Islam as a "religion" and not an Ideology.

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Exactly. There is no mention of Islam at all in the Catechism, while the Muslims, who are our brothers and sisters in the plan of salvation are. Muslims are people, and as fellow worshippers of the one true God, they are our friends and our brothers and sisters in faith.

There is a clear distinction between Islam and Muslims.

…but it is Islam that I’m talking about -which is an Ideology and not a religion. The Catechism does not state whether Islam is either an Ideology or a religion. Therefore, Catholics are free to decide for themselves.

…there is nothing ‘wrong’ with believing in an Ideology per se. Even if one also worships God.
The CCC also makes no mention of- reading and writing, cameras, posting pictures online, posting comments on an internet forum, using a name on an internet forum other than your own, or using the internet. Can I assume you will cease to do and/or use all of the above?

As for “there is a clear distinction between Islam and Muslims,” really? Pray tell how the Church is making said distinction when it uses an Islamic religious term- “Muslim” to describe followers of Islam. Perhaps the actual theologians and subject matter experts who worked on the CCC somehow failed to understand what they were doing when they used this term? Or perhaps their linguistic and grammar skills were too limited to allow them an alternate phrasing such as “those who follow Islam”?
 
There is a clear distinction between Islam and Muslims.

…but it is Islam that I’m talking about -which is an Ideology and not a religion. The Catechism does not state whether Islam is either an Ideology or a religion. Therefore, Catholics are free to decide for themselves.

…there is nothing ‘wrong’ with believing in an Ideology per se. Even if one also worships God.
By definition, an ideology could mean “the body of doctrine, myth, belief, etc., that guides an individual, social movement, institution, class, or large group.”

I would suggest Islam is both. A religion with many competing and opposing ideologies within it.
 
The CCC also makes no mention of- reading and writing, cameras, posting pictures online, posting comments on an internet forum, using a name on an internet forum other than your own, or using the internet. **Can I assume you will cease to do and/or use all of the above? **
Well, that would be a strange thing to assume considering the fact that Catholics are simply “free to decide for themselves” on whatever are not recognized within Catholic doctrines. There are quite a few things that the Church has no official opinion on. That includes cameras, Internet forums and whether or not Islam is a religion or an ideology. It’s okay, theologically as Catholics, to have differing opinions on these types of prudential matters -and there is no ‘insult’ in debating it.
As for “there is a clear distinction between Islam and Muslims,” really? Pray tell how the Church is making said distinction when it uses an Islamic religious term- “Muslim” to describe followers of Islam. Perhaps the actual theologians and subject matter experts who worked on the CCC somehow failed to understand what they were doing when they used this term? Or perhaps their linguistic and grammar skills were too limited to allow them an alternate phrasing such as “those who follow Islam”?
Clearly what they meant was that the PEOPLE who worship the ‘God of Abraham’ are part of our family in faith… A “Muslim” after all, is a ‘person’… Besides, just imagine the difference in saying: “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are those who follow Islam”… 🤷 would that really be an infallible Truth? of course not. It would heresy. :cool:

Realistically, the CCC probably didn’t go with the term Mohammedans out of respect… Respect for PEOPLE – and not their system or whatever.
 
Another thing that’s crossed my mind, that I’ve been pondering over, is: Why would Freemasonry be considered an Ideology and not a religion…? While Islam is the opposite?

In freemasonry, there are Deacons, Worshipful Masters, Temples, etc, etc… The first requirement there is a belief in God or a Creator. So to many Catholics, Islam is considered a religion while Freemasonry isn’t. :confused: It makes no sense.

In my mind, a religion requires a ‘spirituality’ aspect, which means that Freemasonry may actually be a religion while Islam is an ideology. Or perhaps they’re equal in both being ideologies because of their social engineering factors (ie: liberty/sharia)? I’m not sure.
 
Well, that would be a strange thing to assume considering the fact that Catholics are simply “free to decide for themselves” on whatever are not recognized within Catholic doctrines. There are quite a few things that the Church has no official opinion on. That includes cameras, Internet forums and whether or not Islam is a religion or an ideology. It’s okay, theologically as Catholics, to have differing opinions on these types of prudential matters -and there is no ‘insult’ in debating it.

