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Islamic Identity in the US: Reza Aslan

Commonwealth Club
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sinbad66 Avatar
sinbad66
Posts: 1
Posted: 09.04.09, 06:32 AM
enjoyed! learned a little. thanks
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James Allen Holder Avatar
James Allen Holder
Posts: 8
Posted: 09.04.09, 07:53 PM
I enjoyed this very much, but I have to quibble with a few things. Reza Aslan forgets that Muslim Americans are not the only "Other" in America- there are Latin Americans, GLBTQ Americans, Atheists, etc. Indeed, he is too willing to pass over the inherent and continuing racial problems in the United States. But again, over all very good.
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danthemango Avatar
danthemango
Posts: 6
Posted: 09.05.09, 12:36 AM
couldn't be any more true.
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MTGRAY Avatar
MTGRAY
Posts: 102
Posted: 09.10.09, 10:12 AM
Think about this 78% christ things is a false claim. when does any religious creatures ever tell the the truth.
when he say's our history"excuse me" but american history does not belong to the newcomers such the 5 generation
americans. this speaker is a nile and has nothing to offer!.
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rkm Avatar
rkm
Posts: 10
Posted: 09.10.09, 10:42 AM
He's wrong. Language and culture is what divides us, not religion. Religion divides groups of countries or continents. No christian has to go to church on a regular basis in order to satisfy Aslan's definition. By saying "christian", he is combining Catholic, Baptist, Mormon, Anglican, etc. all into one convenient group, christian. It took centuries for these sects to evolve and now he has genericized christianity. I don't agree and I'm not even a bible thumper...
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Malcolm MacLeod,MD Avatar
Malcolm MacLeod,MD
Posts: 9
Posted: 09.10.09, 06:22 PM
Very good and clear talk, Dr. Aslam. I do, however, find it a shame that religion has anyhing
to do with nation image. Some of us have no religion, nor do we desire any. I'm a native
born American, but I really consider myself more of a Scot. I enjoyed your lecture.
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Athanora Avatar
Athanora
Posts: 7
Posted: 09.11.09, 10:05 AM
I agree completely with the comment of RKM. Sorry, but I think this gentleman's presentation is a bit ridiculous.
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Caity Avatar
Caity
Posts: 1
Posted: 09.11.09, 09:08 PM
What I believe Reza is saying is that people tend to genericize Islam as well, when it is in fact, a very diverse and far from monolithic faith. I'm absolutely sure he understands the differences among the many denominations of Christianity and would never consider it monolithic, so his point is that it's a shame that more people don't understand that Islam is just as nuanced.
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Tungsten Avatar
Tungsten
Posts: 1
Posted: 09.22.09, 04:18 PM
rkm and Athonora, Caity is correct. Islam and Muslim are essentially shorthand (or superclass) for Sunni, Shia, Druze, etc. just like Christianity and Christian are shorthand (or superclass) Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran, etc.

Not recognizing that kind of misses the point.
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TheDude Avatar
TheDude
Posts: 11
Posted: 09.24.09, 03:16 AM
Loved it and I have to admit my bias: I especially liked the credit given to the mid west with a desire to seek understanding. The coastal areas already know, LOL! Too true Reza, Too true!
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