[FREE IRAN Project] In The Spirit Of Cyrus The Great

[Sourena]

I think we're pretty much in agreement then.

[Persian]

[American Visitor]

Sourena,

I've been talking to the fundamentalists quite a bit. I'm interested in how you view things. You mentioned the Shah as a devout Muslim. He was clearly a modern person and rejected the fanatacism.

What do you think of the Sufis? I don't know much about them but understand they are a large percentage of Muslims. We just don't hear much about them. Have you studied their viewpoint?

Did the Shah get much into religion or did he consider it a private thing which he didn't discuss much with other people? Did he ever explain his view of Islam? I'm interested since that is clearly a view which is not heard often.

[Sourena]

The sufis are an ancient mystic sect of Iranians that surfaced during the safavid dynasty. I haven't read much into them, but I know that their influence is still felt in Iran. For example, the Setar (not to be confused with the Indian Sitar) was created and developed by the sufi, because of its quiet sound. For you see, the Arab overloards forbid music, so as you can imagine, they were opposed to the Arabs, but they were still muslims. I don't know about their current role and position.

The Shah was quite public with his religion. He led the Namaz-Jom-eh (Friday Prayer, it is a special kind of Namaz (prayer) performed on Sunday, with an important person leading the prayer) several times.

The Shah was not anti-Islam, he was very pro-Iran. For example, if you look at the Pahlavi coat of arms, it has an Ahura-Mazda in it, representing Iran's Zoroastian past. But it also has the two headed sword of Imam-Ali on it, representing Iran's dedication to the Shi'ite sect of Islam.

[American Visitor]

Sourena,

Thank-you for the information. I do know the shah wanted to modernize and improve Iran. Unfortuanely the Mullahs have done neither. I wish you the best.

One question which comes to mind partricularly when I'm talking to the fanatics is that some of the suicide bombers come from moderate families. How can a Muslim society protect itself from people who take the Koran very seriously and very literally and do bad things as a result?

[redemption]

Good questions:

I don't necessarily think the suicide bombing is a direct cause and effect result of taking a religion too seriously, however I do believe it is a direct result of being influenced by a fanatical ideology and propoganda that uses religion. We have seen this occur in many religions - and today that religion is Islam that is being twisted and turned for the benefits of namely the Islamnic Regime in Iran and their cohorts.

The Mullahs are not true Mulsims - They are crooked business men and bunch of mafia killers!

I think once you get rid of the dollars and develish crooks like the Mullahs it will majorly undercut the sponsorship of this fanatical ideology - more peace will rise, conflicts will minimize - economy will strengthen - more people will have jobs - less will be swayed by the islamofascists or any type of fascism for that matter.
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[Fardad]

Dear Persian,

I think that now you can understand that my position is different of yours even though we are both Iranians...

For me, we should see the world, especially the middle east as a whole not as entities disconnected from eachother. Maybe, Iran´s situation will not change until the Israelo-Palestinian "share of territories" conflict is not solved.

;

PS: Just tell to your friend Eski that Iranians are not schisophrenic, maybe autist, but certainly not schizophrenic.

Hasta Luego.

[American Visitor]

Redemption,

It appears that trying to find a true Muslim is like trying to find the holy grail. How do we know who is a true Muslm? We have moderate people claiming to be the true Muslims and we have fanatics also claiming to be the true Muslims. How does the society make that differentiation? There are hugh numbers backing each side, with many probably somewhere in between.

I'm not trying to be obtuse here. I'm really puzzled over this one. The fundamentalists quote the Koran and the hadiths and seem to be very sincere. The moderates seem to be just as sincere.

[Fardad]

...and if not autists, idealists , dreamers...


"...living on a lonely island of illusion in the midst of a vast ocean of desillusion"

[Sourena]

Redemption,
you are absolutely correct about the suicide bombers, couldn't have said it better myself.

American Visitor,
There is no set definition of a true muslim, but there are requirements.

1. You believe in ONE god, you can call God whatever you want, Allah, Jehova, Ahura Mazda, whatever, as long as you believe there is ONLY ONE GOD. Even if you want to show respect by using the plural form of "you", (ex. vous, shoma), still not allowed.

2. You do not give god human charactersitics, that is blasphemy. Even referring to god as "he" is not allowed, hence there not being different words for he and she.

3. Don't waste any of god's gifts. For example, Most North American kids now days throw away the crust on their pizza. That is wrong. My own brother does it, and I always tell him not to.

4. Here is the split. I don't believe there is a 4, but fundementalist will carry it until 10 or even 100. Like, wearing the hijab, praying, fasting on ramadan, going to Mecca, reading the Qoran, etc. To me, these are all options, personal choices that you can choose to perform, and many people do, from choice. I do fast, I do pray (occasionally), and I plan on going to Mecca, but only because I want to.Also, Praying doesn't have to be the complete Namaz routine. You can be lying in bed and talk to god, and it still counts.

As long as you do the first three, you are a true muslim. But the most emphasis is placed on those first two. You can even be christian and fulfill the requirements.

[American Visitor]

Sourena,

If I understand correctly you define Islam as those who have the proper understanding of the physical characteristics of God. From my limited knowledge, I would agree that is probably a unifying feature of Islam, although I'm not sure how the sufis view things.

My question is why it even matters what God's physical characteristics are? If one person believes God has fingers and toes and another does not, what difference does it make?

[Sourena]

it's just one of the beliefs. That god is higher than human beings, that god is so divine, he should not be compared to normal human beings.

Also, while we are in this post, i finally saw Farenheit 9/11 today, and if anyone can watch that movie, and honestly support bush after, there is something wrong with them.

[American Visitor]

Sourena,

I haven't seen 9-11 so anything I say would be hearsay.

Christians, Jews and Muslims all agree God is transcendent. How do we know if God has fingers and toes or not since we haven't seen Him?

[ARYAI_NYC]

sorry sourena, it's a force of habbit i have caps on all day at work! anyway i will try to remember, oh and you go girl!

[redemption]

Not to bash on Michael - but he really did get a whooping at the RNC!!!! it was quite funny too
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