Yeah, that doesn’t really mesh with your “they didn’t specifically state X therefore it isn’t X” based argument. Based on your line of logic used in regards to Islam, one would have to come to the conclusion that since the CCC doesn’t specifically mention any of the items I listed in my prior message one can’t use and/or do them.

As for “differing opinions on these types of prudential matters…” you have yet to show that your rather obscure and not accepted by the vast majority of actual experts in the field definition of Islam as an ideology. Given that, I fail to see how you can even consider your argument a type of “prudential matter.”

As for “there is no “insult” in debating it”, yeah sure. I’m sure no reasonable Catholic would be insulted if our faith was discussed in a similar manner. You know, have a bunch of people calling our faith just a make believe ideology. Hey, they could even run billboards about it around Christmas time. I’m sure such an action wouldn’t create numerous threads on this forum alone filled with Catholics who were insulted by said billboards or cause national Catholic organizations to release statements to the press decrying such an action. Oh wait…

Clearly what they meant was that the PEOPLE who worship the ‘God of Abraham’ are part of our family in faith… A “Muslim” after all, is a ‘person’… Besides, just imagine the difference in saying: “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are those who follow Islam”… 🤷 would that really be an infallible Truth? of course not. It would heresy. :cool:

Really? I guess it was silly of them to have a completely separate entry in the CCC that covered Jews. Heck, they could have just grouped Jews and Muslims together under the same subsection since they just meant “that the people who worship the God of Abraham.”

As to- " “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are those who follow Islam”… 🤷 would that really be an infallible Truth? of course not. It would heresy. :cool:" here’s another way to write it with the exact same meaning- “The plan…in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims…” Wow, same meaning (hint- Muslim= follower of Islam), no heresy.

Realistically, the CCC probably didn’t go with the term Mohammedans out of respect… Respect for PEOPLE – and not their system or whatever.

Which has nothing to do with your notion that Islam is an ideology and not a religion. Please try and stay on topic.
 
Yeah, that doesn’t really mesh with your “they didn’t specifically state X therefore it isn’t X” based argument. Based on your line of logic used in regards to Islam, one would have to come to the conclusion that since the CCC doesn’t specifically mention any of the items I listed in my prior message one can’t use and/or do them.
Sorry, I’m not following. 🤷

I never said that “Ideologies” could not be followed as a result of the fact that they’re not found within Catholic doctrines. If that were the case, how could I defend Democracy?

Where did I say that ideologies should not be “used” or “done”…?
 
Sorry, I’m not following. 🤷

I never said that “Ideologies” could not be followed as a result of the fact that they’re not found within Catholic doctrines. If that were the case, how could I defend Democracy?

Where did I say that ideologies should not be “used” or “done”…?
Unless you are trying to argue that since Islam is just an ideology and not a religion and since the Church hasn’t given any guidance in regards to the ideology of Islam a Catholic can be a faithful Catholic and a faithful follower of the ideology of Islam, the “ideologies should not be “used” or “done”” is implied in your argument. Are you trying to state that a faithful Catholic can also be a faithful follower of Islam since you deem it to just be an ideology?
 
Unless you are trying to argue that since Islam is just an ideology and not a religion and since the Church hasn’t given any guidance in regards to the ideology of Islam a Catholic can be a faithful Catholic and a faithful follower of the ideology of Islam, the “ideologies should not be “used” or “done”” is implied in your argument. Are you trying to state that a faithful Catholic can also be a faithful follower of Islam since you deem it to just be an ideology?
Certain Ideologies may or may not be compatible with Catholicism. Democracy seems to be okay. Communism and Freemasonry are not.

