Back in the late 90s, when I was studying at Dalhousie University, I signed up for a course on comparative religion, not just because it would fulfil some credit requirements but also because I was quite interested in learning about religions (and religion in general). In fact, I’d been on my own personal spiritual quest since I was in primary school. Yes, for some reason, when other kids were out playing hockey, I was sitting in my room pondering the meaning of life and the nature of God. Well, okay, I was also reading Batman comics. But I’m sure even there I searched for meaning. I searched everywhere.
The teacher of the comparative religion class gave us a book assignment: A History of God by Karen Armstrong. The way Armstrong stripped the Judeo-Christian tradition down to its origins and bare essentials fascinated me. I was also fascinated by her accounts of the beginnings of Islam, which to that point had been a strange, foreign, inaccessible religion to me. I was struck in particular by the spiritual frustrations of the Muslim theologian Al-Ghazzali and identified with him on some level.
Long after finishing that class, I went through that book again, each time finding something new, which would prompt me to read other books, which would send me back to that one, where I would find something else new. My own religious views were taking shape; what was surprising even to me was that I was beginning to lean toward Islam, or at least something like it.
My conversion to Islam didn’t come until after I began a relationship with Leen; some people might assume I converted in order to marry a Muslim girl. However, that was not quite the case. My conversion—or reversion, as some prefer to call it—was the result of many years of deep reflection. Karen Armstrong had a small but important role in my spiritual awakening.
Fast forward to last Saturday. I attended Dr. Karen Armstrong’s lecture at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Saturday morning and was just excited afterwards as I’d been since hearing she’d be speaking here in Malaysia. The excitement in that ballroom was palpable, and plenty of people turned up to experience it, including former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and current Foreign Minister Dato Seri Dr. Syed Hamid Albar. There were also bloggers/writers/etc. such as Dina Zaman and Eric Forbes, and of course Tun’s daughter, Marina Mahathir, as well as Farish Noor and Kam Raslan—or maybe it was Karim Raslan, I can never tell them apart. Anyway, that was who I could recognise from my little spot in the back row.
I was going to write a long post about the details of her lecture but I spent most of my free time between Saturday and today playing with my kid; as much as I like Karen Armstrong, my kid is way cuter and way easier to pick up and carry around. So the accounts of other bloggers will have to suffice. I think the best place to go for a fairly comprehensive look at Dr. Armstrong’s talk that day is Sharon Bakar’s blog, which is interesting because Sharon wasn’t even there (that’s how plugged-in she is!).
All I’ll say about the talk itself is:
1. Karen Armstrong is brilliant.
2. The first few people who got up to ask questions didn’t really ask questions at all, which was annoying.
3. However, some of the questions were interesting and provoked even more interesting responses. I especially liked the bit where Dr. Armstrong replied to a question on some of her books being banned by asking if Malaysians’ faith was so weak that reading certain books would send them into a ‘black spin’.
4. I was kind of dissapointed that the guy in the robe and turban didn’t get a chance to speak. I was curious to hear what he would say. Unfortunately some big guy who said he was from London practically tore the microphone from right in front of him and slurred on and on about whatever. Anyway, now I know that the guy in the turban—who was very patient, even when the big fella cut in front of him—was Ustaz Uthman el-Muhammady, who Dina says is a very interesting person; now I’m really disappointed that he never had a chance to speak.
5. I’ll say it again: Karen Armstrong is brilliant. People who dismiss her views—both non-Muslim and Muslim—would do well to pay attention to and reflect on the things she says. It’s funny: because she is objective and not hostile towards Islam she is often accused of being an apologist for Islam and of resorting to shoddy scholarship to defend it. On the other hand, some Muslims don’t seem like her because they misinterpret her objective analysis of Islam as criticism of it, made all the worse by the fact that she is not a Muslim, hence why would they bother listening to her anyway? Well, they should. Her writing is balanced and insightful.
After the talk I got in line with several other people who were hoping Dr. Armstrong would sign copies of her various books. It was funny because several of those people were standing there holding books that are banned in Malaysia, and merely possessing them could land someone in real trouble. My thoroughly dog-eared and much-written-in copy of A History of God was missing in action (I think a friend borrowed it a couple of years back), but I had with me a copy of another book by Dr. Armstrong, Islam: A Short History. After some interesting conversation with a nice man named Faisal, it was my turn to meet Dr. Armstrong. It was fantastic being able to tell her in person that she was a big influence on me. She signed my book, we exchanged small-talk, and I got a picture. Woo-hoo!
Afterwards I had lunch with Azlin and Tariq at KLCC’s renovated food court, then we went to Starbucks for coffee and bitching. Not that I had much to bitch about that day. Not at all, really…but conversations with Tariq are always interesting anyway; it was good-natured bitching.
