Creating a Judeo-Islamic Peace Movement [familysecuritymatters.org]

Discussion in 'Politics' started by Hi5, Feb 18, 2007.

  1. Hi5 Banned Banned

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    Creating a Judeo-Islamic Peace Movement

    Imaad Malik


    Muslims today face two corrosive socio-political ideologies undermining the original peaceful message of Islam. Many Muslims are steeped in Islamofascism and anti-Semitism. Believers in both these evils seek dominance or the destruction of Western democracies—primarily America and its ally, Israel.

    Much of this anti-Western and anti-Semitic bigotry is disseminated, subsidized financially and supported politically by Arab and Muslim governments. Extremists in Iran, Syria and Lebanon fuel the flames of hate and mistrust between Jews and Muslims, using the Palestinian conflict with Israel as a pretext for state-sponsored propaganda.

    Iran and Syria openly finance radical groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas in permanent war against the democratic nation of Israel. In the summer of 2006, a major provocation by Hezbollah against Israel led to the deaths of many innocent Jews, Muslims, and Christians, while the cowardly terrorists hid among innocent civilians, women and children among the general Lebanese population.

    Hezbollah and Hamas claim they are disfranchised. Moreover, they assert that they suffer from poverty and oppression at the hands of the United States and Israel. This is a thin attempt to give their hateful and deadly ideology legitimacy.

    Furthermore, in Saudi Arabia textbooks have indoctrinated Muslim children in anti-Jewish beliefs from the beginning to the end of their education. Combined with mosque preaching, this results in conditioning so that for many Muslims, from birth to death, hatred of Jews is second nature, like breathing or eating.

    Islamist bigotry had caused the deaths of countless innocents. It is time for Muslims to challenge anti-Semitic and anti-Western hatreds that infiltrates so much of the Islamic world. It is time for moderate Muslims who seek peace between Jews and Muslims to make substantial efforts for a new Muslim approach to the global Jewish community.

    Muslims must initiate a process of conciliation, in which both Jews and Muslims can produce a new Judeo-Islamic movement. Muslims do exist who desire and will work for peace between Jews and Muslims. Nevertheless, many of the mainstream Islamic institutions in the West embody the anti-Semitic and anti-Western bigotry visible in groups like al-Qaeda.

    For that reason, there is much apprehension among moderate Muslims about speaking out and challenging the Islamic establishment. Moreover, there is a fundamental lack of debate among moderate Muslims about the future of Islam and the need to restore meaningful dialogue with Jews and Christians as well as Hindus and other traditional faiths.

    The global Muslim community must first recognize Israel’s existence as a legal state. A new Judeo-Islamic movement must create exchanges and discussions based on shared religious values and individual human experience. A new Judeo-Islamic symbiosis would parallel the harmonious Judeo-Christian relationship and lead to a thorough reshaping of the Islam global communion, with restoration of its vitality as a religion in the global society that emerged after September 11, 2001.

    One of the greatest Jewish theologians, philosophers, and physicians was Moshe ben Maimon or Maimonides (1135-1204), known in Arabic as al-Hakim Ibn Maimun al-Qurtubi – “the wise doctor Ibn Maimun from Cordoba in Spain.” Maimonides followed in the footsteps of the Persian Muslim polymath Ibn Sina of Avicenna (930-1087). Maimonides, as the most prominent figure in medieval Jewish philosophy, wrote extensively in Arabic and had a significant impact on the development of Judaism. Among his many works Maimonides wrote on the relationship between classical Greek philosophy and Jewish theology. He composed a code of Jewish law, the Mishnah Torah. His development of this code caused much controversy within Jewish society.

    One of his great achievements, the Emet or Truth, also known as the 13 Principles of Faith, summarized Jewish belief. Several of these principles, such as God's unity, God alone is deserving of worship, Revelation through God's prophets and Rewarding of good and retribution of evil, have universal philosophical and theological significance.

    These principles are also embodied in the Qur’an. Maimonides remains controversial but his 13 principles may be found in the Siddur (Jewish prayer book).

    The modern global Jewish community contains many Jews coming from diverse societies and cultures. One example is that of the Bukharan Jews of Central Asia, from the legendary city of Bukhara. Bukharan Jews are one of the oldest ethno-religious groups living in Central Asia and created their own unique culture. Many have moved to Israel and the United States. This is primarily because of the collapse of the Soviet Union. While Soviet census data systematically undercounted Jews, in 1989 as many as 120,000 Jews lived in Uzbekistan. Today, estimates range up to 35,000.

    There are other aspects of Jewish history relevant to Muslims, involving Ashkenazi Jews in Northern Europe, and the Sephardic Jews who went from Spain and Portugal to the Arab and Turkish lands. Each group also has a distinct history and culture which Muslims should research. Muslims should educate themselves about the history and diversity of Jews as a model for pluralism in their own community.

    The common elements in Islam and Judaism will be rediscovered and reinforced when Muslims research Jewish religious history. Like Islam, Judaism places great theological emphasis on the role of prophets, such as Abraham and Moses. Abraham, in Islam as well as in Judaism, has an irreplaceable role in recognizing God’s Divine Sovereignty.

    In addition, the prophet Moses received the Decalogue from God and was lawgiver to Israel. Both faiths agree that Moses was the only prophet who saw and directly spoke to God. Furthermore, Moses is the most frequently-mentioned prophet in the Qur’an. Muslims should keep in mind that Abraham and Moses represent theological commonalities which Jews and Muslims can honor together.

    Jews and Muslims represent two-thirds of the monotheistic, Abrahamic faith tradition. Along with Christians we are all descendants of Abraham. Muslims should therefore be natural partners for the Jewish community.

