Both of You Are Right

Submitted by David Smith (United States), Jan 28, 2005 at 11:17

Both of you are right. Let's be honest, what is Islam or any other religion but a codified comprehensive view of this world and man's place within it. In the case of Islam, what bits I have read of the Koran, I have begun to see it not merely as a control dogma (fear god or else...) but it also contains items equivalent to our common law, where it states how many wives and man may have and why (vaguely explained btw), how to divide up personal property after death etc. basic family law. For 5th century illiterate nomads these laws and guidances were used as their guiding principles to solving those 'age-old' problems - this is why they turned to their Imams - like we use lawyers, they use their Koran. The problem is Islamic law may be insufficient and incompatible to cover today's complex society and social living - chopping off fingers and toes (on opposite sides of the body) may be adequate frontier justice, with tribal conditions, but in an integrated modern civilized world it at best amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. It is not needed with a fully functioning RATIONAL government making laws with a police and judicial system functioning with objective rules procedures.

David

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