Technology has always found its greatest consumer in a nation's
war and defense efforts. Since the last attempts at a "Star Wars"
defense system, has technology changed considerably enough to make
the latest Missile Defense initiatives more successful? Can such an
application of science be successful? Is a militarized space
inevitable, necessary or impossible?
Qur'anic philosophy is that of gradualism. Again, the Law Giver
recognized both the human ability to constantly evolve and improve
and its need to do so over time
rshowalter
- 06:36pm Oct 5, 2001 EST (#10101
of 10133) 
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu
Hope people of good will can build on that.
possumdag
- 06:36pm Oct 5, 2001 EST (#10102
of 10133)
Possumdag@excite.com
It seems that there was provision for advancement towards
democracy along a time line, influenced by environmental factors,
and supported by nation state laws. The problem is the evolution
along the time line could have been faster.
" a series of events that occurred soon after the death of the
Prophet. An analysis of these events will show that democratic
failure was not the result of the fatalism or apathy of Muslims as
some eighteenth century writers concluded.[150] Rather, this
failure resulted from serious challenges arising soon after the
death of the Prophet for which neither the budding Muslim state
nor its leadership was adequately prepared. These challenges were
made even more insurmountable in light of the historical moment in
which the whole region, and perhaps the world, was engulfed.
I now turn to the historical analysis of the failure. As it
turned out, the democratic example presented by the society of
Madinah was to endure only for a fleeting, shining moment in the
history of the Arab Peninsula and Muslim communities beyond. Soon
after the death of the Prophet, many Muslims began reverting to
their former tribal ways. [151] During that critical period, in
which a great deal of upheaval followed, the Muslim leadership,
primarily consisting of the Companions of the Prophet, was faced
with impossible choices.[152] In hindsight, one may now wonder
whether the choices ultimately made were the right ones.
Nevertheless, I argue in this section that the demise of Islamic
democracy was not a consequence of these choices. Rather, it was
the direct result of the historical consciousness of the people
and the world at that time, in the absence of a fully developed
constitutional and legal apparatus for managing crises.
Having lost their Prophet, many Muslims reverted to
traditional authoritarian forms of leadership " (see above)
rshowalter
- 06:43pm Oct 5, 2001 EST (#10103
of 10133)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu
Those are wonderful texts. We may find that a purification
of religious traditions, including Islam, may serve humanity, and
may do so while preserving the human diversity that we cannot
escape, and must cherish.
rshowalter
- 06:45pm Oct 5, 2001 EST (#10104
of 10133)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu
Perhaps when things done in the name of religion look ugly or
impractical, we should look hard at the possibility that it
may be the fallible hand of man, and not the word and will of God,
that produces the problems.
rshowalter
- 06:50pm Oct 5, 2001 EST (#10105
of 10133)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu
And purification need not bleach out the humanity, the
joy, the beauty, and the hope.
There is no reason for a true religion to be less than fully
human - or to narrow the possible, beautiful and good things that
people can do, as individuals, and together.
For either men or women.
But that will take judgement.
Not only on God's part. But on mankind's part, as well.
rshowalter
- 06:54pm Oct 5, 2001 EST (#10106
of 10133)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu
Out for an hour. Want to think about judgement.
It is a rich word.
possumdag
- 06:56pm Oct 5, 2001 EST (#10107
of 10133)
Possumdag@excite.com
the fallible hand of man was noticed in history by this group
but their church still doesn't, from this text, seem to notice.
possumdag
- 06:59pm Oct 5, 2001 EST (#10108
of 10133)
Possumdag@excite.com
Science and theology still battle see:
Raises
the point, do religious bodies take a particular stance on Nukes?
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