by Simon 1524 Replies latest members adult
Bungi - what is the Arabic numerical system (based on the Indian one!) to do with Islam?
You should be praising the Hindus and merely thanking the Arabs for temporarily passing it on before their own golden age was crushed both by war and by Imam Ghazali.
Qcmbr,
Granted that they didn't invent the numerical system that bears their name, but it was the Arabs who firstly adopted this system, then introduced it into Europe - thus helping make the Renaissance possible.
Bill.
Furthermore, the Arabs did more than merely just copy the numerical system of India. It was a 10th Century Arab mathematician who introduced the idea of fractions, and another Arab scholar of the same century who introduced the decimal point to the science of mathematics. Once again, I would challenge anybody to attempt to solve that IEC relay operating time equation, without the use of the decimal point!
All due credit to the Indian mathematicians (c. 500 AD) who developed a system of numbers that uses the Positional method with a zero point;
- but it was the Arabs who extended the use of this system of numbers, further refined it, and then passed it on to us (i.e. Western civilisation).
Incidentally, the term "Arabic numerals" is not too far off the mark, in that while the idea of the Positional system with zero point came from India, the actual glyphs that we use to represent the numerals from 0 to 9 have their origins in Moslem North Africa.
Bill.
As expected, the debate about 'contributions' focuses on ancient history. Whatever the world was like back then, right now it does not foster innovation and creativity.
I agree that scientific achievement is hardly ever he accomplishment of the religion of the day but the dominant religion can influence the environment that science needs to flourish or to wither and die.
I don't think anyone can challenge the reality that science has not flourished under modern islam and, incidentally, the same could be said to a lesser extent to segments of the US where extreme christian dogma holds back important research in some fields (e.g. stell cell research) compared to more secular countries.
Also, the original links I posted were just random ones I picked out of the top search result - one happened to be Fox, they all said very much the same thing.
One interesting theme was that a guy goes crazy and kills a colleage, stabs another and says that it's because they won't convert to his islam but then the politically correct liberal brigade arive and declare that it's nothing to do with religion.
Simon:
One interesting theme was that a guy goes crazy and kills a colleage, stabs another and says that it's because they won't convert to his islam but then the politically correct liberal brigade arive and declare that it's nothing to do with religion.
It doesn't matter that some individual's 'reason' for doing something insane was purportedly 'supported' by his view of his religion. When Anders Breivik killed dozens of people, it was - in his view - in the name of Christianity, but that doesn't automatically mean all Christians are terrorists. Arguing against a view that it's "nothing to do with religion" is shifting the goalposts from your original claim that Islam is somehow inherently worse than Christianity.
As I stated earlier:
In each of the 'Abrahamic religions' there is a spectrum of religious conviction that ranges from dangerous to irrelevant. The more nonsense in their own 'holy books' that religious people reject, the more harmless they become. People often like to put that more politely by referring to fundamentalists and moderates.
then the politically correct liberal brigade arive and declare that it's nothing to do with religion.
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The JWN Liberal brigade is also the first there if amyone make any derogatory statement against women, homosexuals or people of another race. They are nothing but hypocrites to support Islam, because Islam is derogatory against women, homosexuals and Western people. Islam is a disease. The radical element is the leadership of the faith. There are only moderate Muslims, because they are in countries where true Islam cannot be forced upon them.
it's the current teachings of the faith is it not? If it isn't then why aren't the leaders standing up and telling their followers that?
You mean like this?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emre-celik/fethullah-gulens-message-_b_5837680.html
Fethullah Gulen, a world renowned scholar, preacher and social advocate published his message of condemnation in today's New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, LA Times and Chicago Tribune. Fethullah Gulen is the Honorary President of Washington, D.C. based Rumi Forum.
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ISIS Cruelty Deserves Our Strongest Condemnation
As a practicing Muslim deeply influenced by tenets of my faith, I strongly condemn the brutal atrocities of the ISIS terrorist group. Their actions are a disgrace to the faith they proclaim and are crimes against humanity. Religion provides a foundation upon which to establish peace, human rights, freedoms and the rule of law. Any interpretations to the contrary, including the abuse of religion to fuel conflicts, are simply wrong and deceitful.
ISIS is not the first group to use religious rhetoric to mask its cruelty-Al Qaeda did so 13 years ago and Boko Haram more recently. What they all have in common is a totalitarian mentality that denies human beings their dignity.
Any form of violence against innocent civilians or prosecution of minorities contradicts the principles of the Qur'an and the traditions of our Prophet (upon whom be peace and blessings). ISIS members are either completely ignorant about the faith they proclaim or their actions are designed to serve individual interests or those of their political masters. Regardless, their actions represent those of a terrorist group and, as such, they should be brought to justice and compelled to answer for their horrific crimes.
I send my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased in Iraq and Syria, and to the families of James Foley, Steven Sotloff, and David Haines. May God give them strength, patience and perseverance, and alleviate their suffering. I also pray for the immediate and safe release of hostages and ask God, the Merciful, to lead us all toward mutual respect and peace. I invite everyone around the world to join me in these prayers.
Fethullah Gulen
Islamic Scholar, preacher and social advocate
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Fethullah Gulen's original August 22 statement on ISIS is available at www.afsv.org
Alpha- would you also describe Christianity as a "disease".
'All progress in religion comes from people willing to be heretics'
it's the current teachings of the faith is it not? If it isn't then why aren't the leaders standing up and telling their followers that?
Or this? You haven't 'seen their leaders' decrying ISIS's actions, Simon, because you don't want to. These were only a simple Google search away....
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/08/11/laura-ingraham-defies-reality-suggests-muslim-l/200384
But in reality, many Islamic leaders have strongly denounced ISIS, and thousands more Muslims have gathered to promote messages of peace.
Iyad Ameen Madani, the Secretary General for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation which represents 1.4 billion Muslims in 57 countries around the world, condemned ISIS' threats against Christians in Iraq, saying the "forced deportation under the threat of execution" is a "crime that cannot be tolerated." In an interview with Reuters, Turkey's highest ranking cleric, Mehmet Gormez, similarly decried ISIS' threats against Christians and argued that the statements were damaging to the Muslim community: "Islamic scholars need to focus on this (because) an inability to peacefully sustain other faiths and cultures heralds the collapse of a civilization."
In a July 7 statement, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called ISIS' actions "un-Islamic and morally repugnant." CAIR noted that the group's "human rights abuses on the ground are well-documented" and called on other Muslim community leaders to speak out against the violence. The Muslim Council of Great Britain's Shuja Shafi also said: "Violence has no place in religion, violence has no religion. It is prohibited for people to present themselves for destruction."
Alpha- would you also describe Christianity as a "disease".
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LOL.....sure it's a disease also. In general, not as dangerous as Islam but disease also nonetheless. Especially that Watchtower sect. LOL
