Thoughts on Islam...

So, for the summer I am reading about Islam and about Liberation Theology in Latin America. I am attempting to see if there is any possibility of comparing Islamic Liberation Theology to Christian Liberation Theology in Latin America. I see in Latin American Liberation Theology a group of people that realize how unfettered capitalism hurts the gospel of Christ...particularly when the Church (Roman Catholic in this instance) have identified primarily with those profiting off the labor of the underclass.

I will post on the previous books I have read, if I feel like I should continue posting on here. But right now I am finishing Social Justice in Islam by Sayyid Qutb. There are several things I found interesting in this book that got me thinking. First, Qutb argues that Europe was never really a Christian continent, that it had been co-opted by the ruling class to keep the masses in check. The West must be viewed as using religious language while actually being ruled by a Roman-utilitarian-Machiavellian view. While this sounds similar to Marxist interpretation, he has similar problems with communism.

Second, much of his idea of government follows like this: There is only one sovereign, and that is God. Government is only legitimate if it has the consent of those being governed. This sounds strikingly like democracy in the states, absent the idea of where absolute sovereignty lies.

Third, and finally for now, Qutb states that the actually historical experience of Islam has establised ten points:
1. Poverty is a more suitable basis for distributing public funds than priority of conversion.
2.That Islam hates to see the accumulation of wealth on one hand and destitution on the other.
3. The principle of progressive taxation.
4. The principle of not taking necessities to pay tax and not compelling payment by force.
5. The principle that need as well as effort is a reason for reward.
6. Public social insurance for all the disabled and needy.
7. The principle that the ruler has no immunity that prevents society from calling him to account for wealth he acquires.
8. The principle of zakat (the portion of charitable giving required as a pillar of Islam).
9. That the whole community is responsible if anyone dies of hunger.
10. The forbidding of usury and leniency toward a debtor.

Now, imagine those being principles of Christianity...how would that work with capitalism? Furthermore, how different are those principles from what is said in the bible about wealth, and the poor and needy?
I realize that Islam and Christianity are very different religions as Islam had very earthly things in mind, as Christ did not explicilty outline how we are to treat each other here on earth. However, one can question that if Christ commanded us to love one another as we love ourselves, would we be doing these then things? Something to think about for sure...at least for me.