Accomplishments of Islam

MrBrian

and dan, give "The Canon of Medicine" a study. I think you'd love it.

OutOfBreath

MrBrian, I am not dissing muslims with accomplishments. But I remain firm that Islam is not progressive. Few religions are. Religions are dogmas, and centralization and standardization of human existencialist thought.

Point is that 500 years ago, the islamic world was at the forefront in the world, both culturally and when it comes to power. So in that time and place, it was muslim people who had the opportunity and backing to pursue science. Science is a surplus activity that one must afford. Today, that centre of power and culture is the US/Europe. Hence, that's where the scientific development happens.

But that's not in indictment or glorification in any direction. The most science is done in the western countries, it's the same countries that have lots of money to spend on it, and most importantly, it is us that distribute these awards. Science follows money.

And religions dont discover stuff, people do. People may be of a religion, but I hardly think that's the important part. It's rather where science is funded that can support scientists doing their thing. Scientists will gravitate towards there. Today, US/Europe. 500 years ago, the middle east.

Peace
Dan

MrBrian

OutOfBreath wrote:

MrBrian, I am not dissing muslims with accomplishments. But I remain firm that Islam is not progressive. Few religions are. Religions are dogmas, and centralization and standardization of human existencialist thought.

Point is that 500 years ago, the islamic world was at the forefront in the world, both culturally and when it comes to power. So in that time and place, it was muslim people who had the opportunity and backing to pursue science. Science is a surplus activity that one must afford. Today, that centre of power and culture is the US/Europe. Hence, that's where the scientific development happens.

But that's not in indictment or glorification in any direction. The most science is done in the western countries, it's the same countries that have lots of money to spend on it, and most importantly, it is us that distribute these awards. Science follows money.

And religions dont discover stuff, people do. People may be of a religion, but I hardly think that's the important part. It's rather where science is funded that can support scientists doing their thing. Scientists will gravitate towards there. Today, US/Europe. 500 years ago, the middle east.

Peace
Dan

I'm not saying religions discover scientific stuff, what I am saying is that people should not hold religion as a handicap. Think that it's not progressive. How can one say that searching for the meaning of life is not progressive? While standing still due to not solving an equation is? is that moving forward?

Money follows science, like you said, but money does'nt buy brains, one needs to have understanding, thought and intelligence to invent,discover and cure things yeah? Now if islam was not progresssive and is a religion that holds one down, how can science,art and such floruish under it?

A study of islam shows that it teaches people to seek knowledge and move forward, that's my point, you don't have to believe that islam is progressive, but to not truly study it and think it's not would be regressive.

sourdough

But didn't a lot of Islamic countries really start to fall on hard time after they tried to secularize and westernize? Although they were already in decline, some islamic rulers tried to reconstruct their countries to mimic Paris, London and other European countries which in turn drove them into massive debt which crippled their societies, and left virtually zero money for education, science etc and was also held captive by huge debts associated with westernization. Revolutions such as the Iranian revolution and spread of Islamic theocracies were in response to the poor conditions and cultural disintigration brought on by westernisation.

rebornFixer

sourdough wrote:

But didn't a lot of Islamic countries really start to fall on hard time after they tried to secularize and westernize? Although they were already in decline, some islamic rulers tried to reconstruct their countries to mimic Paris, London and other European countries which in turn drove them into massive debt which crippled their societies, and left virtually zero money for education, science etc and was also held captive by huge debts associated with westernization. Revolutions such as the Iranian revolution and spread of Islamic theocracies were in response to the poor conditions and cultural disintigration brought on by westernisation.

I don't know ... Many Middle East countries have handled Westernization quite well, although there is the issue of huge economic/status differences between governments/elites and the general populace, something that does indeed fuel Islamic extremism. Either way, I don't think we can argue that becoming an Islamic theocracy is somehow going to reverse the problems and provide some sort of positive development.