From: "Stephen DeGiulio" <DEGIULIO-AT-nmsua.nmsu.edu>
Date:          Tue, 11 Aug 1998 19:43:31 MDT
Subject:       Said on Naipaul


Said's point that the role of Christianity in the idiological 
justification for exploitation, colonization, etc. (past and present) 
needs to be highlighted is well taken. But isn't the same just as 
true for Islam? Apart from the trivial (conceptually, that is) 
complication that many Islamic peoples (Arab and "converted") 
were/are colonized/exploited by Christian nations, the process is 
remarkably similiar, and these two knock-off's of Judiasm 
(Christianity and Islam) are guilty of the same "value-added twist"--
the idea that "we" are right, and that gives us the "divine" right to 
rule, punish, consume, etc. all others. This is just not found in 
most ethnic religions, which make up great the bulk of the world's 
religions, large and small--including Hinduism, Judiasm, 
Confuscianism, Taoism, etc. In my experience respect for this 
important fact is uncommon and hard to inspire.
    I haven't read much of Naipaul's two tomes on Islam yet, but, 
judging from the reviews (some, clearly, biased in different ways), 
he seems, astonishingly, to have omitted any analysis of Islam as a 
_religion_, that is, a set of practices which affect individuals.
    Apart from Abdulrazak Gurnah's wonderful novel, "Paradise," 
(comments?) does anyone have suggestions for readings on this theme? 
--the interrelationship between religious practice (or psychological 
technology, or whatever...) and society/politics/history. Thanks
    Stephen D.




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