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Nicholas Waldrop's avatar

An excellent article!

So true, al-Ghazali in The Revival of the Religious Sciences did nothing but provide coal to the fire of the Philosophy found within the Mystical tradition of Islam. He greatly influenced figures like al-Fārid, Rumī, Attar and (likely the most important) Ibn ‘Arabī. Additionally I think your perspective on fundamentalism is also absolutely correct, with figures like Sayid Qubt playing a huge role in its modern element of it.

Thank you for writing this. It makes me glad to see other based yet realistic people commenting on this ideas.

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Fr Thomas Plant's avatar

Thank you. Al Akbar lives up to his name. I'd like also to read Mullah Sadra.

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Simona's avatar

"Muslims settling together in tight communities with well-disciplined, devout families"

Like the Rotherham grooming gangs?

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Fr Thomas Plant's avatar

No - like all the others.

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richardw's avatar

I do not forgive Islam any more than I forgive Talmudic Judaism. Both espouse doctrines, however well concealed, of unequal treatment of believer and non believer, the oppression of women, paedophilia, the sin of apostasy, amongst others - in short anything that would make them unpleasant if not impossible to live with. They both are inspired by the image of a harsh and unforgiving God, and use often obscure laws to control their followers. They use any resistance or oppression they may face as a result of their behaviour to enlist the support of more moderate followers in the name of their faith.

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