(no subject)

[taerowyn]

Really good article on common misconceptions of Islam or Ten Things Everyone Should Know About Islam.

7. Culture is not religion. So much of the oppression and misogyny (female illiteracy, "honour" killing, female genital mutilation, forced marriages, physical abuse, etc.) we hear about in quasi- and pseudo-Islamic countries such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Iran stems from patriarchal cultural customs and baggage and not from Islam, although it's always "justified" sixty ways to Sunday with supposed religious dictates and self-serving interpretations of scripture.

If any of these countries actually thoroughly implemented Islam as intended and honoured the spirit as well as the letter of the "law," women, for example, would not only have far more rights and freedoms than they currently do in any of these countries, but the behaviour of men and the actions of governments would have to change so radically that you would probably not recognize these countries at all. Islamic concepts and requirements are that different from how these countries currently operate.

Comments

[gremlingirl.livejournal.com]

You should read Dreams of Trespass and Scheherezade Goes West by Fatima Mernissi. It has a very interesting view on the way women are oppressed in the East verses the way they are oppressed in the West. Also, it outlines the distinction between religion and culture very nicely.

Plus they are very very good reads.

Re:

[taerowyn.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'll put them on my "To Read" list