Everything resumed to normal after Sonny Rollins waving his hand in Barbican centre. Next Friday, I will have a group presentation, question is: Evaluate the work of Khaled Abou El Fadi on "Islam and Democracy".
I sat in room for whole Sunday, to read, read and read Khaled's work. Islam and democracy is an important issue, significance is not less than how to democratize China. There are democratic countries, for example, South Korea and Taiwan within Conficious/Chinese cultural sphere. In the Middle East, only Turkey can be claimed as a democratic countries, the other countries either are ruled by King with absolute power, cleric or "life-term" presidents.
To say Islamic culture inhibits democratic idea, is just like saying democracy is not good for China. Both arugments are just vague impression and cannot be substandiated by evidence. Actually the Muslim society formed by Prophet Muhammed in Medina in 7 century was quite democratic. Medina was ruled by concensus and consultation.
However, to read the books analysing Islamic philosophy in detail, understand how author interpreting each Islamic concept(eg: only god is the sovereignty and human being is not, Sharia Islamic law in the ultimate divine guiding rule...) in order to make them fit into modern democracy is really difficult, let alone evaluating, commenting and criticizing his work?
When I was studying Chinese modernization history, the earliest Chinese scholars' response to western culture was trying to find the similiar root in Chinese culture. For example, they would quote the ancient texts like 天圓地方(this is surely not a good example, but I forget the better one), to prove Chinese also developed astronomy in the past.
This was a practical way in late Qing period, in order to correlate the new idea and invention with old tradition so that it is easier for people to accept new ideology. However at last, we must give up such "self-deceiving" statements and admit that Chinese culture only developed technology but not science. We must admit Chinese culture only suggested "government for the people", but not "government by the people"(有民本而沒有民主).
The similar thing happened in Islamic countries, but this self-proving process took extremely long since last century and now is still continuing. One reason is that Islam is always claimed as violent, anti-democratic and uncivilised, it is necessary to show the peaceful reality of Islam.
Another reason is the religious authority. In order to promote democracy in Islam, you cannot say "because it is good for people". You must say "democracy is also a teaching inside Islam and which can is consistence with the religion". So that's why the reading of "Islam and Democracy" is much more difficult than reading "China and democracy".
(若大家喜歡我鏡頭下的馬拉松風景，不妨Click樂施會的標誌，資助他們的扶貧工作)
1 則留言:
Can we really call Taiwan a "mature" (as in, Western standard) a democratic nation? While the ruling party could have so much influence on the judiciary body? While the election process could be violated by the contending parties?
Could other Middle East Muslim countries learn from Turkey's experience? Why is Turkey a success? It owes to its geographical location (receiving influence from both the East and the West), its demographic make-up, the fall of the Ottoman Empire and secularisation. There are hopes in Jordan, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain when the kings have been de-centralising power since decades ago.
Apart from the 7th Century example of Prophet Muhammad you cited, Salah al-Din granted freedom of religion to the Jews and Christians after he conquered Jerusalem and other states which were once under the rule of the Crusades. Not to mention ancient Arabs/Muslims once excelled in mathematics, astrology and other disciplines of science.
It seems, before asking if democracy can be applicable within Islam, the appropriate questions to ask are, why has civilsation/modernisation of the Arabs slowed down in the last few centuries, as compared to China's and the West's?
The West had long since ditched Christianity as national religion. The West had long since separated the Church from the State thus beginning the decline of Catholic Church's influence and power in Europe.
Is it possible that Muslims adopt secularisation as in Turkey's experience, separating religion from the State?
I enjoy reading your academic notes. Keep it up!
發佈留言