with big freakin' guns, WMDs, and Nukes.
making it a religious issue really just clouds things, though. it's about culture, language, power, oil, money, and trade. All of the religions that you mentioned tell us among their MOST primary commands that we are to love one another and anybody who tries to tell you there's anything holy about this war from either side is a sadly lost and confused person who has not consulted the texts he or she refers to.
Since the early part of the 19th century we have been living in a global economy and this is just where we are at with it right now. 15 years ago it was capitalist pigs and commie pinkos. 45 years before that it was the german threat, and 15 years before that it was conflicts between colonial powers. Today it's right wing fascist christians vs towelheads or terrorists or whatever else you want to call them. I don't know if it's necessarily going to get any better before it gets worse, since I fear that in 25 years the struggle is going to look something more like a UN type body vs whatever disenfranchised group might have something to say about it. (not that I think it will be the UN; I just think we're edging slowly closer towards some global body being able to achieve effective control over the bulk of the planet; in all honesty it will likely be a much more corporate power than a political one like the UN is). Maybe once that struggle has been overcome and all the genocides, hate crimes, and injustices involved in it have been perpetrated, then things will start to look a little better for those who survive. I'm just saying that in terms of global conflicts things could be a lot worse than they are now, and they probably will get worse sooner than we want them to.
Nonetheless every person on this planet should be working towards achieving greater tolerance and respect within their communities, and in all communities around the world.
Yes, Islam can change, yes, Christianity can change, and yes, Judaism can change. The people must, and will, change, and can mitigate this conflict if they are moved by the spirit to do so. Sometimes I am discouraged by how few people seem open to this spirit, but sometimes I find an openness in places I never would have expected to either.

Answer 4

It's the missguided notion that religion causes conflict. Religion doesn't cause conflict, it's people who do these things in the name of their religion. They to me are not real believers.

You can't tell me that during the crusades the Christians thought they would really go to heaven after killing innocent people, the same goes for people like George Bush. He's blatantly got a hatred of the middle east and Islam and he fight's them in the name of the 'War on Terror'. It's crap. He's been brought up with a view that the Oil is the best commodity and to stamp all over those who own it is the best thing to do...is that a Christian thing?? The Christians of the US still vote him in though.

The problem with religion is it's far to open to interpretation, the books where the rules come from are ancient, and don't really apply to today's society. So those wanting to exploit the more weak minded simply go to their religious book and say, "here's what it says about this", put their own slant on it and manage to convince people that effectively being evil is the right thing to do in the name of your religion.

But these people aren't real believers, they're doing it for their own gain. I'm sue that Alah did not personally tell Osama Bin Laden that killing 3,000 people in America was a good idea.

He's been brought up in a modorate Islamic Country, but ended up in a fight against the Russians which has politicises him. He's doing nothing for his religion, he's simply pulling as many people in as possible using religion as his 'fight'.

On top of that, the Western World is allowing him to do it, by making the situation worse and stiring up hatred toward the Western's Religion of Christianity.

Little do they know we are probably one of the most secular regions of earth.

Personally I'd be happy if everyone became a Bhuddist - peace and meditation. Just look at the Coup in Thailand!!

Answer 5

I honestly don't think they can change, which is why religion is in the poor state it is in today (when you consider that in centuries past there wasn't a religious building that wasn't full of people during the main services). Religons have changed in the past to increase the number of conversions, you only have to look at the christian church changes when it was "adopted" by the Roman empire (the adoption of halos, the move to 25th Dec for Christmas day etc) to see that change has been adopted and embraced. However having said that it has been a very long time since these mainstream religions have been truely challenged and so have lost the ability or desire to change without radical upheavel and upsetting what little communities they have left.

Answer 6

Too many people blame the religion for the things that individuals do. I know this is true with Islam, anyway. There are so many people who go on and on about how it's a terrible religion ... and almost always they have never picked up a Quran or gone out of their way to meet some normal Muslims to find out the truth of things themselves. Just because someone says they're blowing themselves up for Islam, doesn't necessarily make it so. And one Muslim cannot speak for the millions of others. Actually, according to Islam, no Muslim can speak for another. Every Muslim is responsible for themselves 100%, when the big day comes no one can intercede on another's behalf.

Sorry, I know that wasn't very objective and probably not what you were looking for. That's just what came to mind when I saw your post, and I thought it needed to be said.

Answer 7

Wonderful question! I do not share John Boy's pessimism, nor do I think that Smiler has a complete underrstanding of religion (it can't be torn down; people have been agressively trying to tear down Christianity for 2000 years and Judaism even longer).

The heart of your question is that you wonder if it's really the clerics that make organized religion into intolerant beleif systems. That's worth thinking aobut. In some cases you have to say, "Yes." Think of all the cults held together and quasi-brainwashed by the ramblings of one man. Then there are certain sects and denominations who entrust near total authority to human figures (e.g. Ellen White in Seventh Day Adventism, the Pope in the Catholic church).

But most theistic religious groups, even Catholicism, most of Protestantism, Judaism and Islam have a Holy Scripture that maintains more power than the one preaching it. If a church leader abuses his position there is a system of reprimand and reconciliation (granted, sometimes the abuse goes unchecked far too long and that's a crying shame). But the Bible is over my pastor. If his preaching twists, distorts, or countermands Scripture then our church consistory (lay leaders) are mandated to bring him back in line. Even the Pope has the College of Cardinals to ensure that what he makes public is in good faith, keeping with the Gospel and chuch tradition. Similar checks and balances are in most (but, unfortunately, not all) groups of Jews and Muslims as well.

Now, you title you question, "Can Islam change?" That's an easeir answer. "Yes." Islam has changed over the years. Consider the current diffrence between Shiite and Sunni. Consider the difference between Muslim women in Afghanistan and those in the UK. Obviously religion can change. I just hope and pray that all of us work together to make it change in ways that bring reconciliation.

Answer 8

No, because the vast majority of Islamic People are Peace-Loving and only want the best of Life for One and all. It's only an extremely Violent Minority that give the Rest a Negative Reputation. They will never change, so, the Answer is no.

Answer 9

I see one issue coming up on ANSWERS all the time. It is that all are viewed the same. For example all Muslims are looked upon as terrorists. I was thinking the other day. I went to a christian school and was baptised (although I haven't set foot inside a church other than a tourist in years) Would this make me a "Christian" in the eyes of the east? Would they assume I was responsible for ANY atrocity they perceived was perpetrated by the "Western Christians"
As I was Baptised Catholic (at 6 weeks old) Does this meant that I am with the IRA, as catholics?
OMG - I hope not.

Answer 10

Both Christianity and Judaism have changed - hence the reformation and the enlightenment.respectively.
Islam can change but not until the idea that dying for your religion is more important than living for it.

Answer 11

Actually could people just shut their mouths and get on with life. Why not. Religion is not a subject anybody can prove or disprove hence giving all those nutters a voice. Pain in the neck