More Milk than Meat: In Islam as in Mormonism
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 12:43 pm
The public religious teaching associated with the Holy Month of Ramadan and the celebration of Eid al Fitr thereafter have provided nice illustrations of some of the surprising similarities between Mormonism and Islam, and a few of the important differences as well (mostly "advantage Islam").
During the last five weeks or so, there has been a great deal of religious programming on the National Radio Channels here (sort of what NPR would be like if Mormons ran it). These are broadcast in both English and Arabic.
When heard in English, it is not hard to imagine most of the religious programming originating from LDS sources. The religious instruction here on public radio is much more akin to material from an LDS Sunday School lesson manual than it is to that of an Evangelical TV Preacher or, in fact, any Protestant or Catholic service I have ever attended.
It is pure milk – very simple, non-controversial instructions about respecting ones parents, reading the Quran, helping the less fortunate (I said similar, not identicall) and how important it is to study one's religion so as not to be lead astray.
The blessings and the evils of the internet are a popular theme. Muslims are instructed to seek knowledge wherever it may be found (sounds like an Article of Faith I remember), but to be careful when using the internet. It can be a dangerous and harmful place. No knowledge can compensate for a loss of faith.
Another statement often made is that there are "no conflicts between true Islam and true science". Unfortunately, the Quran is the definition of "true Islam" and the creation and cosmology narratives in the Quran are every bit as silly as those found in the Bible and the Book of Abraham. Yet the religious instructors continue to make statements such as the following without the slightest hint of irony.
"While there may be apparent conflicts between
(1) different parts of the Quran,
(2) Islam and science,
(3) Shari'ah law and the Quran, etc.,
these are apparent conflicts only, and with proper understanding of the Quran and Islam, these apparent conflicts can always be resolved."
Now for an important difference; in direct contrast to the situation with the Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith, whose behavior requires faithful LDS to continually make excuses, Muslims are urged to live their lives, to the every best of their ability, as the Prophet Muhammad lived his.
In fact, when making judgments under Shari’ah law, Islamic scholars are to consider whether their finding would help one to behave as the Prophet Muhammad did. If they can see that it would help, then it is (probably) a true (correct) judgment.
Given the striking similarities between Islam and Mormonism (Joseph Smith once referred to himself as a second Mohammad), it is interesting that Muslims are taught to live their lives as did their Prophet Mohammed, while if Mormon men were to live their lives as Joseph Smith did, they would very likely find themselves imprisoned for life.
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For those who may not be familiar with Joseph Smith's infamous "I will be a second Mohammed" statement:
[1] Joseph Smith made this statement at the conclusion of a speech in the public square at Far West, Missouri on October 14, 1838. This particular quote is documented in Fawn M. Brodie, No Man Knows My History, second edition, (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1971), p. 230–231. Fawn Brodie’s footnote regarding this speech contains valuable information, and follows. “Except where noted, all the details of this chapter [16] are taken from the History of the [Mormon] Church. This speech, however, was not recorded there, and the report given here is based upon the accounts of seven men. See the affidavits of T.B. Marsh, Orson Hyde, George M. Hinkle, John Corrill, W.W. Phelps, Samson Avard, and Reed Peck in Correspondence, Orders, etc., pp. 57–9, 97–129. The Marsh and Hyde account, which was made on October 24, is particularly important. Part of it was reproduced in History of the [Mormon] Church, Vol. III, p. 167. See also the Peck manuscript, p. 80. Joseph himself barely mentioned the speech in his history; see Vol. III, p. 162.”
___________________________________________________________________________________________
During the last five weeks or so, there has been a great deal of religious programming on the National Radio Channels here (sort of what NPR would be like if Mormons ran it). These are broadcast in both English and Arabic.
When heard in English, it is not hard to imagine most of the religious programming originating from LDS sources. The religious instruction here on public radio is much more akin to material from an LDS Sunday School lesson manual than it is to that of an Evangelical TV Preacher or, in fact, any Protestant or Catholic service I have ever attended.
It is pure milk – very simple, non-controversial instructions about respecting ones parents, reading the Quran, helping the less fortunate (I said similar, not identicall) and how important it is to study one's religion so as not to be lead astray.
The blessings and the evils of the internet are a popular theme. Muslims are instructed to seek knowledge wherever it may be found (sounds like an Article of Faith I remember), but to be careful when using the internet. It can be a dangerous and harmful place. No knowledge can compensate for a loss of faith.
Another statement often made is that there are "no conflicts between true Islam and true science". Unfortunately, the Quran is the definition of "true Islam" and the creation and cosmology narratives in the Quran are every bit as silly as those found in the Bible and the Book of Abraham. Yet the religious instructors continue to make statements such as the following without the slightest hint of irony.
"While there may be apparent conflicts between
(1) different parts of the Quran,
(2) Islam and science,
(3) Shari'ah law and the Quran, etc.,
these are apparent conflicts only, and with proper understanding of the Quran and Islam, these apparent conflicts can always be resolved."
Now for an important difference; in direct contrast to the situation with the Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith, whose behavior requires faithful LDS to continually make excuses, Muslims are urged to live their lives, to the every best of their ability, as the Prophet Muhammad lived his.
In fact, when making judgments under Shari’ah law, Islamic scholars are to consider whether their finding would help one to behave as the Prophet Muhammad did. If they can see that it would help, then it is (probably) a true (correct) judgment.
Given the striking similarities between Islam and Mormonism (Joseph Smith once referred to himself as a second Mohammad), it is interesting that Muslims are taught to live their lives as did their Prophet Mohammed, while if Mormon men were to live their lives as Joseph Smith did, they would very likely find themselves imprisoned for life.
______________________________________________________
For those who may not be familiar with Joseph Smith's infamous "I will be a second Mohammed" statement:
“I will be to this generation a second Mohammed, whose motto in treating for peace was ‘the Alcoran [Koran] or the Sword.’ So shall it eventually be with us—‘Joseph Smith or the Sword!”
[1] Joseph Smith made this statement at the conclusion of a speech in the public square at Far West, Missouri on October 14, 1838. This particular quote is documented in Fawn M. Brodie, No Man Knows My History, second edition, (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1971), p. 230–231. Fawn Brodie’s footnote regarding this speech contains valuable information, and follows. “Except where noted, all the details of this chapter [16] are taken from the History of the [Mormon] Church. This speech, however, was not recorded there, and the report given here is based upon the accounts of seven men. See the affidavits of T.B. Marsh, Orson Hyde, George M. Hinkle, John Corrill, W.W. Phelps, Samson Avard, and Reed Peck in Correspondence, Orders, etc., pp. 57–9, 97–129. The Marsh and Hyde account, which was made on October 24, is particularly important. Part of it was reproduced in History of the [Mormon] Church, Vol. III, p. 167. See also the Peck manuscript, p. 80. Joseph himself barely mentioned the speech in his history; see Vol. III, p. 162.”
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