God’s Lonely Man: Taxi Driver and the Onslaught of Modernity
Has there ever been a film as influential and provocative as Taxi Driver? It may seem a strange choice at first. Even among director Martin Scorcese’s filmography, it is hardly the most acclaimed (Raging Bull, GoodFellas), nor the most controversial (The Last Temptation of Christ, The Wolf of Wall Street). And yet it is Taxi Driver, above all the others, that has struck a nerve … Continue reading God’s Lonely Man: Taxi Driver and the Onslaught of Modernity
An Introduction to Kalam
As the Muslim world once again becomes safe for Madhahib, or Sunni legal schools of thought, the next ‘elephant in the room’ must be addressed: creed. Muslim creed is probably the most hotly debated subject in modern Muslim history. Historically, most debates regarding Muslim creed were between Ahl al-Sunnah wal Jama’ah (Orthodox Sunnis) and heretical groups. Today, the debates focus on who constitutes Ahl al-Sunnah … Continue reading An Introduction to Kalam
The Modern Presence of Shari’ah in English Civil Law
In the spring of 2013, a debate on the legal status of the Shari’ah (Islamic law) in England and Wales took place in the British House of Commons (1). Several issues were brought into question, seemingly in need of further clarity from the then-Conservative party and Liberal Democrat coalition government. Firstly, it was demanded that the government state whether there was only one law in … Continue reading The Modern Presence of Shari’ah in English Civil Law
Scientific Naturalism and the Abortion Debate
Diagnosing Modern Moral Debate Incommensurability, the idea that there is no rational method to weigh claims between two conceptual frameworks, is a core feature of morality today and the source for moral confusion (1). Even though moral positions take the form of logical validity, two competing valid arguments result in an interminability which denies a rational closure to the debate. But why is this so? … Continue reading Scientific Naturalism and the Abortion Debate
Technology as a Mode of Secular-Liberal Theology
“Through all his technical inventions and celebrated innovations, man has made himself useless. In recent years technological progress has been explosive: humanity has been successful in obliterating the roles of producer, refiner, transporter, distributor and serviceman. When we manage to also rid ourselves of the role of the consumer, everything will be over. A clanking of robots for some time; then, only deep silence.” Pentti … Continue reading Technology as a Mode of Secular-Liberal Theology
An Introduction to Postmodernism and its Implications
One of the most convoluted paradigms of thought to emerge throughout recorded intellectual history is postmodernism. Postmodernists themselves take pride in Jacques Derrida’s elusive and difficult writing style, presenting it as a protest against elitist standardization of writing [1]. Derrida is considered the founding father of deconstructionist philosophy and one of the main figureheads of postmodernism. A French Jew born and raised in Algeria, his … Continue reading An Introduction to Postmodernism and its Implications
Rekindling Muslim Scholastic and Spiritual Consciousness
A Book Review of Sea Without Shore by Shaykh Nuh Ha Mim Keller The depth and breadth of the Islamic tradition is beyond comprehension, with countless transformed souls having carried the torch of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ since his passing from the physical world. Technical names for the sciences of Islam based on the Hadith of Jibril took firm grounding, with Islam, Iman, and Ihsan becoming … Continue reading Rekindling Muslim Scholastic and Spiritual Consciousness
Remade in the Vernacular: The BJP’s Right to Dominate Kashmir
Sick men flock here from many lands, And go back home in health; But my own men, racked with hunger and disease, Lie dying on my roads … If Mahjoor, compelled by love, Lays bare some bitter truths, The lovers of my beloved land Should not take it to heart! “Naalay Kashmir,” Mahjoor One of Kashmir’s most beloved poets, Mahjoor began his life as a … Continue reading Remade in the Vernacular: The BJP’s Right to Dominate Kashmir
What’s Missing From Today’s Ethical Mindset?
A Book Review of Prohibitions of the Tongue by Shaykh Muhammad Mawlud Normative ethics across the political and religious spectrum today often relies on rigid application of absolutes. The one who opposes oppression must fight to eradicate every oppressor and never be kind to one. The one who loves must love everyone as they are, revealing not a smidgen of intolerance. The one who cares … Continue reading What’s Missing From Today’s Ethical Mindset?
Can a Nonhumanitarian Ethics Address Economic Inequality?
Revolution, often affected through battered souls ambushed by endless hardship, has taken on a romantic flavor in history classes. The possibility and promises of change through democracy dominates contemporary thinking. We are often taught that affecting upheaval in today’s world requires ideological commitment and hardy political maneuvering. But need revolution be so grand? Maybe change is seeded in the acts so familiar to us in … Continue reading Can a Nonhumanitarian Ethics Address Economic Inequality?