    It is time for Muslims to think boldly in responding to Islamofascism and the anti-Jewish bigotry spreading in the Islamic global community like a cancer. It is time for Muslims to proclaim peace with the Jewish and Christian communities in America and throughout the world. Christians, Jews and Muslims must stand together and bridge our differences.

    The world grows apathetic about the presence and law of God. Muslims, Christians and Jews must courageously address the significant differences among them, to defeat Islamofascism and extreme secularism in the global era. The continuing turmoil between Jews and Muslim must end.

    FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor Imaad Malik is a Fellow at the Center for Islamic Pluralism - islamicpluralism.org

    © 2003-2007 FamilySecurityMatters.org All Rights Reserved
     
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  3. draqon Banned Banned

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    ...I wonder who will listen...

    when the belief bears such fruits.
     
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  5. Hi5 Banned Banned

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    dragon, my hopes are real.
     
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  7. Baron Max Registered Senior Member

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    23,053
    Well, hope in one hand, shit in the other, then see which one fills up first. Perhaps that'll give you a little better perspective on "hope" versus "reality".

    Baron Max
     
  8. IceAgeCivilizations Banned Banned

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    Religious freedom in the Muslim countries is the key.
     
  9. IceAgeCivilizations Banned Banned

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    Hi5, is religious freedom possible in the Muslim countries?

    We have religious tolerance in the West, can such be achieved in the Middle East?
     
  10. Ghost_007 Registered Senior Member

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    Kiwi123!!!!!!!!

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     
  11. IceAgeCivilizations Banned Banned

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    Hey Ghost, do you think religious freedom is possible in the Middle Eastern countries?
     
  12. (Q) Encephaloid Martini Valued Senior Member

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    So, why is it Muslims on this board haven't realized what everyone else already knows? For example, Sam's entire argument hinges on this exact discrepancy, she fights to the bitter end that its all political haranguing.
     
  13. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    Probably because our reading comprehension is better.

    For example, we know very well that the Sauds have an extremist ideology and fund Wahabi schools worldwide. We also know that most of the 9/11 hijackers were from KSA. So it is surprising to us Muslims when we see the romantic kisses exchanged between the C-in-C of the global war on terror and the King of KSA.

    As for the rest, its all political, but hey they're all Muslims so they must be the same right?
     
  14. (Q) Encephaloid Martini Valued Senior Member

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    Ah, the tenuous grasp, the tether... the lifeline... stretched...

    Why not attack the article, isn't that where your beef is?
     
  15. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    Its an article written by a moron with a propaganda.

    I see no reason to give him additional coverage.
     
  16. (Q) Encephaloid Martini Valued Senior Member

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    Now, where have I seen that before?

    Although, I don't remember calling you a moron.
     
  17. Gustav Banned Banned

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    q never tires of getting beaten up by a girl!
     
  18. Norsefire Salam Shalom Salom Registered Senior Member

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    Hi5, of course! That is a prime example of Islamic extremism, not of true Islam.

    But, don't act as if it's not the case with the theocracy of Israel. Jews also learn to hate Muslims as second nature.
     
  19. otheadp Banned Banned

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    people who are exposed to hate and all kinds of propaganda automatically assume that their enemy is doing the same. and the kind of propaganda that one writes about his enemy is what he believes humans are capable of.
    for example, Iranian propaganda about a mysterious Zionist ship kidnapping Palestinian girls and stealing their eyes, that tells me that the people who wrote it and allowed it to be aired on public TV in Iran are actually capable of doing it themselves (because they believe that people will actually believe that crap).

    my point is that you're saying Israel is doing so and so because you yourself (or people in Syria, or the greater Middle East) are capable of doing so and so. you believe Israelis are taught to hate Muslims as second nature because Muslims are taught to hate Jews as second nature. to you the process of teaching hate seems natural and normal course of business.

    Israelis, unlike people under the control of some Middle Eastern dictators in their banana republics, are not taught to hate Muslims as second nature. Israelis are taught to respect this and respect that, and when there's a terrorist attack, children are taught on national TV to not think of all Arabs as terrorists but take a lesson from this that the individual, not his race / religion are responsible.

    maybe teaching a bit of hate in school will yield brutal soldiers that are bloodthirsty and are actually willing to carpet bomb the Palestinians, put them on busses, and ship them to Jordan. but no -- Israel has too many pussy liberals (for good or for bad) as role models that respect every person's right to do whatever the fuck they want and be whatever the fuck they want to be.

    i know you've read all kinds of sensational stories, but let me tell you from the source - it's not true. most, and i'm talking about >90% of Israeli population, are not taught any hate. what hate or anymosity they do get is when they see suicide bombers blowing up pizzerias, or snipers shooting at baby strollers.

    EDIT:
    i just noticed you said "the theocracy in Israel". Israel does not have theocracy. it has a religious minority which is represented in parliament and pushes its interests just as any other group. they do not have monopoly on decision making, which is what would be required for Israel to be called a theocracy
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2007
  20. pjdude1219 The biscuit has risen Valued Senior Member

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    really because statements and polling show the reverse.
     
  21. CheskiChips Banned Banned

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    Really? Those riots in Jerusalem about 1 mile from my apartment over imposed secular law sure fooled me.

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    ---

    Wait...this is a thread from 2 years ago. Are you so desperate to discuss Israel that you're having withdrawals? I've personally enjoyed the absence of the discussion.
     
  22. pjdude1219 The biscuit has risen Valued Senior Member

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    it popped up on the related thread so i clicked. and it doesn't surprise me you would enjoy the absence of discussion the side that would be hurt be open dialogue usually feels that way.
     

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