Later I was in a taxi, on my way from the Kajang commuter station to my apartment in Sungai Chua. The driver had brought along a fellow taxi driver, perhaps for company. As we drove along, the extra passenger leaned forward and asked me where I was from. Then he asked me what I thought of Malaysia, and I gave him the usual response, something about the weather. Then he asked about my religion; when I told him I’m a Muslim, he started a long tirade about how horrible Muslims are, how George Bush is a hero, and how Jesus Christ is the one true God, and how he’s coming back to teach us all a thing or two. The guy went on and on and was practically spitting as he spoke, leaning forward every minute or so to say ‘no offense to you’ or something silly like that. I just kept smiling and fought the urge to get into a debate. In most cases like this, as with many cases online, there’s little point to debate. In his rant he actually brought up a valid point or two, but he wouldn’t listen to any of my polite objections. Before we reached my place I turned to the guy and asked him, ‘Do you consider yourself to be a good example of a Christian? The type of person a Christian should be?’
‘Of course!’ he said, spitting again. I guess I can’t balme him for that. The spitting, I mean. He was missing a lot of teeth.
I was still shaking my head when I got out of the taxi, but with a smile on my face. This is indeed an interesting country when it comes to religion. I’m planning to write about the issue of religious freedom in Malaysia very soon. Anyway, hopefully Karen Armstrong’s talk will result in her books being unbanned, because her ideas are sorely needed here.
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16 Comments
You tried to fine some meaning in Batman comics? What meaning did u find in the comics? I would like to know….
Meaning in Batman’s comic (thank you for bringing that up, Nizar):
Is there something going on between Batman and Robin that we shouldn’t know about but is staring at our faces all the time?
Over to you, Jordan.
I wrote that whole post and you both zeroed in on the Batman thing?
Well, I didn’t search for any profound meaning in Batman comics. I was a kid, I searched for meaning everywhere. Not that I actively searched for any meaning in Batman comics, but I was reading them while I searched for meaning, if that makes any sense.
Anyway, don’t get me started on Robin. Nice kid, but come on…Batman’s thing was that he wore dark clothing and a cape and cowl and all that, and he was mysterious and menacing, and moved stealthily through the darkness and all that…and then along came this kid in a bright orange and yellow circus outfit. Sheesh.
Anyway (I like saying anyway, if you haven’t figured that out by now), it would take ages to explain how Batman might fit into my personal quest for spiritual whatever. So I won’t try.
I heard Ustaz Uthman el-Muhammady speak at an Islamic Spirituality conference in Singapore last year. I thought he spoke well, if a bit dry. Too bad he didn’t get a chance to speak.
I just finished a post to my blog titled “God, Karen Armstrong and a pair of Speedos” which finally described what I actually believe in. I am currently reading (and rereading) her book “The Great Transformation”. Like “History of God”, it’s a book of comparisons, but because it covers 900-200 BCE, Christianity is left out. Her take on the history of Greek culture is awesome because juxtaposed with Judaism, Buddhism, Daoism and Hinduism, the rise of philosophy and Reason is a lot clearer.
Another book you might want to read: Charles Freeman’s “The Closing of the Western Mind - The Rise of Faith and the Fall of Reason” which defines in great detail how Christianity systematically destroyed reason (and learning) after the fall of Rome.
I would (almost) kill to meet Armstrong and ask her several questions.
Take Care,
DanV
http://thedevilanddanvojir.blogspot.com
When did her books get banned? My husband have her books. (He is a big fan of her writings too). Gosh, they’re banned ? Whatever for??!
I liked watching Transformers when I was small, the cartoon version. Many years after I last watched it, it is all coming back to me. I know this comment has nothing to do with Karen Armstrong. I want to find some meaning in the Transformer movie this weekend… *sigh*
Nizar quit teasing Jordan !!
(Ida as in the second post above 51898, not 52047. So from now on I shall be Ida B -common name, common problem)
You said:
Batman’s thing was that he wore dark clothing and a cape and cowl and all that, and he was mysterious and menacing, and moved stealthily through the darkness and all that…and then along came this kid in a bright orange and yellow circus outfit. Sheesh.
Is it something to do with the lost of care-free childhood predictability and transformation into that searching young adult; when disappointment and cynicism intrude on innocence? See also Shakespeare’s Seven Ages of Man
As for meaning in Transformers -over to you, Nizar.
Amazing how subtle sarcasm goes a long way to proving a point. That went right over that taxi driver’s head… similar to Hishammuddin being ridiculed in China to his face, and because of the subtlety, he missed it completely too! Too caught up in their own grandeur I guess…
I did not find any meaning when I watch Fantastic Four… hehe, so I guess I have to get an insight of how you found the meaning of life after reading Karen’s book (and Batman comics - still don’t understand this one)… I’m not a comic reader so now who can lend me her books? Nak pinjam…. :)
Aargh!!
