I’m disappointed. That’s the short version. I have been studying religions from my college days, I actually got a minor in religion and philosophy. Every religion I studied I was able to take away something positive and interesting. In some cases, they have had a lasting impact on me. Different forms of Buddhism (especially Zen), various sects of Hinduism, Judaism, and certainly all of the different versions of Christianity have left their mark. Islam, or at least the kind practiced here has left me cold. It is a very cut and dried affair. A cynic might say that it is a simple religion for simple people. I of course would never say such a thing:-).
I will admit to being drawn to the more mystical, experiential forms of religion and repelled by rules based systems. The Islam practiced here is certainly rules based. You pray 5 times a day not to be closer to God, to understand, or even to experience anything. You do it because that is what you are told to do. The entire religion seems to be like that. Questions are not encouraged, I really think that many people do not consider the mystery of God, creation, or why they are supposed to do things any of their business. I might change my outlook a bit if I came into contact with some Sufis, they are the one branch that does emphasize things that I’m interested in.
Oddly enough, as disappointed as I am in the religion, I have mostly good things to say about the people that follow it. I am well acquainted with Christian hypocrisy, many people never get past it and label the entire Christian experience as hypocritical. Many Christians could learn a thing or two from the people here. God is a constant part of their thinking. The standard response to the question “How are you?” is “God be praised.” Seriously, that is what everyone says, especially if they are going through bad times. When someone says that they hope to do something, or that they will do something in the future, it is always, always followed by the phrase, “Inshalla” which translates into “God willing.” The people here also abide by their rules pretty well. There are exceptions of course, but I do not fear that people are lying to me, or are trying to take advantage of me most of the time. When I finish eating my lunch (with my hands inevitably), I don’t hesitate to leave my case with my laptop on the table while I go wash my hands.
Having said that, do not cross these people. Revenge is a time honored tradition among Arabs and it is condoned by Islam in most circumstances. So yes, Islam promotes a pretty peaceful living condition, but in part that is due to the threat of revenge being taken out on you and your family. As a Christian, that’s a pretty foreign concept. I am going to hold off discussing women in Islam until I do a little more research, but my initial feelings are not good ones in that regard. And of course there are the punishments that most followers of Islam believe in. I always find it odd that someone that believes in God thinks that they need to exact justice right now. Can’t God do it better and more accurately? Once again I guess my Christian bias is showing…
So to summarize, the religion gets a big thumbs down, but the effects are (mostly) ok. I think being so close to Saudi is coloring the Islam I see practiced here, I don’t want to make a judgement based on looking at one sect. Judging Christianity by looking at the Jehovah Witnesses or Christian Scientists would certainly be a mistake. I don’t want to make the same mistake here.
Isaac