The Getting of Wisdom

Submitted by Rebecca Moulds (United States), Mar 6, 2008 at 17:47

Most Americans don't even possess a passport ,let alone know much about Islam, but how many know everything about their own religions? Very few I suspect, including myself.

One example of this is when I invited a Muslim friend over for dinner while living in Indonesia. He was imbibing his last glass of wine the night before Ramadan began, and I asked him: "Should you be drinking alcohol as a Muslim? " His reply: "If I am in public, I never drink. But we are in a private home, so it's o.k. "

Next question: "Why do you fast during Ramadan?" His reply:" I don't know. It's tradition."

End of story.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".