FORA.tv

Watch, Shout, Share

Not a member?  Register Now >>
 
NO ADS + DOWNLOADS + HQ VIEWING
NEW! FORA.tv Plus Membership Join Now >>

From Fatwa to Jihad: The Rushdie Affair

The Institute of Ideas
Rate It
6,165 Views
  • Info
  • Bio
  • Chapters
  • Highlights
  • Transcript
  • Download
  • Britannica
  • More
Daily Meanderings Avatar
Daily Meanderings
Posts: 0
Posted: 01.13.09, 08:09 AM
This is the exact same thing that happened during the Third Reich. The Nazi's threatened everyone till the people started self censoring themselves and we all know what the Nazi's then went on to do.
Permalink
justgroovy Avatar
justgroovy
Posts: 1
Posted: 01.15.09, 09:36 AM
You know people like this that have such a little regard for technical scholarship really tick me off. I can only address this issue of literalism from the Christian perspective, and in doing so must ask a question of Mr. Malik.

Why in the world would the Hebrew scribes and later the Christian monks take such great care in accurately copying the scriptures, making sure that every "jot and tittle" were transcribed, if the literal content of the scriptures was not treasured and revered from the beginning?

Faith and belief, based on understanding the scriptures from a literalistic viewpoint, is what has sustained the Church over the centuries. If some of the bible is open to interpretation or revisionism then it all is, and our faith is built upon nothing more substantial than a pyramid of playing cards, waiting for the next gust of wind to destroy it.

There are parts of the truth revealed in scripture that make me uncomfortable and that I struggle to incorporate in my life. That doesn't make the Bible wrong; it makes me needy of its corrective wisdom.
Permalink
ruiz1707 Avatar
ruiz1707
Posts: 17
Posted: 01.15.09, 11:14 PM
well said Justgroovy!
Permalink
Geoffrey W Avatar
Geoffrey W
Posts: 1
Posted: 01.21.09, 03:19 PM
"Why in the world would the Hebrew scribes and later the Christian monks take such great care in accurately copying the scriptures, making sure that every "jot and tittle" were transcribed, if the literal content of the scriptures was not treasured and revered from the beginning?"

The literalism of, for instance, modern Evangelical Christianity is different from the kind of "literalism" of the Christian monks and Hebrew scribes. (Or, for that matter, Muslim clerics and scholars.) One need only go to the writings of those monks to see that, although the words were preserved and respected, there were myriad interpretations that were respected. (And many, of course, that were decried as heretical.)

For instance, the modern interpretation of Genesis which goes by the term "Six Day Creationism" was around 4th century. We know this because Augustine--a Saint in the Catholic Church and a major influence on Calvin and Luther--complained about their lack of learning and scholarship. Through science it was obvious even in his day that the earth was older than the Six Day Creationists claimed.

If you don't think that interpretation was valued among the Jews even prior to the rise of Christianity, read Philo.

I agree that it is not mere disconnection from a religious community that results in literalism; it must be something else. More likely, I think it's an inappropriate (and probably unconscious) adoption of scientific idioms and modes of speaking in Biblical interpretation.

Rejection by Protestants of an organization like the Church which has the authority to regulate doctrine may also play a role; the notion that if a single fact in the Bible is shown to be wrong, the entire faith collapses, is alien to the Catholic way of thinking, because the Bible is NOT the entire basis for the faith, but Tradition is. Strictly speaking, I think this is the case for Protestants as well, though they usually don't realize it. Protestants rely on Tradition, for instance, when proclaiming God to be Triune or when excluding certain books from the Biblical canon.
Permalink
Shafa Avatar
Shafa
Posts: 1
Posted: 08.06.09, 05:16 AM
I want to know on what basis he thinks the book wasn't banned in Iran? I lived in Iran at the time and even discussing the book wasn't possible. you could end up in jail. please update your sources.
Permalink
Please log in or register to post a comment.
Advertisement
NO ADS + DOWNLOADS + HQ VIEWING
UPGRADE TO FORA.tv PLUS
JOIN NOW >>

Related Programs

Uncommon Knowledge: Andrew Klavan Uncommon Knowledge: Andrew Klavan
00:39:22 min | 8,667 Views
Stephen Singular Investigates FLDS Polygamists Stephen Singular Investigates FLDS Polygamists
01:01:11 min | 48,046 Views
Geoffrey Nunberg: Talking Right Geoffrey Nunberg: Talking Right
00:56:26 min | 1,893 Views
Gwen Ifill: The Breakthrough Gwen Ifill: The Breakthrough
01:00:39 min | 5,885 Views
Violence & the Left in Dark Times: A Debate Violence & the Left in Dark Times: A Debate
01:57:05 min | 19,721 Views

Browse Programs by Tag

Arts Books Climate Change Computing Conflict Credit Crunch Defense Economic Policy Education Election 2008 Emerging Markets Energy Entertainment Entrepreneurship Environment Food Globalization Health & Wellness Healthcare History International Relations Internet Investing Journalism Law Marketing Medicine Music Muslim World Natural Sciences New Media Personal Technology Philanthropy Religion Social Issues Social Sciences Sustainability Terrorism U.S. Foreign Policy White House 2009

Advertisement