…I hope you’re at least having fun here though. 😉
 
A religion with many competing and opposing ideologies within it.
I would agree, nevertheless we only reach a pragmatic reality here. Also within these ideals we need to descend to practical, moral, ethical reality, the sanctity of life, as opposed to idealistic arrogance. Especially when a pragmatic view deems a culture ethnic/racial/gender inferior through their ideal based on a religion. This becomes contingent on Gods Word and correct interpretation to impose it, and in its various views, which automatically one can conclude their is no one correct interpretation. So too it follows they may all be wrong. Who has the one correct interpretation of what Mohammed not only stated, but intended to state in his transmission? This is how this follows; Mohammed interpreted Gods word, man interpreted Mohammad, and there is no consensus on what Mohammad intended to transmit, let alone if he understood what God said or if in fact this is reality. For just as easily as Islam states its right. So too many feel this is nothing but delusional arrogance based on “nothing factual” but an incorrect view of reality and inconsistent at best. Which btw as we see deems mans freedoms in a legalistic view which favors male muslims, which btw historically comes as no surprise.

Mohammad may have been absolutely right, however through these inconsistent various views we have no idea, nor can I see where any irrefutable philosophy is presented. The higher goal here is Gods perfection and not what we think Mohammed thought about it. Mohammed was a “man” and certainly being a man he was not always right for perfection in not an attribute of man. Never mind the imperfection of those imperfect men who think they have the “blessing” to interpret anothers imperfect mind of thought. Nevertheless this certainly deserves consideration and dialogue, but we have “not” reached right by a long shot. And its not your right because you said so, its your right because its proven through understanding and communication[compassion]. Which excuse me if I so boldly suggest Islam is lacking on in this period of social transition. Self evident imho.

For example we have yet to prove here the Jews are not absolutely right. Let alone the Christians. There can be no submission by anybody in this realm, for they do not believe what you are selling, namely Mohammad and his view of God. And as we see at the oh so far other end of the spectrum what a 2013 muslim thinks Mohammad stated.

What we have is dictation without agreement on the premise of undefined philosophy. Namely the attributes of Gods perfection which must be systematically defined through logic [God of Abraham] Without the deeper conversation as suggested the dialogue follows that you insist your right with proof of Quran already addressed [inconsistent circular argument based on a strawman] , and as we see at the risk of a dangerous pragmatic incorrect ideal which then deems others “guilty” for non submission [incorrectly understood] to Mohammad and the oh so many various interpretations by “man” which reduce the sanctity of life [Gods creation] to the limitations of mans mind, namely ethnic, racial, social and gender barriers, and the freedoms which they deserve as [Gods creation] just like you believe the most precious muslims should have, this is given by God, not a man who “thinks” he knows what Mohammed thought. Everyone is to be respected regardless, if the narrow confines of their own mind limits them.

Submission isn’t submission because everyone “must” submit. Submission is understood as acknowledgement of Gods Perfection and thus following in obedience, though love. Confusion being their is NO SUBMISSION without Love, love and submission are to be understood as one, and persecution of those who do not submit is not love. That’s free-will given by God

And because one doesn’t grasp or buy into this pragmatic view which obviously there are many so that should be no surprise in 2013, then how does it follow one should be persecuted for not believing or in denial of what you have never defined nor can explain. nor can muslims themselves agree on. They just agree they must agree for the sake of what they somehow conclude is correct, but not proven, especially not through Gods perfection and the oh so confused ideals of submission to it.

The conversation must then extent to the God of Abraham who at least Muslims, Jews and Christians agree on and then to where specifically the Muslims interpretation is right and the Jews and Christians are wrong and specifically. Let alone the further conversation of those who believe none of this God of Abraham theory.

While Islam would contend its truth, it has nothing but a conceptual reality and many at that which it would suggest is “truth”. But no-one knows what this truth is. Its not that the Quran is a book and Mohammed could not write a book. So you are following a book professing Mohammad and he could not write a book. Others wrote what he stated and he re-checked, but there’s no collaboration of agreement of the intent of his thinking behind the stated verse that was re-checked for depth of thought, and especially this varies today.

Oh and the CCC on 841, imho a few thoughts and feel free to correct “where-ever” you disagree with my thinking. No reason to believe anything I state must be right. Anyway first off this is “ecumenical teaching” next we reach this particular phrase “profess to hold the faith of Abraham”. And here we all say AMEN 👍

Seems this professed faith differs in understanding than what the Christians profess and of course what the Jews profess. It follows while we all profess to follow the God of Abraham, what Islam does indeed profess does not coincide with what Christianity and Judaism profess.🤷 I fail to see an issue here.
 
