As some here know, my primary study of non-Western history and culture has been of China (my undergarduate degree was in Mandarin and Chinese area studies). I have read some, but not nearly enough about Islam, Islamic history and the Middle East. I've been listing Islamic fundamentalism as one of a small list of primary threats to civilization for a decade now, based mainly on the relatively limited amount of reading I've done (which included a fairly thorough study of the Q'ran in my twenties) and following current events. As I wrote to a group of close friends this morning, my reading for the last few years has focused on a deeper study of the Western Enlightenment. That project is now on indefinite hold until I become better informed about Islam. How will Amazon deliver all the books I ordered today?
You say that very few modern Arabs read the entirety of the Q'ran. It's actually a very slim book and of the three religions that have "sacrelized the text" (a term I have developed in my own study of religious memetics), Islam seems to be the most concrete in its apotheosis of the "logos" . . . so I wonder about that. Anyway, I mean to find out.
Greg Burch
Vice-President, Extropy Institute
http://www.gregburch.net
----- Original Message -----
From: Smigrodzki, Rafal
To: 'extropians@tick.javien.com'
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2001 6:29 PM
Greg Burch quoted:
> make the kids
> literary experiences rich and positive. Maybe we can put our heads
together
> and come up
> with suggestions that could have a real impact. After all what could be a
> greater Extropian
> project than the creation of an Extropian generation.
I am in broad agreement with you, but feel that the project is doomed before
it begins. More about which as soon as I can find more time. In the
meanwhile, here are quotes from about the first 20% of the Q'ran that I
found particularly chavinistic and inciteful to bigotry and violence:
#### Regarding the Q'ran quotes - very few modern Arabs actually read that book. As with all organized religions, the daily life is not a blind observance of the written rules (except in some small fundamentalist communities). Instead, the "Book" is excerpted, interpreted and adapted to suit those engaged in the power struggle.
In some places the outcome is rabid hatred (usually when additional factors interfere), in others it might be a (relatively) benevolent and tolerant state (think Moorish Spain).
We can make more headway against religion by being patient, persistent, firm but not needlessly scornful.
Rafal Smigrodzki
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