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Departures from mainstream Islamic thought?

sandandfoam

Veteran Member
Has anyone apart from the Baha'i faith ever started from Islam and evolved into a religion that is Islamic but not mainstream?
 

LuisDantas

Aura of atheification
Premium Member
It's a bit of a subjective call. Besides the Bahai Faith, you could argue about the Druse, Sufism, Sikhism and a few highly regarded Hindu Gurus. I will bet that there are Muslim-like Unitarian Universalist cliques somewhere as well.
 

K.Venugopal

Immobile Wanderer
When Muslim societies begin to live in an atmosphere of religious freedom, more Islamic expressions could arise - some of which may even break away from mainstream Islam. I remember many years ago an Islamic cult that was somewhat non-mainstream became popular in Malaysia. However, the government, under the influence of mainstream religious leaders, banned the cult and forced its chief proponent to recant his philosophy, publicly apologise and revert to the mainstream. Who knows, if there was sufficient religious freedom in Malaysia, that cult may have gone on to become a new religion.

I also know about the late Druze leader Kamal Jumbalat who was influenced by Hinduism and built a Saraswati Temple in his fiefdom in the mountains of Lebanon.
 
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sandandfoam

Veteran Member
Mainstream Islam is to believe in the six articles of faith, and practice the five pillars of Islam

One of the six articles of faith is belief in all of God's prophets and messengers, and that Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was God's last prophet and messenger
Hi Cordoba,
First thanks for the response. I appreciate your taking the time to discuss this.
For the purpose of this discussion I accept that the Prophet (pbuh) is the seal of the prophets.
What I'm wondering is more along the lines of :-
Take me as an example. I find much that appeals to me in Islam, particularly how Muslims think of Allah.
On the other hand (and I mean no offence here but I want to explain my own thinking in order that you might address it) there are things in Islam that I couldn't adhere to.
For example, Islam seems overly rule-bound and strict to me. My attidudes are very liberal and on many subjects incompatible with Islam (e.g. regarding homosexuality).
I can't imagine myself ever praying 5 times a day and certainly not in Arabic.

I was wondering the other night if anyone with a world view like mine has ever taken a 'pick and mix' approach to Islam? One that would use the native language, be liberal etc etc?
 

Chisti

Active Member
Hi Cordoba,
First thanks for the response. I appreciate your taking the time to discuss this.
For the purpose of this discussion I accept that the Prophet (pbuh) is the seal of the prophets.
What I'm wondering is more along the lines of :-
Take me as an example. I find much that appeals to me in Islam, particularly how Muslims think of Allah.
On the other hand (and I mean no offence here but I want to explain my own thinking in order that you might address it) there are things in Islam that I couldn't adhere to.
For example, Islam seems overly rule-bound and strict to me. My attidudes are very liberal and on many subjects incompatible with Islam (e.g. regarding homosexuality).
I can't imagine myself ever praying 5 times a day and certainly not in Arabic.

I was wondering the other night if anyone with a world view like mine has ever taken a 'pick and mix' approach to Islam? One that would use the native language, be liberal etc etc?

Sufism would be the right path for you, then. It's Islamic but not too strict on rules and is quite liberal.
 

Chisti

Active Member
Thank you Chisti. I thought Sufism was built off a 'mainstream' base, i.e. 'the Five Pillars'?

Yes, but one doesn't have to follow them strictly. One can also do 'unIslamic' stuff like meditation, singing, dancing etc., and hold totally liberal positions on gay rights issues, be pro-choice, and all that. The only thing that matters is communion with God. Have you read Osho's books on Sufism? That'll give you a good idea.
 

sandandfoam

Veteran Member
Yes, but one doesn't have to follow them strictly. One can also do 'unIslamic' stuff like meditation, singing, dancing etc., and hold totally liberal positions on gay rights issues, be pro-choice, and all that.
That appeals.

The only thing that matters is communion with God.
That's my bottom line
Have you read Osho's books on Sufism?
No. I'm going googling now.

Are you a mosque goer Chisti?
 

BruceDLimber

Well-Known Member
Has anyone apart from the Baha'i faith ever started from Islam and evolved into a religion that is Islamic but not mainstream?

This is misleading on two counts:

  • The Baha'i Faith is very much mainstream (being one of the five Abrahamic religions).
  • And the Baha'i Faith is "Islamic" only in its roots as its practices and teachings are extremely different from those of Islam!
Peace, :)

Bruce

 

BruceDLimber

Well-Known Member
One of the six articles of faith is belief in all of God's prophets and messengers, and that Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was God's last prophet and messenger

Which means, of course, that it excludes belief in "ALL" such Messengers as in the view of millions, there have been more since Muhammad!

(Not to mention which, that's only one of several disparate interpretations of the "Seal of the prophets" verse, the others of which imply no such finish.)

Peace, :)

Bruce
 

Chisti

Active Member
That appeals.


That's my bottom line

No. I'm going googling now.

Are you a mosque goer Chisti?

No, I don't go to any places of worship. The night sky seems to be as good a place of worship as any. Anyway, Stephen, do read Osho's books and let me know what you think. He's very radical and shocking at times, but extremely creative and will make you see things utterly differently.
 

LuisDantas

Aura of atheification
Premium Member
"Osho" Rajneesh? I'm surprised that a Sufi would pay him any attention. But that helps in explaining your judgements about "the West".
 

sandandfoam

Veteran Member
Anyway, Stephen, do read Osho's books and let me know what you think. He's very radical and shocking at times, but extremely creative and will make you see things utterly differently.

There seems to be a share of them. Where's a good place to start?
 
There seems to be a share of them. Where's a good place to start?

I would start with books written by Súfís themselves over some Hindu guru named Osho... especially when his ideas are very much pro-sex everything. No offense... Having stemmed out of the Hindu tradition myself, specifically Gaudiya Vaishnavism, it is better to learn about any religious path by intercepting it directly than indirectly.

I would start with philosophy by Ibn Arabí. Mix that in with the poetry of Rúmí, the Conference of the Birds by Attár, and Háfiz.

Read as much as you can about Súfísm in the Islámic tradition... Rúmí himself, a very profound Súfí, also marked the importance of accepting Muhammad the Prophet and the Qur'án, and apparently had a male lover himself.


"Split the atom's heart, and lo! Within it thou wilt find a sun."

-- Persian mystic poem


http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/03/27/islam-039recognizes-homosexuality039.html Islám 'recognises homosexuality'


I would also look into Ismáilí Islám, simply because for some reason, I keep meeting many Ismáilís... generally they are nice people, and have quite a progressive interpretation of Islám, and are very much widespread in Canada. They also seem to have quite a bit of gays and lesbians who profess Ismáilí belief. Queerness and Islam « The Queer Ismaili
 
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Gharib

I want Khilafah back
Yes, but one doesn't have to follow them strictly. One can also do 'unIslamic' stuff like meditation, singing, dancing etc., and hold totally liberal positions on gay rights issues, be pro-choice, and all that. The only thing that matters is communion with God. Have you read Osho's books on Sufism? That'll give you a good idea.

who gets to say which of gods laws are to be followed and which are to not be followed, you or god?

EDIT: so how can one be islamic if one does unislamic stuff like dancing and singing etc?
 
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