In other words we have a dilemma in what everyone has professed in understanding the God of Abraham, . Yes its a start to all profess the God of Abraham. BUT, What are we all professing about this God of Abraham? Well Islam professed that you [being Christian and Jew] have a corrupt understanding of the God of Abraham. So I would suggest it doesn’t follow we all profess the same things about this God of Abraham.

So give us this non corrupt understanding of the God of Abraham and HIs perfection of His creation and His will for mans harmony and peace. Without what someone thinks Mohammad thought in the transmission he never wrote but dictated which becomes contingent on anothers thinking.

God didn’t create a religion, what religion was in the beginning? The religion of “man and woman” and living in peace and harmony is what God created and in perfection. When man chose to be like the Gods and know right and wrong is when religion deemed others wrong. Seems like a fatal flaw of man from the creation story. Mans pride insisting he be “like God” and know right from wrong. Mohammed was like God knowing right from wrong? Or was he merely a man who {professed] to be a prophet? You see many people profess many things. Its our responsibility to view the moral ethical concern of Gods garden creation in regards to all mankind, the God of Abraham and preserve and protect the least of His creation. He created them to exist? He gave them free-will? Then who has the authority to re-construct the God of Abrahams perfect will?

You have a conceptual reality contingent on a book, Nothing more, and that is not reality. Reality is not what you think it is, or what you would like it to be. Reality is what “:is” . And this book suggests Gods last prophet because the others were wrong. From this logic God isn’t perfect and may well need to send another such as Joe Smith. How do we know he’s not the last prophet?
 
Certain Ideologies may or may not be compatible with Catholicism. Democracy seems to be okay. Communism and Freemasonry are not.

…I hope you’re at least having fun here though. 😉
-Not an answer to my question.
-Having or not having fun has no bearing on the discussion.
 
The intent is not to condemn anything, but to understand/comprehend. Seems to me we have somehow re-arranged actual historical facts in an order other than that in which they actually occurred. In other words the order based on order, is out of order. And in order to how we must at some point all agree is in accord with Gods perfection.

There could be no understanding of the God of Abraham had this not been attributed to Judaism. So where is their documented order incorrect or how do we then suggest its corrupt?
 
-Not an answer to my question.
I don’t know. The answer to your question is: I don’t know.

…Islamic Law, one of the main factors within Islamic ideology, doesn’t seem to promote the Common Good for societies from what I’ve seen. Can you show me any place in time where Sharia Law (which is inseparable from Islam), has displayed characteristics resembling something similar to a holy society? Or at least something that facilitates the Common Good? Does Sharia support the Culture of Life…?

If so, then maybe Islam as an Ideology could be something that Catholics could embrace -even though it seems completely unnatural (a typical trait amongst Ideologies).
 
Catholic Social Teaching, on the other hand, is based solely on Natural Law… The same laws we find in nature, and in the ‘nature’ of all things.
 
I don’t know. The answer to your question is: I don’t know.

…Islamic Law, one of the main factors within Islamic ideology, doesn’t seem to promote the Common Good for societies from what I’ve seen. Can you show me any place in time where Sharia Law (which is inseparable from Islam), has displayed characteristics resembling something similar to a holy society? Or at least something that facilitates the Common Good? Does Sharia support the Culture of Life…?

If so, then maybe Islam as an Ideology could be something that Catholics could embrace -even though it seems completely unnatural (a typical trait amongst Ideologies).
TEPO ~

Have you ever read the Sharia Laws…?
 
إسلام سياسي – Islam should guide social, political, and personal aspects of life… If this is not an Ideology then I don’t k ow what is… This is Islam.
 
By definition, an ideology could mean “the body of doctrine, myth, belief, etc., that guides an individual, social movement, institution, class, or large group.”

I would suggest Islam is both. A religion with many competing and opposing ideologies within it.
Is there a difference between an Islamist and a Muslim?
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamism

Some “movements” known to promote Islamism are: All-India Muslim League, Muslim Brotherhood, Jamaat-e-Islami, Hizb-ut-Tahrir, Iranian Revolution, Islam Hadhari, Millî Görüş, Salafism, Taliban, Hamas, and AKP.
 
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