Re: Islamic Economics
- From: DKleinecke <dkleinecke@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 14:43:16 -0500
On Mar 30, 12:26 pm, "Zuiko Azumazi" <zuiko.azum...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"DKleinecke" <dkleine...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
This was getting too long so I snipped all but the points I want to
respond to
You are still confused about the cognitive difference between secularized
conventional economics and the religion of Islam (or any other religion for
that matter) in this thread you initiated. Why do you continue to conflate
the various "economic systems and values" that have existed throughout all
recorded history and the recent idea of "economics as a science"?
I wasn't the one who started the idea of an Islamic economics. That
was invented by and is propagated by Muslims. All I am trying to do
is to point out that it is not what it pretends to be. It is not a
theory of economics - it is a mode of accomodation that Muslims have
devised that allows them to take part in modern economic activity
without opting out of Islam.
As such, it presupposes modern economic theory. It cannot be used as
an alternative theory.
I don't conflate modern economic theory with other modes of comment on
economic matters. I oppose them. I did not mention astrology lightly.
People, including philosophers and theologians, have made statements
about economic matters for time immemorial. But they have done nothing
much about them. The matter is similar to the weather. Famously people
talk about the weather but do nothing about it. But in recent years we
have done something. All the old talk about the weather is obsolete.
As is all the old talk about economy.
But nothing religious hinges on the weather (there are a few hadith
describing weather-based matters that are just as well forgotten -
nobody cares about them anyway). Islam does want to control economic
activity to a very large extent. Currently that desire, it seems to
me, is doing nothing but increasing hypocrisy in the Islamic world.
The specific hypocrisy I am pointing to is the invention of ways to
circumvent a perceived prohibition on taking interest on money. I
would hope for something better.
The laws of secular economics should be accepted by an Islamic
economics in the same vein that the laws of physics hold true for all
countries and social systems. ..." [Zarqa]
The only reservation I would have to agreeing with that statement (I
assume Zarqa intends to disagree in the part not quoted) is that I
think the "laws" of secular economics are not very well formulated. I
think they should be taken with a grain of salt - secular salt, of
course.
As a practising Christian, would you then dismissively say: "To a
contemporary economic theorist this is all prehistory - the economic
equivalent of astrology."?
Of course I would. The popes, many of them, have been lecturing us for
years on the evils of capitalism. They are no longer creditable
because all they ever do is view with alarm and the economic
activities of the Catholic Church are so much like a modern business
that the pose of opposing capitalism is generally viewed as one more
Catholic hypocrisy. And, when genuine reforms are suggested, the
church is almost always opposed to them. As keeps happening over and
over in Latin America.
I assume that we can soon expect an Islamic equivalent to the
prosperity gospel. The idea being that Allah wants us all to be rich
and all we have to do is pray (and give a small donation for the
upkeep of the mosque) and Allah will reward you with wealth. In the
long fight between wealth and salvation it appears that wealth is
still winning - in Islam and in Christendom.
.
- Follow-Ups:
- Re: Islamic Economics
- From: Altway
- Re: Islamic Economics
- Next by Date: Re: At least 48 people killed in suicide bombing at mosque in Pakistan
- Next by thread: Re: Islamic Economics
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
