Media reports on the bombings in Jakarta in July 2009 as the work of jihad are considered misinfo... more Media reports on the bombings in Jakarta in July 2009 as the work of jihad are considered misinformed about the meaning of jihad in the Qu'ran. It is suggested that the mistake made by those who find 'bellicose terms' in the Qur'an is the result of a failure to examine the specific historical context in which the verses of the Qur'an were revealed. Both the followers of Islamism and the many militant schools of Islamic jihad operating in the world today make this mistake. Much of the current language about jihad in the media also tends to make this mistake.
The author argues that popular accounts of present-day Pakistan often present Muslims there as un... more The author argues that popular accounts of present-day Pakistan often present Muslims there as uniformly intractable and intolerant, and Muslim-Christian relationships as uniformly hostile. All is seen through the lens of the Taliban. This is a distortion. The history of Jesuit involvement in Pakistan suggests a more complex picture, reflecting the diversity among Muslims there. Both Christians and Muslims in Pakistan need to move beyond the assumptions and stereotypes that continue to dominate the thinking of many people on both sides of the religious divide.
Five main paradoxes prevalent in both the Christian and Muslim scriptures are discussed. It is su... more Five main paradoxes prevalent in both the Christian and Muslim scriptures are discussed. It is suggested that an awareness and acknowledgement of the paradoxes in one's own faith tradition will result in an open mind towards paradoxes in other faith traditions, and recognition of the great mystery of God.
One of the main characteristics of the Islamist approach to Islam is to focus on the time of reve... more One of the main characteristics of the Islamist approach to Islam is to focus on the time of revelation and on the teachings and practice of the four Rightly-Guided Caliphs as the only source of guidance for the modern world. Leaders such as Sayed Qutb and Taqi al-Din al Nabhani from Palestine (founder of the Hizb ut-Tahrir) consistently rejected democratic processes since they held that democracy does not recognise the sovereignty of God. These thinkers wanted the Muslim world to become 'One Nation' (ummah) rather than existing as separate nation-states and they promoted jihad to restore the Caliphate (Q. 2.30) as the central political authority in the Muslim world.
he initial enthusiasm for the scientific study of religion and other religions (also known as com... more he initial enthusiasm for the scientific study of religion and other religions (also known as comparative religion) during the 19th century almost evaporated during the 20th century for two reasons. Firstly, it became clear that scholars of comparative religion had allowed presuppositions and assumptions to influence their research. Secondly, the horrors of the world wars disproved the scientific theory regarding the gradual evolution of religions. Eventually, two groups of scholars of comparative religion emerged. One group wanted to continue their research using the scientific method. The other group felt that comparative religion should make a more significant contribution to society. This article concludes that, firstly, scholars of religion must remain wary of the presuppositions and subjective bias they bring to the study of religion. Secondly, scholars of religion could abandon the exclusivist approach to the truth of other religions so as to foster a deeper engagement among ...
The author argues that popular accounts of present-day Pakistan often present Muslims there as un... more The author argues that popular accounts of present-day Pakistan often present Muslims there as uniformly intractable and intolerant, and Muslim-Christian relationships as uniformly hostile. All is seen through the lens of the Taliban. This is a distortion. The history of Jesuit involvement in Pakistan suggests a more complex picture, reflecting the diversity among Muslims there. Both Christians and Muslims in Pakistan need to move beyond the assumptions and stereotypes that continue to dominate the thinking of many people on both sides of the religious divide.
GENERALISLAM AND HUMAN RIGHTS: TRADITION AND POLITICS. By Ann Elizabeth Mayer. Boulder and San Fr... more GENERALISLAM AND HUMAN RIGHTS: TRADITION AND POLITICS. By Ann Elizabeth Mayer. Boulder and San Francisco: Westview Press/London: Pinter Publishers, 1991. xix + 258pp. Hb. £35.00. ISBN 0–8133–8091‐X [U.S.] ISBN 0–86187–091–3 [U.K.].TOWARD AN ISLAMIC REFORMATION: CIVIL LIBERTIES, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND INTERNATIONAL LAW. By Abdullahi Amhed AN‐NA'IM. Foreword by John Voll. New York: Syracuse Press, 1990. xvi + 253pp. Hb. $29.95. ISBN
GENERALISLAM AND HUMAN RIGHTS: TRADITION AND POLITICS. By Ann Elizabeth Mayer. Boulder and San Fr... more GENERALISLAM AND HUMAN RIGHTS: TRADITION AND POLITICS. By Ann Elizabeth Mayer. Boulder and San Francisco: Westview Press/London: Pinter Publishers, 1991. xix + 258pp. Hb. £35.00. ISBN 0–8133–8091‐X [U.S.] ISBN 0–86187–091–3 [U.K.].TOWARD AN ISLAMIC REFORMATION: CIVIL LIBERTIES, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND INTERNATIONAL LAW. By Abdullahi Amhed AN‐NA'IM. Foreword by John Voll. New York: Syracuse Press, 1990. xvi + 253pp. Hb. $29.95. ISBN
Media reports on the bombings in Jakarta in July 2009 as the work of jihad are considered misinfo... more Media reports on the bombings in Jakarta in July 2009 as the work of jihad are considered misinformed about the meaning of jihad in the Qu'ran. It is suggested that the mistake made by those who find 'bellicose terms' in the Qur'an is the result of a failure to examine the specific historical context in which the verses of the Qur'an were revealed. Both the followers of Islamism and the many militant schools of Islamic jihad operating in the world today make this mistake. Much of the current language about jihad in the media also tends to make this mistake.
