I’ve noticed that some people from other religions frequent this page. I was wondering what direct solutions their religions give on how to solve human problems such as homelessness, poverty, disease, etc.
I don't think that there are many people from other religions who visit this page of 'religious affairs'. I wish they do. That will broaden the scope of philosophical discussion, for those who are interested in it (I am not).
If people from other religions talk about their religion, that is perfectly within the scope of this page.
Now about human problems, religious people can argue that you are asking a wrong question. Goal of religion is to make a human being a better person and not rich or whatever. So why ask religion to reduce poverty.
On the other hand, I agree with you. ALL religions have shown their inability to solve human problems.
Hmm PG, let me see...I agree with you - and disagree too!
Agreed that religions do not deal with daily life - they are secular in nature and thus do not bring solutions to issues like poverty.
Islam, however, is not a religion, but a 'deen', a way of life, an ideology. I say this because it is not a secular religion but gives us guidelines/directions on how to deal with economics, the social system, politics, business, etc.
It thus presents a real solution to the issue of poverty through its taxation and distribution system. Unfortunately though, there are no 'muslim' countries today which actually practise Islam in its entirety as a system - so looking to muslim countries today one had a tendency to blame Islam and say that Islam does not present a solution to these problems, whereas it does - the solution is just not being practised at this moment in time.
What is perfect Islamic political system.
Does it mean democracy?
What if democratically elected people are not really following Islamic policy maybe because of ignorance. Does it mean clergies who know Islam well can over rule the rulings of democratically elected people. Does it essentially mean clergy-rule. But then clergies can be unnecessrily powerful without being accountable to people and as we know clergies can often be bought to give theocratic support to whatever you want to say. They can be used to suppress opposition using fatwas and all that.
What economic system is envisaged? In Islam, as someone remarked there is nolaw making only law finding. So you find laws looking for how Prophet tried to solve various issues. How will Islamic state react on genetic engineering, patent laws, intellectual property rights, privatization and so on?
No, I don't believe that the Islamic system is democratic. The only common point among the two systems is that the leader is elected by the people. However, the laws are not made or changed according to the whims/desires of the people, but according to Allah's (swt) law.
The Islamic system is neither a system run by the clergy, as there is no such hierarchy in Islam.
When you mention such important issues as genetic engineering, patent laws, etc. Islam solves these problems by making Ijtihad and deducing solutions according to rules of Islamic jurisprudence.
I would recommend visiting www.khilafah.com if you are interested in reading/learning more about the Islamic State.
I have visited that site. It is full of crapy
Assalam Alaikum
PG,
I have to agree with Special2, Islam is not a religion. Islam has solutions for these problems.
Islam is not democratic and to rule by anything other than Islam is shirk.
Those questions that you posed about Genetic eng. etc. Why don't you try asking a scholar what the opinion on those issues is.
Assalam Alaikum