In today's group discussion our group was a little short staffed, however, our discussion was no less important and thought provoking I feel. Our topic today focused on Falsafah, which describes when Greek philosophies were brought to Islam. The early rise of Islam was actually very tolerant to foreign ideas, beliefs, and religions, very different from the modern picture of Islam we have today. However, this early tolerance did not last long, for the Islam religion soon came under weighty questions from doubting philosophers. This bring us to the main discussion generating questions that our group came up with:
Factual
True or False-The Faylasafs came to believe that God was reason itself.
Discussion
How much do you think Islam's early tolerance affected the current Islam beliefs?
Two Questions for next time:
Factual-Which of these works was not written by Maimonides?
A. Mishneh Torah
B.Law of the People
C.Guide for the Perplexed
Answer is B
Discussion-Do you believe that it is an offense to say that God is wise or strong?
Sorry I misssed class guys, I have had alot going on. No excuse."The early rise of Islam was actually very tolerant to foreign ideas, beliefs, and religions, very different from the modern picture of Islam we have today. However, this early tolerance did not last long..." I do not know much about Islam, but it is interesting how religion can change or an idea that represents your beliefs can change, and before you know it, you do not know how you got involved in what you were involved in and the things you were associated with.
ReplyDeleteThe contrast between the beginning of Islam and how the western world views Islam now is also very interesting to me. But the same could probably be said about any religion.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of religious tolerance is something I find essential to humanity. A lot of what I see in the world today is a lack of religious tolerance and actually more of what we might say as cultural rejection
ReplyDeleteCheck out this article
http://solitaryroad.com/a846.html
Bigotry with regard to religion is a dehumanizing and, well let's face it, DEMONIZING way of life. I know a lot of the hatred we see directed toward Islamic and Muslim people today is a derivative of the War in Iraq. But to me, it still begs the question, are we, as Americans, that blinded by patriotism that we look at people solely based on religious devotion and write them off as an outsider? It may not even be as much tolerance that people need today so much as EDUCATION on various religions. And many might be surprised after knowing that we ALL really aren't that different when you break each religion down to the rudimentary parts.