9 Oct 2008

Islam on-line announces Green Bible


Mahbubal has sent me this link from Islam on-line...the green bible has arrived! Thanks Mahbubal! Its on recycled paper with the ecological thoughts of the prophets flagged up and contributions from various enviro-Christians.

I am not a believer in God but several thoughts spring to mind.

1) Islam is so attacked but has such a heritage of science, civilisation and tolerance...people really should find out more about Islam, the ecological bits of the Koran, the Islamic preservation of the learning of the classical world, Islam and science and of course the emphasis on religious tolerance all come to mind.

2) Are American Christians rejecting right wing interpretations of the bible with an emphasis instead on social justice and ecology?

BTW Islam, Judaism and Christianity share the Old Testament and Islam views Jesus as a prophet.

I am not a believe but I do think that the left and greens should ally with the faith communities where appropriate, religious is often surprisingly rational.

Obviously we need to take a critical attitude where appropriate, some manifestations of religion are hierarchical and intolerent but many are not.

"When people tell me, Jesus never talked about the environment, I say, God says, 'Love your neighbor,' not drown him in melting sea ice."

The Green Bible has already drawn the attention of one of the largest animal welfare advocacy organizations in the world.

The Washington-based Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is distributing copies of the book to promote moral awareness of the treatment of animals."




5 comments:

Paul said...

1) 'Islam is so attacked but has such a heritage of science, civilisation and tolerance...people really should find out more about Islam, the ecological bits of the Koran, the Islamic preservation of the learning of the classical world, Islam and science and of course the emphasis on religious tolerance all come to mind.'

Derek, I know you have a real difficulty in answering criticisms but do you honestly believe that fatuous nonsense about Islam? A few facts for instance about Islamic tolerance:

1. Islam unlike Christianity or Judaism mandates the death penalty for those who leave the religion. This based upon Hadith and is law in several Islamic countries. Even in the UK 'apostates' have faced violence for leaving the religion.

2. Under an Islamic state Jews and Christians live as Dhimmi, that is they have lesser status legally and less human rights this is based upon primarily Sura 9:29 of the Qur'an and others. Plus it is mandated in all four schools of Islamic jurisprudence. I'm happy to provide further references.

3. Islam was founded by Muhammad, an extraordinary man no doubt, but one whose behaviour when viewed rationally calls into question his prophet status. Just read the Sira and Hadith collections, Muhammad practised polygamy, married a child, instructed his follower’s female captives could be raped if they were non-Muslim, 'right hand possessed' and also launched violent aggressive campaigns aimed ultimately at bringing the world to Islam. Some tolerance that; death penalty for changing your religion, for being gay, rape, slavery, child marriage and violent jihad. All these 6th century outrages still resonate today with numerous contemporary examples.

Please fell free to contradict anything I've said I can back up each claim with reference to Islam's scriptures. Those crying 'Islamaphobia', could they reference their counter-claims against what I said?

My reason for posting this Derek is time and time again you talk fatuously of 'cool Islam'. Yet politicised Islam is a major threat to secular democracy, bolstered as it is by Jihadist violence. Now please tell me exactly how Islam is tolerant or does the death penalty for apostasy not actually exist in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Iran etc etc.

Paul said...

Furthermore should it not be a 'Green Qur'an'? You know why Muslims would not call it that?

Black Flag group said...

Hi Derek, was just wondering, would you be up for reviewing the latest issue of Black Flag magazine if we sent you a copy?

Having relaunched last year we're doing it bi-anually and aiming at the non-sectarian left and libertarian types, and targeting bloggers who have a bit of influence to see what the reaction is to our current direction.

Gissa email: robray81 AT gmail.com

Norma said...

Greenies are some of the most religious people I know with Al Gore as high priest.

Paul said...

Derek, so yet again you made a fatous unsubstantiated claim and did not hang around to debate either? Why am i not suprised?

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