only the "true believers" think history does not shape religion. To succeed, no religion can be too much at odds with the basic culture of its birth place. If it does, nobody will believe it
I think you mean "environment" rather than "history". The latter suggests that a religion changes through time as history unfolds, with each new major event. I don't really agree with that...
The former, that religions are shaped by (or rather they "conform to") their environment as in their time and place is so basic I don't know what to say. Like, there would be no way women would tan topless 50 years ago, so that was not in fashion - so fashion is "shaped by history" in the same context, as well, just like everything else...
history has had a great effect on Islam too. Perhaps you care to elaborate on that
I cannot say my knowledge of Islam is anywhere near exhaustive, but neither can I think of any part of it that has changed through time...
it seems that Mohammed did not care much for establishing an Islamic state, let alone converting people by force
Really? My understanding was that they were interested in expanding from Day 1.
The persona of "Imam" in Shia is identical to that of "King" in Persia
When was there only one Imam, which could be compared to a King?
Even the Sunnis, if I am not mistaken, do not consider peacock meat kosher. This is not in accordance of Islamic kosher laws, but the Persians do have a great love and respect all things beautiful and so looked at eating peacocks with disdain
That is news to me. Actually I checked with Google, and it seems peacock meat is quite "halal":
Other birds like the hens, the pigeons, the sparrows including the ostrich and the peacock are halal to eat, but it is Makrooh to kill birds like swallows and hoopoes
convertstoislam.com
Anyway, I am not trying to discourage you from the topic of your thread, but it seems to me that religions change so little through history that any change is a rare exception. "History's effect on religion", imho is Very Little Indeed... |
