In Poul Anderson's "A Message in Secret," Altaians profess a Moslem-Buddhist synthesis. When visiting a large, Cathedral-sized, Mosque in London, it occurred to me that Muslims and Buddhists would be able to practice in a single chamber simultaneously, Muslims standing, kneeling and prostrating on the floor towards the centre of the room whilst Buddhists sat around the sides of the room facing the wall. But this would be simultaneous practice, not theoretical synthesis. It could be done to economize on space. Unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future.
7 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And that scenario is totally implausible, given the hostility Islam has for all other faiths, esp. for those Muslims call "idolators." It was Muslims who disgracefully destroyed the monumental Buddha statues in Afghanistan not that many years ago. And Muslims and Hindus still periodically slaughter each other in India over the sites of temples/mosques they claim rightfully belongs to one or the other.
While perhaps not theoretically impossible, I've more than once thought that Muslim/Buddhist synthesis on Altai a strain to accept. Also, given the part Russian background of the Altaians, shouldn't Russian Orthodox Christianity been prominent there? Roughly half of Altaians could have been Christians and the remainder Buddhists.
Even so, here we see Anderson taking religious beliefs in the future more seriously than too many other SF writers.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
During the occupation of a public square in the Arab Spring, Christians guarded Muslims praying and vice versa. Everything depends on context. Beliefs and practices do not exist as abstractions.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Of course, but there are not enough Muslims like that. Christians are still persecuted and oppressed in countries like Egypt.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
That is one reason why revolutionary change is necessary in Egypt as in a lot of other places.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I strongly doubt any revolutionary changes, in the better senses of that word, will occur in any countries where Islam has long dominated. Any changes for the better, in Muslim countries, will probably happen only if a majority in those countries converts to Christianity or Judaism. That would break the death grip Islam has on them.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
In my opinion, necessary changes will come from people of different religions or none recognizing their common economic and social interests and acting accordingly. For example, it is not in the interests of most of the population to support heavily armed governments that periodically bombard and devastate each other's territories.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
And I don't believe that will happen. Peoples with passionately held beliefs will act accordingly, including having massively armed gov'ts. We live in a Warring States era a la what China saw as the Chou Dynasty declined. Rival powers will struggle and fight till one of them, or an alliance of states, emerges triumphant and on top.
Ad astra! Sean
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