On 5/8/05, Susan Maneck <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Gilberto wrote: > >>2. The Mutazites weren't necessarily more liberal or open-minded in the > ways which come to mind when we think of the term "rationalism". For > example, the most frequently mentioned Inquisition-like period in Islam is > when the Mutazilites were in charge and tortured people like Ahmad ibn > Hanbal (the founder of the Hanbali school) in order to get him to confess > that the Quran wasn't the eternal word of God but instead was created.<<
Susan: > Keep in mind that the Dominicans who ran the Inquistion during the Middle > Ages were also 'rationalists.' But whatever their actions there are few who > would not see the Hanbali school as more rigidly literalistic than the > Mutazalites. But admittedly it is quite possible to be a rigid rationalist > as well. I've known quite a few of them. Sure. But we should realize that all these terms have very specific meanings which are really independent of one another. If what we want is to not have people burned at the stake, then we should say "we don't want people burned at the stake". That doesn't come automatically with getting rid of literalism, or promoting rationalism etc. For example, in my opinion the "orthodox" "traditional" "mainstream" Islam which is sympathetic to sufism (so mystically flavored) seems to me a pretty healthy perspective. And if the community could stay close to that we would be in good shape. For example, strictly "orthodox" Islam is really inclusive in terms of who it is willing to consider Muslim. It is the new "reformers" who are more restrictive and are more willing to declare people non-Muslim. It is the "rationalists" who are less tolerant of Sufism. Islam doesn't need a Reformation. It's already had one. The Wahabi/Salafi movement. What it needs is a counter-reformation. Peace Gilberto __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[email protected] Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe: http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=bahai-st Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:[email protected] Web - http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Public - http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
