http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20060310.D01&irec=1
Radicalism and the construction of civilizations M Hilaly Basya, Jakarta A dialog of civilizations, as promoted by scholars and activists, is seen by some as an effective way to eliminate radicalism and terrorism. But such a dialog would not be simple, and any hoped for results could not be achieved until both Islamic and Western worldviews were reconstructed. The progress of Western civilization has been reduced to "the perennial wisdom". Nature is viewed as a giant machine that works mechanically. That is why they tend to materialism that emphasizes empiricism and positivism as the highest epistemology to achieve truth. Basically, there are three kinds of epistemology. First, rational epistemology. It uses a ratio as the base and the source of knowledge. This epistemology was developed in ancient Greece. The thinkers who develop it were Socrates, Plato, Anaximenes, Phitagoras, and most of the ancient Greek thinkers. Besides Greece, this kind of epistemology was also developed by Muslim thinkers such as al-Farabi, Ibnu Shina, al-Kindi, etc. They lived in the ancient period of Islam (7th-13th centuries). Second, intuitive epistemology. It was developed by theologians. Revelation and intuition are the source of knowledge. Third is empirical epistemology. It was developed by modern western scientists. The empirical epistemology later becomes the positivism paradigm. This paradigm was based on the architects of modernism, Rene Descartes and Newton. It is used in many of the disciplines of knowledge, such as sociology, biology and psychology. Ironically, the paradigm causes the reduction of wisdom, because it only believes the knowledge and the truth that come from the empirical world. Thus, most western people doubt the existence of spirituality in the universe. Thy see the universe as a thing that has no soul and no life. They also view human beings as just a body. According to Arnold Toynbee (1976) there is a big gap in Western civilization. On one side science and technology grow rapidly, but on other side moral wisdom and humanity have decreased. According to Hans Kung in his book A Global Ethics for Global politics and Economics (1997) the policy of Western governments tend to self interest and the alienation of morality. That is why they allow the Israeli annexation of Palestinian areas. The power and riches are tempting. The positivism paradigm is also based on "binary opposition logic". It creates a pair of opposites, such as subject-object, West-East, reason-intuition, above-under, matter-non mater, man-woman. The first position is higher than the second. This kind of paradigm states implicitly that Western civilization is better than Eastern (Islam). On the other hand, the theology of most Muslims is exclusive. They believe that the real truth belongs only to Islamic teachings. At last the theology produces the arrogance of theology. It disturbs the mutual-respect between Muslims and others. It will motivate violence. It will allow oppression and violence to establish justice. Actually they refer to their Islamic teaching interpretation as the construction of "ancient reason" (nalar klasik). This kind of reason was constructed in the Arabic consciousness early in the development of Islam. The "ancient reason" was influenced by Arabian culture and the socio-political situation of the time. That is why verses of the Koran and the Hadits of Prophet Muhammad explain about the enemies of Islam. They viewed non-Muslims as second class citizens who did not deserve the same rights as they did. Non-Muslims are called kafir (infidel). This is discrimination based on Islamic theology. Recently, this kind of theology has allowed for Muslims to terrorize non-Muslims, especially Western people. The reasons of terrorists, like Amrozi who bombed Bali in 2002, show "the arrogance of theology". They destroy human lives in the name of God, and spread terror on the name of truth. So, how can peace and mutual understanding is established if they follow the exclusive theology? The reconstruction of civilizations is meant to enable us to review the world-view of both Islam (the East) and the West. Some Western scholars have criticized and reconstructed the fundamentals of their civilization. The Post-modernist movement, represented by reconstructive thinkers such as Paul Ricouer, Gadamer, Fritchof Chapra, Gary Zukav, has made a significant contribution to that revision, but without a significant impact. In Islam, we have to criticize "Islamic reason" (nalar Islam). It is meant as a deconstruction of "ancient reason" (nalar klasik), the epistemology that is used to construct Islamic teaching. Several prominent Islamic thinkers, such as Mohammad Abed Al-Jabiri, Mohammed Arkoun, Nashr Hamid Abu Zayd, Abdullahi Ahmed An-Naim, have promoted this movement. They have especially tried to reinterpret Islamic law, theology, Sufism and philosophy. According to Abdulahi Ahmed an-Na'im "the ancient reason" is in the text of a sacred book that was revealed in the Madinah period, when the Prophet Muhammad was at war with the enemies of Islam. That is why the content of text sounds quite exclusive, especially about the relation between Muslims and non-Muslims. The jihad concept, for instance, appeared during the war. So it seems full of hostility to others. The situation compelled or forced the text to speak to local and particular reason. Like the Koran, it differentiates between Muslims and non-Muslims. The Koran uses the terminology of kafir dzimmi (protected non-Muslims). It means they are not in the same position as Muslims. Then, an-Na'im proposes "sharia evolution". He asks Muslims to leave the text that was revealed in the Madinah period and turn to the Mecca period (an-Na'im, 1994). In the Mecca period the text speaks about universal values. It does not distinguish between people according to their religion. Sharia evolution is a proposal of "modern Islamic reason" (nalar Islam modern). So a revision of the old world-views of both Islam and the West is urgent. A dialog of civilizations will only make a significant contribution if it is supported by the revolution of a new paradigm. The writer is the executive director at the Center for Moderate Muslims and is a lecturer at Muhammadiyah University of Prof. Dr. Hamka. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/aYWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Milis Wanita Muslimah Membangun citra wanita muslimah dalam diri, keluarga, maupun masyarakat. 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