The author argues that popular accounts of present-day Pakistan often present Muslims there as un... more The author argues that popular accounts of present-day Pakistan often present Muslims there as uniformly intractable and intolerant, and Muslim-Christian relationships as uniformly hostile. All is seen through the lens of the Taliban. This is a distortion. The history of Jesuit involvement in Pakistan suggests a more complex picture, reflecting the diversity among Muslims there. Both Christians and Muslims in Pakistan need to move beyond the assumptions and stereotypes that continue to dominate the thinking of many people on both sides of the religious divide.
Five main paradoxes prevalent in both the Christian and Muslim scriptures are discussed. It is su... more Five main paradoxes prevalent in both the Christian and Muslim scriptures are discussed. It is suggested that an awareness and acknowledgement of the paradoxes in one's own faith tradition will result in an open mind towards paradoxes in other faith traditions, and recognition of the great mystery of God.
One of the main characteristics of the Islamist approach to Islam is to focus on the time of reve... more One of the main characteristics of the Islamist approach to Islam is to focus on the time of revelation and on the teachings and practice of the four Rightly-Guided Caliphs as the only source of guidance for the modern world. Leaders such as Sayed Qutb and Taqi al-Din al Nabhani from Palestine (founder of the Hizb ut-Tahrir) consistently rejected democratic processes since they held that democracy does not recognise the sovereignty of God. These thinkers wanted the Muslim world to become 'One Nation' (ummah) rather than existing as separate nation-states and they promoted jihad to restore the Caliphate (Q. 2.30) as the central political authority in the Muslim world.
he initial enthusiasm for the scientific study of religion and other religions (also known as com... more he initial enthusiasm for the scientific study of religion and other religions (also known as comparative religion) during the 19th century almost evaporated during the 20th century for two reasons. Firstly, it became clear that scholars of comparative religion had allowed presuppositions and assumptions to influence their research. Secondly, the horrors of the world wars disproved the scientific theory regarding the gradual evolution of religions. Eventually, two groups of scholars of comparative religion emerged. One group wanted to continue their research using the scientific method. The other group felt that comparative religion should make a more significant contribution to society. This article concludes that, firstly, scholars of religion must remain wary of the presuppositions and subjective bias they bring to the study of religion. Secondly, scholars of religion could abandon the exclusivist approach to the truth of other religions so as to foster a deeper engagement among ...
The author argues that popular accounts of present-day Pakistan often present Muslims there as un... more The author argues that popular accounts of present-day Pakistan often present Muslims there as uniformly intractable and intolerant, and Muslim-Christian relationships as uniformly hostile. All is seen through the lens of the Taliban. This is a distortion. The history of Jesuit involvement in Pakistan suggests a more complex picture, reflecting the diversity among Muslims there. Both Christians and Muslims in Pakistan need to move beyond the assumptions and stereotypes that continue to dominate the thinking of many people on both sides of the religious divide.
GENERALISLAM AND HUMAN RIGHTS: TRADITION AND POLITICS. By Ann Elizabeth Mayer. Boulder and San Fr... more GENERALISLAM AND HUMAN RIGHTS: TRADITION AND POLITICS. By Ann Elizabeth Mayer. Boulder and San Francisco: Westview Press/London: Pinter Publishers, 1991. xix + 258pp. Hb. £35.00. ISBN 0–8133–8091‐X [U.S.] ISBN 0–86187–091–3 [U.K.].TOWARD AN ISLAMIC REFORMATION: CIVIL LIBERTIES, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND INTERNATIONAL LAW. By Abdullahi Amhed AN‐NA'IM. Foreword by John Voll. New York: Syracuse Press, 1990. xvi + 253pp. Hb. $29.95. ISBN
GENERALISLAM AND HUMAN RIGHTS: TRADITION AND POLITICS. By Ann Elizabeth Mayer. Boulder and San Fr... more GENERALISLAM AND HUMAN RIGHTS: TRADITION AND POLITICS. By Ann Elizabeth Mayer. Boulder and San Francisco: Westview Press/London: Pinter Publishers, 1991. xix + 258pp. Hb. £35.00. ISBN 0–8133–8091‐X [U.S.] ISBN 0–86187–091–3 [U.K.].TOWARD AN ISLAMIC REFORMATION: CIVIL LIBERTIES, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND INTERNATIONAL LAW. By Abdullahi Amhed AN‐NA'IM. Foreword by John Voll. New York: Syracuse Press, 1990. xvi + 253pp. Hb. $29.95. ISBN
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