Is Islam like a drug? (Hamed Abdel Samad, political scientist)

I read the entire article and the interview. Interesting viewpoints. His assertion of Islam stifling normal human behavior is a salient point, but it can be applied to Christianity as well.

Repression of inherent sexual desire ultimately leads to frustration and violence we see in many young men searching for outlets. Radical Islam offers a chance to achieve a small form of power through repression of women, children, homosexuals, liberals, intellectuals and complete intolerance of cultures in opposition, specifically the United States and Israel.

As Donny pointed out, this was really no different in Christianity several centuries ago, as the Old Testament outlines countless punishments for trivial sins such as accidentally seeing your father naked and not doing anything about it, or reaching out your hand to steady to the Ark of the Covenant. New-age Christianity rejects most of the Old Testament now as merely the law before Christ eradicated our sins (Yet they still cling to the Book of Leviticus to condemn homosexuality).

There are still radical Christian fronts out there who believe in stifling human nature to the core. I was part of a fundamentalist Christian upbringing and two of my dear childhood friends right now belong to a Church in Marshall, TX that does some things most of you would find shocking. For instance: young men and women are not allowed to "date", they are matched together by the will of God (after much praying by the elders). My best friend from childhood was simply told one day that he was being given a woman to be his wife. He is now married to that woman.

Freud asserted all human behavior is tied into the need for sex and power. Religions that stick to outdated, fundamentalist thinking emphatically seek to keep sexual desires at bay because they have tasted the power the influence of an Angry God has over the masses.

I agree with Samad on his points about progressivism. Islam has not adapted itself to fit in with more modern problems and will be subject to continued scrutiny unless it attempts to do so. The fundamental law of nature is adapt or die.

 

I was actually hoping for some actual numbers rather than possibilities. Thanks anyway.

 

Well the fundamental law of ultra conservative Islamists seems to be "become the legislators, or die." That's the whole problem.

For those people, there's only one law. The more you recognise the existance of that law (sharia), the more you are validating their beliefs.

Samad seems like an angry man to me. I don't like people like that. It's also clear that he does not understand Islam in any other way than what was taught to him by the Muslim Brotherhood.

 

If I were able to google that and find exact data I'd go out and buy a lotto ticket right now, cause that'd be some awesome luck.

 

Spoiler

 

I think Samad, like so many others have felt the choke-hold of an outdated fantasy parading around as all-encompassing morality. Religion is pressure from Day 1. You are expected to behave in certain ways and keep to a strict code of conduct, even when it cripples you psychologically (as was the case with Samad when he was raped and could tell no one).

I assume for Samad this was what he felt his entire upbringing, growing up in a predominantly Muslim culture also would have put an even larger millstone around his neck to shut off his critical mind and accept that which he knew to be flawed for the sake of peace within his family. But that is a price no one should have to pay.

I liked that he said "we need more heretics", there must be a faction of those willing to continually question everything every step of the way in order to bring about awareness. There must be thinkers, revolutionaries who understand the importance of critical thinking.

 

I read the whole interview and preceding article. Its seems like this thread could just as easily be titled is "Is fundamental Baptist / Catholic / Mormom / Hindu /Judaism and etc... a drug?" As what he is stalking about could be applied to any extremist interpretation. Also I don't think we can completely take his view objectively as he talks about a very harsh and abusive upbringing that naturally would color his view. I suspect that if he was someone who grew up in a truly loving household he might not view Islam the same as he does.

In that sense I think he paints with an overly broad brush in terms of criticizing Islam as a whole, which he explicitly does. While he correctly points out that many have the same experience with Islam that he did that is not the whole of Islam and I would say in that sense his argument is off base.

 

Since when did "Culture of Islam" = "Islam"? Islam explicitly outlaws the killing of non-combatants and suicide bombings. Extremism/Terrorism in the Muslim world can be traced to ignorance, poverty, lack of education, occupation of Muslim lands by foreign powers (palestine, kashmir, etc..)

During the middle ages Europe was mired in the same kind of circumstances and similar extremism. Many Christians during that age were just as extreme if not more. And they also evoked the Bible to justify their actions.

But of course, the problem must be Islam...

 

Stop saying things that make sense. Lets go interview other intellectuals who dont like the religion and use their OPINIONS as fact!

 

hoooray for sex... sex is the solution to all the worlds problems. People should go out and have more of it. :grin:

 

Except you right there say that my point is correct except for a matter of scale. I will concede there are more Muslim terrorist than Christian or Hindu, but you own words indicate that my I am correct regarding extremism and the same argument could be applied to extremists of any religion.

