Questions

Sudden and too rapid importation of foreign ideas into a society can cause severe disruption and alienation. The society is then polarized into hostile cultural camps, a situation that encourages the resort to force to either ´modernize´ or ´traditionalize´. Where public consensus no longer exists, coercion cannot create it; it creates instead deeper divisions and conflicts within the society. The only way to avoid such disorder is to acknowledge the common, shared inheritance of the past, to move forward from a shared inheritance of the past, to move forwad from a shared faith towards properly understood and acceptable change. ´Acceptable´ change is the kind of change which remembers and honours the past rather than crudely denying it. Moving ´forward´ means embracing and dealing it. Moving ´forward´ means embracing and dealing with the questions and doubts people have, rather than simply accusing or dismissing them. This book is a first stage in trying to think through ´modern´ thoughts and questions in the light of values and beliefs which demand a future as well as a past. 33 searching and thought-provoking questions carefully answered. A brief sample: How did Islam deal with the institution of slavery? What is Prophethood? What does it mean for people? Was the civilization of Islam a sort of imperialism? What is the relationship between modern scientific knowledge and the Qur´an? What were the reasons behind the several marriages of the Prophet Muhammed, upon him be peace? Some people enjoy in this world wealth and success, others suffer poverty and affliction: What is the meaning behind such differences? (Arka Kapak)