[plug][still OT] Muslim Xmas

[Shayne O'Neill]

Yeah.
The caveat with islam is that they *detest* "idolatry. Essentially
iconism. So although for instance they have a pretty high place
in the religeon for JC, they don't like the statues etc. Christmass
celebration
is fine, but the imagry kinda bugs em.

The odd thing, is if you read the bible, it says precisely the same thing.
Ten commandments;- No graven images.

The big chasm happening with islam has its roots about 150-200 years
and the rise of the Wahibi(sp?) sect. Basically previously to that the
big tradition in Islam was whats refered to as "reasoned struggle".
Essentially
a scholarly aproach to the religeon. Much of the theology was strongly
aristotlean
with a muslim-y edge to it. However the Wahibi sect rejecected this and felt
that all the stuff that had happened since mohammed died was crap and tried
to go to a strict strict strict Quoran reading. That meant rejecting the
thoughts
of the disciples and all the philosopher dudes afterwoods.

Unfortunately this , somewhat Saudi , take is on the march and when you look
at
the conflicts that have happened , it's really not islam vs west, it's
Wahibi vs Sunni/Shi'ite etc.
Thus the loopy talisban doing its rampages and ethnicly clensing the
iranians, and trying to attack
sadam (pre gulf war). It's also the reason why the US assertion that Osama's
been hanging out
with these guys. Realistically Osama would like nothing more than the
Suni(or is it Shi'i'te?) Iranians
and the secular Iraqis to bugger off..

rant.

Hope santa bought you all good toys.
Cheers,
Shayne.