Read an interesting article in today’s New York Times Magazine (December 7, 2008; page 24 Who Wrote the Koran?) about a theological reformer challenges those who claim to speak for Islam. By Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabarr. Abdulkarim Sorush is Iran’s leading public intellectual, he is a scholar of Islamic theology and was Ayatollah Khomeini’s man for bringing Islam back to Iran. But he is a smart guy and he really studied what he was doing – and consequently asked people to think, not just follow. Much like the true Rabbi’s and Scholars of ancient Hebrew texts and the Torah. As a Reform Jew I do believe that the Torah reflects what God wants us to live our lives – but through ancient stories passed down from generation to generation. There are some that believe the Torah was directly given to us by God and others who believe that the stories were first written down in Ancient Babylon to unite and help the Jews from becoming assimilated into the Babylonian culture. Its one thing to come out of a cave and say "I have found the word of God – see we weren’t kidding" and another to say "you have to do this because I say its the right way to live your life." Same for the Koran according to Sorush. As written in the article:
"The recent controversey began about eight months ago, after Soroush spoke with a Dutch reporter about on of Islam’s most sensitve issues: the divine origin of the Koran. Muslims have long believed that their holy book was transmitted word for word by God through the Prophet Muhammad. In the interview, however, Sorush made explicit his alternative belief that the Koran was a"prophetic experience." He told me that the Prophet "was at the same time the receiver and the producer of the Koran or, if you will, the subject and the object of the revelation."
Its pretty a conversation I have all the time – you can argue against divine creation of all that we are "Adam and Eve" or you can say Darwin was right. Or you can believe what I believe in that Darwin was right but the hand of God was involved every step of the way. So that as a Reform Jew – I do think these very smart Rabbi’s or Priests or whomever, did write down the Torah very carefully and said "this is the word of God" to get people emotionally involved. The less intelligent were hooked as they needed guidance and a way to follow without thought, the intelligent who had morals and a grasp on social reality said – this is a good way to teach.
So I’ve just insulted my friends who are Orthodox, no way – they are the ones who study and question the most – it is the way of our people, and the way of Islamic scholars for thousands of years. It is only fear and control that make for tyrannical rule. The kind of rule they needed at the time of Mohammad to unite the Arabs, the kind they needed in ancient Israel to unite the Jews and the kind they needed in ancient Rome to re-unite the Roman Empire to become the Holy Roman Empire. I’m equally insulting all religious believers who cling to a patriarchal hierarchy of God-King-Man (or God-Pope-Bishop-King-Man; or God-Ayatollah-President-Man; or God-Priest-King-Man). We don’t need a king in a democracy so we don’t need religion in government. Its what this country was built on – not a Godless nation, a nation under God – but with liberty and justice for all. With the hand of God guiding us along – but not ruling over us. I believe God planned all along to let us find our own way – he just gave us the tools (Torah, Bible, Koran or whatever) to make sure we stay on the right path.
