Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (41816)	12/27/2001 2:27:34 PM
From: Solon	Respond to of 82486

Good article. In the end, Muslims will find in the Koran that which expresses their goals and aspirations. It will be up to others to see that those goals and aspirations conform to an acknowledgnment of religious freedom for others. The biggest difficulty lies in the current interpretation of Allah, the Law, and the State as a triumvirate whole...coupled with the Manifest Destiny of Islam. Obviously, it cannot co-exist with the concept of freedom. In the end, some people may have to lose their freedom. If it is not them, then who?

To: Lane3 who wrote (41816)	12/27/2001 4:43:34 PM
From: Greg or e	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

Hi Karen Merry Christmas :) I think we touched on this before but it's glaringly obvious that Sullivan is saying in essence is that it's absolutely necessary that every one thinks like him if we are going to get along, or as the articles writer noted; "The only good religion is a relativist one." If that's true, then that is an absolute statement about reality, and it is Sulliban who most closely resembles the Taliban. If it's a false statement, then it's completely irrelevant. Which do you think it is? Of course the statement that; "in a world of absolute truth . . . there is no room for dissent." is not necessarily true. but it could also, and more accurately be said, that in a world devoid of absolutes, there is no basis for saying anything is better or worse than anything else. I don't really think Sulliban and his buds have thought this through. Since Sulliban's argument must assume absolutes exist for it to be meaningful it is therefore self refuting. I sincerely hope you will have an incredibly festive whatever. Oh, and Happy New Year too. Greg

To: Lane3 who wrote (41816)	12/27/2001 5:30:44 PM
From: one_less	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

"The difference is that the Taliban happily sacrifices freedom for truth, while Clinton and the others obligingly sacrifice truth for freedom. Both agree, however, that you are either a truth-owning jihadi or a freedom-loving relativist. Choose your corner, and come out swinging." Very insightful. This statement demonstrates how the extremists engender contagion among loyalists. Very well put. "Andrew Sullivan warns, "in a world of absolute truth . . . there is no room for dissent." Huh, a world of absolute truth?....not the one I live in. I live in a world of paradox, illusion, corruption, struggles for justice, as well as greed and lasciviousness. I live in a world where I have been granted the free will to seek truth and work to free myself and my fellow human beings from injustice and oppression. I would not be able to believe the Quran if it didn't qualify all of this. That, however, does not mean that I don't believe in absolute truth or that it can not be known. I can even relate to Bill Clintons statement: Everybody is just "trying to get closer" to it. I would hope that everyone is a truth seeker. But the extremists are not. One group claims to own it (seeking is beneath them) the other claims seeking "the" truth is a pointless pursuit. Each seeks the other's destruction. I am not much for spectator events but...oh, never mind. "...the solution to reconciling Islam with pluralism lies not in lecturing Muslims about the supposed virtues of relativism but in helping find within the Koran the absolute truth of human dignity." Well this is a silly statement that assumes all Muslims are simple minded and easily manipulated. This person has made a straw man enemy. Of course none of use has ownership over absolute truth in the All Knowing sense. It would require an all knowing grasp of eternity and the alpha and omega. That doesn't mean it doesn't exist, simply that you are not "IT." A problem for human pride and vanity. I would recommend shedding the light of Western media on enlightened, humble, and decent Muslims instead of on Extremists and instead of naive lectures to demonstrate how ignorant, arrogant, and obstinant one can be. Understanding and unity should be greatly encouraged. And the only way to reconcile Islam and pluralism, amens Thomas Friedman, is for Islam to affirm "that God speaks multiple languages and is not exhausted by just one faith." The only good religion is a relativist one. The Quran states that all people and nations have recieved the Truth (the absolute one). On the subject of differences between the world religions that profess belief in God (The All Powerful One) the Quran says the reason for these will be made clear on judgement day and that it is pointless to dispute over them in the mean time. "Serious Muslim friends tell me that the Koran provides a basis for them to affirm the human dignity of every person, just as Genesis (all are made in the image and likeness of God) does for Jews and Christians." Absolutely. All are God's creatures. Of course it is gossipy and fun to use extremist views and misunderstood foriegn cultural norms as universally applicable in defence of the agenda or assemblage one is bound to.