Muhammad, thank you very much for doing this. It's rare that I get the chance to meet someone like you so I hope you forgive me if I rant a little. I would appreciate your insight on one of my favorite quotes from Al- Razi:
“You claim that the evidentiary miracle is present and available, namely, the Koran. You say: 'Whoever denies it, let him produce a similar one.' Indeed, we shall produce a thousand similar, from the works of rhetoricians, eloquent speakers and valiant poets, which are more appropriately phrased and state the issues more succinctly. They convey the meaning better and their rhymed prose is in better meter. … By God what you say astonishes us! You are talking about a work which recounts ancient myths, and which at the same time is full of contradictions and does not contain any useful information or explanation. Then you say: 'Produce something like it'‽”
I feel that while there is a false reverence of the "golden age' of Islam. Most muslims today have not bothered doing any research into the actual work of Islamic philosophers from that era. We have such a beautiful and rich intellectual heritage which is completely ignored in favor of these childish myths about golden ages. These ISIS and Taliban idiots take a massive shit on all of our history, all of our accomplishments, present it to people as fact and murder anyone who disagrees. Both of my parents tell me they no longer recognize the Pakistan they grew up in since our home town is a maze of barbed wire and armed barricades. (To stop the suicide bombers of course). If you watch Pakistani tv, you'll find no intelligent discourse on improving the economy or social welfare. Instead it's a bunch of fat old bearded cunts screeching about how women going to school signals the end of times or that anyone insulting Islam deserves to be killed. I feel like saying something but all I've learned that speaking up will get you fucking shot like Salman Taseer or Malala Yousafzai. I'm exaggerating of course but it's honestly depressing to see the state of thought in Islamic Countries today, my country specifically.
How can we bring back that culture of skepticism that Al-Razi espoused to the modern Islamic world? I'm not talking about a rejection of Islamic faith since I'm convinced that's impossible. I'm talking about the ability to tolerate people with diverse opinions and the humility to recognize that "Islam" could be flawed. I mean how the fuck are you justifying leaving the states or the UK to go be a genocidal maniac in Syria? Is a facebook post and stupid youtube video all it takes for you to make that decision? Isn't there just a little of self reflection AT ALL?