"A Liberal Islam: is it possible?" (freethoughtvlog #24)

The Islam is a hot topic. Is there such a thing as a 'Liberal Islam'? Dutch MP Boris van der Ham reads from the works of the Egyptian freethinker Abu Zaid, who just died this year. Because of his liberal religious views he was under attack of orthodox Muslims. He fled his country and went to the free world. But also freethinkers, atheists and secularists didn't aprove his idea of a liberal Islam. Are they right?

Since 2010 Dutch MP Van der Ham has a weekly 'freethinking video blog' (vrijzinnige lezing) in Dutch on YouTube. Every month he does one in english. He reads from an inspiring work of freethinkers from present and past.

For future english versions you can follow Freethoughtvlog on twitter: @freethoughtvlog and at freethoughvlog.com

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De islam is al tijden een 'hot topic'. Kan er eigenlijk zoiets bestaan als een 'liberale islam'? Boris van der Ham leest deze week uit het werk van de dit jaar overleden Egyptische vrijdenker Abu Zaid. Vanwege van zijn liberale religieuze opvattingen krijg hij grote problemen met orthodoxe moslims. Zo erg zelfs, dat hij zijn land verliet en asiel vroeg in Nederland en ging werken aan de Leidse universiteit. Opvallend was dat ook vrijdenkers, atheïsten en secularisten ziin idee van een liberale islam afvielen. Terecht?

Voor de derde keer een engelse versie van de Vrijzinnige lezing! Sinds 1 januari 2010 publiceert Van der Ham wekelijks 'vrijzinnige lezingen' op o.a. vrijzinnig.com, www.joop.nl en youtube. Met de videoblogs wil hij de geschiedenis schetsen van het vrije denken. Wat zeggen oude teksten over de vraagstukken over onze tijd, en kunnen ze verdieping geven aan onze vrije samenleving?

Technische hulp in de studio: Sanne van Oosten

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[LeSueurJames]

I have the last interview filmed with with Nasr Abu Zayd, which I filmed for a documentary that includes him. I'll post part of it soon.

[Borisvdham]

@LeSueurJames very good!

[MrBjrellul]

A liberal Islam that's a funny though religion is the enemy of free thought and Shuld be banned world wide befour we have another 9 11 or world war 3

[Skoda130]

@Borisvdham What's wrong with beïng anti-religious? Religious people often are cclear enough about the atheïst position. Why shouldn't atheïsts be clear as well?

[Skoda130]

@akenosskamp Beïng enlightened has everything to do with not taking your religion too seriously. "Secularized" or "liberalized" religion in the end means "less religion".

[raiki00008]

@hempartist420 you said that the Universe doesn't need a Creator. But why? And I want to hear the answer from you please.

[raiki00008]

@hempartist420 So, everthing, except the Universe, has a "Creator"? Is this what you mean?

[raiki00008]

@hempartist420 books were just examples. It's not about logic, it's about the fact that there IS need for a Creator, for example a book. Am I right? Everything needs a "Creator". A book, a building etc.

[raiki00008]

@hempartist420 First of all, I already know almost everything about evolution so don't worry about that. Second, I'm not a creationist. Third, Universe has no Creater you say, and it looks very normal and smart for you. But why is it idiot to believe that a Book doesn't have a writer. It's just the same thing.;

[raiki00008]

@hempartist420 natural selection is another aspect, what I'm asking is, what/who or whatever is the Creator of the Universe. Not natural selection right :) And, as far as I know, evolution has not been proved at macro scale right? Only at micro scale. Or am I wrong? And if it is yes, could you send the link of this site, or the link for this research please?

[raiki00008]

@hempartist420 it's not about the theories, what I want to know is what do YOU believe. The First: “Causes create this.” The Second: “It forms itself; it comes into existence and later ceases to exist.” The Third: “It is natural; Nature necessitates and creates it.” Since reason can find no way apart from these three(exc. believing in God), right? So which one do YOU believe, the first one, the second one or the third one?

[raiki00008]

@hempartist420 So, how are we created then?