Islam

Islam – most insistent of any major religion that all believers are equal – strong sense community

Rank and affluence irrelevant – no seats in front of church or priests

All believers dressed alike (in Haj) and pray alike

Community rules – ”do unto others” - not individualistic “personal” relationship as modern Christianity

Inheritance law for example – not primogeniture – all kids inherit (women only 50%) – spread resources

What “FREEDOM” – (opposite of “slavery”) is for the West “JUSTICE” is for Islam

In Islam the slaves' "problem" was “freedom” or detachment - not being part of community
Slaves could become malmuk – ruler – tribal interests might see as neutral

SOCIAL JUSTICE – economy seen as like human circulatory – spreading resources – Positive freedom

RESOURCES spread through political body as blood spreads oxygen and energy –

sharing wealth is required (pillar 3 below)

5 pillars – (1) there is no god but god and mohammed is his prophet

(2) pray 5 times day

(3) Charity – those who have much should relieve burden of those with less

2.5% annually – not just income but wealth

(4) Ramadan – month of fasting – control appetites - sensitize compassion - feel as the poor and hungry feel

(5) pilgrimage – all together dressed alike – the king and the guy under the bridge

Mohammed - (like Confucius) – looking for people to follow his rules – persecuted in home city but Medina accepts – the rules work and much of the world is converted / conquered

Strongly admired Christ (like Jefferson) but thought trinity, miracles, magic communion unnecessary superstitions

pure monotheism - told followers don't expect hocus pocus mystical history just humane society - practical rules

Very tolerant of other races / religions – especially Jews and Christians - “of the book”
Business and entrepeneurship OK and "venture capital" fine - lender given an interest in the business
Women - pollution like Old Testament for women menstruating -
torture prisoners Abu Ghraib / Gitmo - female interrogators (sexy clothes) smear fake menstrual blood on them

Was this really spontaneous act of “bad apples” as administration claims?
early mosques are religious / civic - no boundary
obedience to social authority expected BUT if ruler does not follow JUSTICE in social rules there is

"no obedience in sin" "do not obey a creature against his creator"
Christianity - Augustine - City of man vs city of god - the material world - as in Plato –

poor imitation of spiritual world

Islam is triumphant not defeated in material world – Islamic state seems to "work" spectacularly -
ending war and disorder within - converting the world - Just community seems to embody human hopes
(like Jefferson thought Christ could be foundation of good state)
Koran describes natural world lyricxally - lack of gratitude for it's beauty is "infidel"

Christianity in Mohammed's view - Church leaders forget Christ's message of concern for the poor

use God to cement authority - Pope crowns Charlemagne - Christianity "opiate of the people" Marx noted
All the major monotheisms emerged in periods trade and free exchange of ideas PAYS
Crusades no huge concern to Muslims - Saladin (?) does business – UNTIL

renegade brigand attacks and rob pilgrims - affront to pillar of Islamic community - big fight