I've read a great deal about both the Koran and Qutb.
I recommend reading the works themselves if you find the time.
Consider the culture that owes its genesis, its direction, and its results to the Koran.
No such culture exists, PC...
Does the Qur'an
forbid the education of women? Does it relegate you to commodity status as pre-Islamic customs would have? The Qur'an affirms the spiritual equality of man and woman. It prescribed rules for gender relations that liberated women as much as possible without completely upsetting the existent social order - the suggestion that Muhammad intended the specific laws that governed his society to remain in place forever is illogical and at odds with the Qur'an itself. There is nothing in the Qur'an that can be used to justify depriving women of education.
That a university exists in the Islamic world does not mean that it can be used to draw conclusions about the entire religion.
An autocratic and oppressive government can't exist within the framework provided by Qur'anic Islam.
You're severely overestimating the role of the Qur'an's actual teachings in modern Islamic society. Your arguments are based on the misconception that the Qur'an is strictly adhered to by every ass-backward government in the Middle East... I have no idea why you drew this conclusion; it's quite far from the truth.
I brought up Qutb because understanding his ideology is key to understanding the difference between Islam and the un-Islamic abomination adhered to by most radicals today. Qutb was very intelligent. Unfortunately, his handful of astute observations are overshadowed by mountains of his misinterpretations and the abhorrent belief systems that came about as a result of his teachings. I haven't finished Fi Zilal al-Qur'an. There unfortunately aren't enough hours in the day to read everything I'd like to.
The lack of creativity that we see in the Moslem world today is in proportion to the crushing out of individuality by the Koran
There's nothing in the Qur'an that encourages the repression of creativity. If you have evidence that suggests otherwise, please share it.
and the echo of same in works of maniacs like Qutb. Doesn't he demonize individuality, or in the term he likes to use, 'desires,' in "Milestones"?
Qutb demonizes all deviation from his belief system.
Your defense is, in general, diaphanous.
But pleasant.
Now, the part about crushing individuality is of particular interest to me. And, like all totalist cults, including Communism and Nazism, both of which have contributed to radical Islam, your friend Qutb as a case in point, all forms of human attributes which also include desires, pleasures, love, and affection for a particular person are all anathema to Islam, as the only attachment must be to Allah (pbu).
These forms of individuality are the hallmark of Western culture.
Moslem culture practices various forms of gender apartheid, the most obvious is the full body covering in female dress. Enforced to a ridiculous degree:
“Saudi Arabia's religious police stopped schoolgirls from leaving a blazing building because they were not wearing correct Islamic dress, according to Saudi newspapers… hindering attempts to save 15 girls who died in the fire on Monday”
BBC News | MIDDLE EAST | Saudi police 'stopped' fire rescue
Men's dress is similarly restricted. Individuality?
This, of course, to prevent physical attraction.
And to prevent full bonding even in marriage? Why, polygamy of course. And the total ease of divorce.
Interesting, isn't it, that the freedom that women enjoy is directly proportional to how Islamic the country is- take Turkey, Morocco, and Indonesia as examples.
Women are assumed to be inferior (Sura 2:28) In a hadith, Mohammad is quoted as saying women are deficient in mind, hence they need not be educated.
Women who express individuality must face the repercussions of Sura 4:34- beatings.
And the creativity of art and literature is stunted, outside of the magnificent geometric patterns found in mosques. No representational art is allowed.
And, I don't believe that I have overestimated the extent to which the Koran influences the society- in the more restrictive on the Moslem nations.
"unfortunately aren't enough hours in the day to read everything I'd like to."
A lovely sentiment. I wish more people felt that way.
