19 September 2006

Subtle scholar, but what an inept politician - Opinion - theage.com.au

A hat tip to Matt Stone for posting up this moderate Muslim response to Pope Benedict's controversial speech.
Waleed Aly says this;
I happen to think Manuel had a shoddy grasp of Islamic theology. Indeed, the Islamic tradition would have much to contribute to the theme of Benedict's lecture. While medieval Christendom fought science stridently, the relationship between faith and reason in traditional Islam was highly convivial.

Were getting a bit closer to some helpful Islamic guide to what that theology actually is... and he's right, the period of Averoes [I think that's Ibn Rashd in more original Arabic] is worth thinking about: Muslim civilisation at that time preserved and continued the investigations and perspectives of Greek science which allowed them to be rediscovered by the West helping to trigger the Renaissance.

As with many such things, it's never fully simple, but I still would like to see that noddy guide to Islamic theology that brackets out Muhammed's 'less attractive' acts and manages to undermine their being used to fuel violent discourse. I really do want to understand. Anyone?
Subtle scholar, but what an inept politician - Opinion - theage.com.au
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