As far as why there are more I would say its because several Muslim majority countries are dealing with conflicts many of which have more to do with politics and resources rather than religion. Radical Islam has become a way of rallying one's supporters and internationalizing the conflict. Its the same way as in the 1970's groups as diverse as the PLO, IRA and Sendero Luminosa took up Marxism as a call. Consider that back then the Palestinian extremists identified more with Marxism than they did with Islam.

So in Northern Ireland violence didn't ally itself with the culture?
Lets just listen to a little Irish diddy
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Of howabout something more recent.
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It's like you are clutching at straws and making stuff up (like the stuff about his family) so you can keep your pre-conceived notions.[/QUOTE]

How am I making stuff up? That is reported in your original article.
[rquoter]
It was impossible to direct his anger against his parents, even though he had been abused by his father and had to look on as the father beat his mother. But that was considered normal, something all men and all fathers did. When he was four, he was abused by a 15-year-old, but he had no one to confide in. He was raped again at 11, this time by a gang of older students. Again, he could confide in no one, so as not to bring disgrace on himself and his family. His life was shaped by a single thought: "What one has to do to not lose one's honor.[/rquoter]

I'm no psychologist but that sounds like a classical case of repressed anger.

Frankly though I can tell that you are not interested in debate as you would rather just claim that people are wrong and clutching at straws rather than address the substance. I find it very ironic that you are the one accusing others of keeping their preconceived notions when pretty much that is all you do.

 

Only when he talks about Islam. I actually believe you when you say you do not notice it.

He was taught Islam by the brotherhood. His entire family and all his neighbours were all taught by the brotherhood. Memorization of the Quran at an early age is one hint. FYI, for Sunnis, an Imam is not a cleric.

I am sure you agree with his assessment of immigration to Germany. Why else would you post this?

IMO his point are rarely valid, and frankly not worth discussing. His Islamic education is a dime a dozen. He is a political scientist. From what you've posted, I get the feeling he is out to validate himself more than anything else.

That's just my opinion though.

 

Agree with everything you said here. Perhaps note that Samad confused Middle Eastern culture for Islamic culture. There is nothing, even in ultra conservative Islam, which says that he can't confide in people.

Heretics have a place in hell in Islam. lol They seem to have a punishment for anyone who bothers to seek the truth.

 

e-slap

 

interesting thing about these so called righteous radical islamist, take the 9/11 terrorist for example. The night before 9/11, they were in their hotels and some of them were ordering and watching p*rn. Not exactly the holiest of the situations, many of the suicide bombers you will find are young, poor, and uneducated. Alot of the time the terrorist say they will call them a hero and provide to their family, its not because they read it in the quran, its bc some guy with finances says i can solve your familys financial troubles and you will die a hero and save them. Its just manipulation, and the fact that they are illiterate maybe allows them to overlook the killing of innocents, being the aggressor, killing yoursself, so on which are all looked down upon and considered great sin in Islam.

Its more political in ideology and motivation, and you can go back as early as 20 years when these guys who the right and others like to say are inheritenly taught to just kill infidels or americans were holding hands with regan and he said they are heros, where was the suicide bombing then? it didn't exist, did the religion change or did the politcal landscape change. Look at the real roots of the issues rather than blaming and dignifying there terrorist acts as some sort of holy righteous act.

 

Stop feeding that troll AroundTheWorld and ignore him.

 

To the post above, Kwame, you are right. That said let me elaborate a last time for this guy.

Its not just abotu 20 years ago, but around 20 years ago the landscape for Islam relations with America in particular were different where as you have people saying that they are simply against american freedoms from the foundation and can't stand for that or have to take over or something, but that was not the case at all as they were, these same extremist terrorist from today, were partners with America at the time. Did there beliefs, religion change? no the political landscape changed, not islam, so they just use it for whatever they do it, its their culture/lingo and style of talk to try to dignify whatever their political agenda is

And it may have existed 20 years ago or whenever, but once again, the same answer, the foundation is political and thats why its constantly evolving, just like with every other religion like some members pointed out, there were oppression, violence, and so called terrorist activity at all periods, and there has been peaceful rain in an islamic state under moorish rule, so on as well. My answers remain the same to you that the root is simply political more than anything else yet you come up with one article or one year and essentially says the same view in different ways and stuck on your viewpoint and vision. So in conslusion, Kwame got it right with his post above