What really is a moderate Muslim?

by KateWild 95 Replies latest members adult

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  KateWild

  This can probably be defined in so many ways that an actual definition is useless.

  So how would you define what a moderate Muslim is?

  I think that many Muslims would like to see themselves as moderate and non-radical, but in fact some may have radical views and practices, on the other hand there are many Muslims that drink and smoke and call themselves moderate Muslims, when in fact they are non-practicing Muslims.

  So can we actually define a moderate Muslim? What is moderation in Islamic practices as far as non-Muslims are concerned?

  This will vary from individual to individual, personally I think a definition is useless and serves no purpose.

  For me personally I would like to say that most Muslims are nice people who would wish me no harm, as all those I have met have been pleasant to me. More so than the elders and my ex. I read an article that highlighted the problem of trying to define a moderate Muslim and found it very interesting and highlighted some of my own views. I thought it was balanced and well written.

  http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2014/10/myth-moderate-muslim

  So how would you define what a moderate Muslim is?

  Kate xx
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  Oubliette

  Kate, What really is a moderate Muslim ... ?

  If there is such a thing, it would be someone that self-identifies as a Muslim but doesn't really take the Koran literally. That would be analogous to most people today that self-identify as Christians or Jews.

  Those that still take a fundamentalist view of their religious texts are just as dangerous as their modern Muslim fanatics.

  As has been pointed out by many people both here on this forum and in general, modern Muslim extremists are similar in thinking to the Christians of the middle ages, only they have modern weapons to cause mayhem and wreak violence and havoc, and media access to spread their insanity.

  Crazy is as crazy does.

  Religion has got to go, all of it!
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  Simon

  Here's my quicly-made-up definition, expanded to any religious person:

  A moderate religious person practices their faith at home and at their church, does not try to impose their beliefs on others unless they express an interest in hearing it and does not negatively affect other people's lives and freedoms by their strict adherence to indoctrinated superstitions. They are free to question and make up their own mind on how their religious book is interpreted and taught.

  I think there are very few moderate muslims. Most of what we consider 'moderate' are really just going along for family and community and are as trapped in islam as JWs brought up in the WTS are trapped (but leaving islam is harder).
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  humbled

  Malala Yousafzai is a moderate Muslim girl who,at age 15 was shot in the head by a Muslim extremist.

  She believes she is a devout Muslim and that Muslim extremists are using religion for their own selfish purposes. She advocates for education over violence to bring peace to the world.
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  Simon

  Maybe a good question to ask of muslims: do you consider yourself moderate and if so, why?

  When someone says they pray 5+ times a night I don't think they are moderate - I think they are obsessive and controlled.

  When someone wears a bag over their head to go outside, I don't think they are moderate - I think they are controlled.
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  Simon

  Yes - someone advocating education for all would be a strong indicator of moderate. Fundamentalists of all faiths hate education, especially for girls.
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  KateWild

  If there is such a thing, it would be someone that self-identifies as a Muslim but doesn't really take the Koran literally.-Oub

  I like that definition, I think most Muslims don't take litterally the killing of non-believers. My views are derived from experience of the Muslims I have met.

  Kate xx
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  Oubliette

  A better question would be: What is a moderate person?

  Most people intuitively know what that is just as they know what an extremist is or what a fanatic is of any ilk.

  Putting the word "muslim" in there complicates things because a lot of people are trained to be "politically correct" and not say any belief system is wrong.

  Any belief system which advocates any type of violence against anyone that does not subscribe to that belief system is wrong and should be rejected out of hand.
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  Simon

  Moderate adherants to a faith do not decide what their children should do or decide who they should marry. They encourage them to be all that they can become and provide as many opportunities to them as they can whether they are sons or daughters.

  Moderate adherants to a faith do not value sons over daughters or abort fetuses solely based on gender.
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  KateWild

  They are free to question and make up their own mind on how their religious book is interpreted and taught.-Simon

  Pretty much what Oub said too. I agree the Koran taken literally is dangerous. I don't think most Muslims even read it from cover to cover, the girl from work who was reading it with me certainly didn't know it as well as I knew my bible.

  Kate xx