>>>Culture optimal For Each specific Group vs One's own culture is optimal for every other group
>
>muslims (as we say in that
>article about the christians witnessing
>on the streets to muslims)
>will teach their ideology when
>needed, or like you expose
>others to their culture/ideology based
>on law from the infallible
>scripture.


>
>never have i seen zen monks/
>taosist/ or afrikan teachers just
>going out and "teaching all
>nations" about their way in
>the same way. its more
>along the lines of "figure
>it out for yourslef" or
>"if you want to learn,
>come, and i'll teach"

the problem w/the mentioned method (go for self) is:
"their way" is subject to ALL TYPES of interpretataions when they just leave a brother/sister hanging like that.

and then when they do that, and they come to you w/it, they get jumped on. see-my post (prob. deleted, but you remember) where im trying to learn something about "afrakan ways" based on WESTERN THINKING AND METHODOLOGY.

rather, the muslims straight up tell you about islam, and then let you use your own standards to judge it.

the second method (come ill teach), is used by the muslims too.
but sometimes, we tell before we are asked. and that is to relieve the burden (not in a negative sense) that Allah places on us-propagate and then go about your business, but do not impose islam on anyone.
2:256 Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.

>
>
>>>Holistic/internal (self-knowledge) vs Empiricism/External
>
>-The need for INFALLIBLE SCRIPTURE.
>
>knowing based on one's own understanding
>instead of using a RIGID
>ideology (tradition adhered to without
>question and without ability to
>adapt)

see above to the first method used by_________


>Do you think that islam is
>fluid? from what i gather
>many questions already have answers
>in the texts.

well in fact they dont. new situations arise everyday that have to dealt w/. but they have to be saught out in a certain manner. and that manner is: check w/ Allah first, then the traditions of muhammad, then the companions, then the scholars of islam. and they are many more ways to overcome a situation, but it has to be dealt w/ within the framework of islam.
if any muslims can put this in example form, please do. my mind is at a blank.


and personally
>that has always been a
>problem to me, in that
>if one doesn't have ALL
>encompassing understanding of ALL texts,
>then one will submit to
>ideas one has not come
>across BASED SOLELY on the
>adherence to other ideas. example:
>if i believe the fundamentals
>and have faith in them,
>then i will believe any
>other information i come across
>in my studies based on
>the fact that i accept
>the first teachings.

i think you left some "no's and not's" out in this one.
or either i just didnt understand. try me again, please.
>
>what happens if the teaching is
>not applicable with the situation/times?
>i know the koran says something
>of this,

the teaching is ALWAYS applicable. hasnt it been for the last 1400 years? im not doing a whole lot diff than the first practitioners of islam in its final form.

but i'd like
>to hear your thoughts, not
>allah's. reason being, the mentality
>of any convert is especially
>interesting to me. specifically the
>reasoning they used to adopt
>something that was once foreign
>to them.

not trying to be funny or smart, but look within YOURSELF at why you adopted something that was "inherent" but "once foreign" to YOU.

if you are referring specifically to me and islam, well.
the reasoning is the same as it was when you asked the last time: the status quo was not working, so lets get something better. who knows, if i lived somewhere like atl where there is alot of cultural diversity, i mighta been down w/ you and your cause and way of life.
but i was in good ol columbus w/ hardly no cultural diversity (outward display anyway) for me to be exposed to.
Allah guided me to islam, b/c i wanted to BE GUIDED. i did enough of guiding myself, so it was time to let myself be free from self motivated actions, and do something for the one whom i owe evreything to.
so i did, and HE tripled my blessings!

alhamdulillahi rabb al 'aalameen!!!

if this (why i converted) is not good enough, get specific w/ me, and i will try, insha'allah to explain specifically.

subhakallahumma wabihamdika ashhadu anla ilaha illa anta astaghfiruka wa attuubu ilaika