I wish I had gone!
Am a big fan of her books (though was called a murtad for having held one in public).
By the way, I think I’ve met your ‘taxi driver friend’. Or at least a man who belongs to the same spitting-cult. And you’re right, the best thing to do is to just smile and refrain from debate.
S’just not worth it.
Jordan,
A riveting account on your own spiritual metamorphosis into Islam.
Stories like yours put to shame some born-Muslims’ blasé attitudes when it comes to their own religion.
One of my good gal friends is also married to a Muslim-convert - Irish-Italian descent - from NYC. Like you, he also began his Islamic journey through the reading of many life-changing books.
With respect to Karen Armstrong, sometimes we need to listen to an objective outsider’s point of view in order to get a fresh, unadulterated perspective on Islam. That way, we Muslims can rehash ‘old ideas’ for our own continued growth, both as individuals and part of the Ummah.
Life-changing books…. hmmm if only I could generate fire and fly like the ‘Human Torch’ in The Fantastic Four…
Salam,
I came acrross your blog as I was googling for Karen Armstrong. You have an interesting blog and I enjoyed reading what you have wrote.
I read a few pages of Dr Armstrong’s book, Muhammad in Singapore but instead of buying it right away, I thought that it would be cheaper in KL and left the book on the shelf. To my dismay, they do not have the books here, not in Kinokuniya, MPH, Times etc.
Today, In Borders at the Religion section I found some irony:-
1) I was looking for a Quran with english translation but only found one with French.
2) Muhammad by Karen Armstrong was not on the shelf (as expected) but I found lots of books on Judaism (and Malaysia is supposed to be an Islamic country that do not have diplomatic ties with Isreal, not that I have anything agaisnt Judaism though) Fancy that!!
Your conversion to Islam after so much study perplexes me. Islam is, in my opinion, clearly an opportunist religion founded by a man for his own self-aggrandizement in the 7th Century. Karen Anderson’’s approach to World Religions is to find commonality within the divergent religions of history. To say that Islam, which promotes the murder of the descendants of Abraham, is legitimate ignores the fact that there is no historical written record of Islam prior to the 7th Century. Moreover, how do you reconcile God’s promise to Abraham with Islam?
God promised Abraham that his seed would cover the world. Abraham’s seed is found in the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael. These descendants today are Jews, Christians, Muslims, Palestinians, and infidels. Yet, the Qur’an and associated supporting documents call for the murder of these descendants. ( Convert to Christianity from Islam and suffer death.) Killing the descendants of Abraham is the same as killing Abraham. Additionally, the one true God gave Moses His commandments. One of these commandments said, Not to Kill (Murder). That in my opinion has the same effect as reserving unto God the power to kill, or the power to condemn to death. Islam’s teachings calling for the murder of infidels, Jews, Christians, and apostates, usurp God’s authority. Changing the Word of God is another trait of Islam.
According to the teachings of Muhammad, Jesus Christ was a prophet. Furthermore, Jesus was not crucified, died, and rose again, according to Islamic teachings. Can another Prophet change the prophetic teachings of an earlier Prophet? Can a Prophet say, God told me this, and that, but changed his mind later, and now says something different? Isn’t God perfect? What did Muhammad gain by teaching that Jesus was only a Prophet? He gained control of who gets to heaven. Does the Torah and Christian Bible say that man will find many virgins in heaven when he gets there? No it does not. God’s heaven does not glorify sex. You say that you are a learned person who loves to read and learn. Why is it then, that you can be so ignorant of history and the teachings of your own converted religion? Islam will never foster peace because it can not and be true to its teachings.
How are we to know peace in the world if religious disagreements lead to violence? If you were born and raised in Rome, the likelihood that you would be a Catholic is very high. If you were born in Iran, the likelihood that you would be raised Sunni Muslim is very high. If you were born to Jewish parents, you would be a Jew. Are our religious beliefs the product of our parents teachings, our places of birth, or choices of friends? Is our religious belief based on the influence of an author(s)?
Millions like me never gave Islam a second thought before 9-11 and the Mumbai Terrorist attacks. Millions like me began to study Islam, the Qur’an, and Muhammad for understanding. We pay attention now every time a Muslim suicide bomber kills innocents in the name of his God. We want to understand the hate. What was in the dark, is now in the light for all to see. Clearly Islam is not a peaceful religion. It fosters death, the subjugation of women, child brides, and male hegemony over entire countries of people.
Perhaps I rambled a bit. But, the one thing I am certain of, there is no 7th Century designed heaven for killers of Abraham and his descendants.