Islam, Catholicism, and the Secular: A Conversation with José Casanova and Abdolkarim Soroush

For more on this event, please visit: bit.ly/16fyhMa
For more on the Berkley Center, visit: berkleycenter.g...
January 14, 2008 | Two leading contemporary thinkers, José Casanova and Abdolkarim Soroush, explored the role of religion in politics in a public conversation on Tuesday, January 15. The event looked to address the central contemporary challenge of how to create and maintain open, democratic societies in a globalizing world marked by growing cultural and religious pluralism. Both scholars have joined the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University: Casanova as a Senior Fellow and Professor of Sociology, and Soroush as a Fellow and Visiting Scholar. Berkley Center Director Tom Banchoff moderated the conversation.
The event explored the following questions:
What is the proper relationship between religious and secular knowledge and authority?
What tensions exist between religious traditions and communities, on the one hand, and the secular institutions of state, law, democracy, and markets, on the other?
With the worldwide resurgence of religion in politics and society these questions have taken on greater urgency. They link back to old theoretical debates but also point to a central contemporary challenge: how to create and maintain open, democratic societies in a globalizing world marked by growing cultural and religious pluralism. The challenge is particularly acute for Catholic Christianity and for Islam, which have traditionally supported a prominent role for religion in public affairs.
Participants:
José Casanova
Abdolkarim Soroush

[@Cyberphunkisms]

this was such an amzing conversation

[@Cyberphunkisms]

44:00 what about fitnah

[@bzharali4768]

💐💐💐

[@نیام]

کاش زیر نویس فارسی داشت

[@bayreuth79]

Ash'arism isn't an irrational understanding of Islam; its the recognition of the inherent limitations of rationalism. Ghazali, who was the greatest Ash'ari, used reason to oppose the rationalists, such as Ibn Sina; Ash'arism isn't the abnegation of reason.

[@pinogonzales6304]

Simply stated; Islam is a religion that began as a spiritual (Mecca) religion and mixed itself with secular Politics and Military law's and practices. Islam took it's original faith and introduced secular Politics and Military (Medina) laws and practices which was instrumental in the growth and expansion of Islam. Not so with Catholicism. Catholicism began as a religion set apart from Politics and military influences. Catholicism divine revelation teaches, that the Kingdom of God is not of this world. History records that the Catholic church suffered persecution by Jews and secular Roman political powers. When these secular persecuted laws against Catholicism were lifted. It was from this historical point, that the Catholic Church begins to resist secular powers and military influences into the Catholic faith. History records as the Catholic Church evangelized pagans and unbelievers, it is from these new converts who possessed secular powers begin to influence the hierarchy members of the Church. Notice I said "members" not the Catholic Faith. When the Catholic Church in all of her history during peaceful and war times, she vied to prevent secular powers from infecting the Catholic Faith. Today, Peter's Chair, the Bishop of Rome is free once again from secular powers and military influences. For one, it is never the Catholic Faith to mix her faith with secular powers and military influences, in fact it is heretical for the Catholic faith to prostitute herself with secular powers. So for this discussion to make comparisons between Catholicism and Islam is a false dichotomy. The Catholic Church's goal is to save souls and convert hearts and minds towards the One Creator God. Islam's goal is to convert the world to Islam either by peaceful means or forceful means. What our commentators are trying to compare between Islam and Catholicism is false. Islam's religious faith mixes itself with secular political and military. Islam moves through history to conquer the world with these secular political powers with a military force. Whereby Catholicism moves through history resisting the secular political powers from infecting the faith. Catholic faith has not changed since her founded Jesus Christ builds her. Yes, she has failed many times in history in secular circles, but her faith has not changed a lover of peace. Islam is a contradiction to the foundation of Catholicism.

[@hafizshams8733]

Islam is NOT religion. Alislam is Deen.

[@edwardtamrasi531]

kire hame asbhaye donya too kose zan wa madare soroosh, sepah, basij, hezbolahiha,akhoondha, eslam wa ghoran.shoma hame tokhme shaytanid.

[@arminyousefiii72]

Chera?

[@fahnikan]

Please don't invite people who created Islamic Republic of Iran and themselves enjoying a life in the west while the Iranians are suffering because of their "brilliant" thoughts.

[@hamednegahbanfard4089]

he himself is one of the suffered as well