Islam…again!

Although this week we continued to struggle with the idea of Islam as the East  we also made headway as to why it has been labeled thus.  In my last blog I was quite perplexed why this Universal religion is still discussed as though it is can be restricted to one part of the world.

This week we learned more about the more of the modern day struggle between East and West.  That is not say that this is in any way a modern idea but just focusing on the 20 and 21st cent.  It was interesting to see how quickly focus shifted after the cold war era.  After so much time preparing for and fighting one enemy people seemed at a loss with the collaspe of the Soviet Union.  Suddenly Islam became the new big threat.

Some may say the shift of attention to the east was quite reasonable.  Afterall, by the end of the Soviet Union the East was well equiped with arms, money and political uprisings.  Unfortunately no one seemed to really pay any attention to how the countries like Afghanistan aqquired so many arms.  What is more frustrating is that after 9/11 when all the world was in an uproar even the most academic circles decided to ignore the fault of the West, not just the East.

During the Cold War era when it was US vs. Russia alot of the war took place on foriegn soil, for example, once again, Afghanistan.  In the States attempt to overthrow the Soviets they purposely funded the most extreme surgents they could find.  They gave them money, and they gave them arms.  Not only did they provide extremists with the wherewithall to attack the Soviets…but once all was said and done, and everyone went home, these insurgents had everything it took to overthrow and overrun their own people.

Now, this little summary is hardly the whole picture.  It is simply a short blog noting some aspects of a very complicated situation.  However, it does raise some very very Frustrating issues when it comes to todays incredibly political and bias studies of Islam.  This is one of the complications that come when the study of a religion is tied into the study of a political system.

Islam

The study of Islam is unique in many ways.  In the twenty first century this ‘uniqueness’ provides many insights as well as barriers.

The best place to start with the study of anything is the very beginning.  In our case, or the case of Islam, that is Saudi Arabia (more specifically Mecca & Medina) in the 7th cent C.E.  Not only is the beginning the best place to start, but also the most important for understanding the development of any religion or culture; however, we must be willing to branch out and move away from our starting point.  Unfortunately, with Islam it is here that many people seem to hit a wall.

In modern times there is an obvious association between Islam and the East, and why not?  There are numerous nation states that specifically declare themselves Muslim, and it is there that a large percentage of the worlds Muslim population resides…Pakistan, Palestine, Bangladesh, Afghanistan….ect…ect.  However; one cannot forget that Islam exists outside of the ‘East’.  It also exists in America, Canada, France, ect….ect.  It is imperative that we make this realization, and from this realization the distinction between Islam and the East.

When talking about a distinction between Islam and the East, what are we talking about?  While religion is part of our culture it does not dictate the latter, nor does the latter the former.  Unfortunately much study into what it means to be Muslim is coloured by the study of the culture of the Middle East.    Clearly the customs of these people affect the way they practice their religion, and it even makes a direct impact on what it means to be Muslim.  However, in the broad sense these cultural and ethnic distinctions cannot speak for the Muslim community around the world.

As stated earlier, it is important to understand where and how a religion began.  By looking at Saudi Arabia and surrounding countries since the 7th cent we can see how Islam developed and matured.  By looking at Islam around the world and drawing focus to the overlaps and distinction between Muslims around the world we can hope to highlight the Universal aspects or what truly is a Universal relgion.

Group Topic #2

Dunhuang under went many significant changes during the Tang dynasty. First off, it was during this period of time that China pulled back, leaving it under control of the Tibetans.  Under this leadership Buddhism seemed to flourish.  For example, we know that at one point there were at least 17 Buddhist monasteries and nunneries.

It hard to say how the Buddhist monks and nuns lived during this time.  Obviously we have records and doctrine’s on how they were supposed to live, but, as discussed in class these represented more of an ideal than historical truth.  By looking at old letters and census’ we are able to grasp a better understanding.  We can tell, by looking at past letters, that some monks went so far off of the path of the middle way, that they acted as money lenders, charging %10 interest.  This seems so improbable, but it seems that there did indeed exist Buddhist loan sharks.

Interestingly enough, some Buddhist temples also acted as staging grounds for local ‘fraternities’ or ‘soroities’ or sorts.  Obviously, much unlike today’s standards of fraternities, groups of men or women would meet at the temples forming clubs.  They paid membership fees, swore oaths to each other, took care of each other’s funeral costs and reprimanded each other for unfortunate behavior.  Most likely the groups of women would have consisted of nuns.

Although these are just two examples, we are able to view a past much different from the idealized one of official doctrines, and writtings. Also, through the later example we see how much of the secular lifestyles of the inhabitants of Dunhuang centered around the religious centres and also the religion itself.

Manichaeism

A strange thought struck me this week while reading Frances Wood’s The Silk Road.  It seems to me like Manichaeism is almost a perfect example of the Silk Road.  Originating around the beginning of the 3rd century CE Manichaesim was a dualistic religion.  Mani, the founding father, preached about the fight between light and darkness, good and evil.  Although his ideas were powerful and influential, they were not entirely new.

That last statement isn’t exactly fair, or true, unless further discussed.  Mani admittedly brought together aspects of early Judaism, Islam, Christianity and Buddhism, however,  the resulting doctrine of Faith was altogether unique.  It is for this reason that I think that Manichaeism lends itself to be an example or symbol for the Silk Road.

The borrowing and blending of styles is a classic motif for Silk Road art, religion, architecture ect.  Similarly, early Islam was also much influenced by its Jewish and Christian cousins.  Manichaeism differs in the fact that it does not claim a monotheistic belief.  It relies more heavily upon the Buddhist teachings.   There is even a small excerpt from our text which explains how there is one temple where people go and worship Buddha.  It appears, however, that the temple is  NOT decorated with images of Buddha but images of the Prophet Mani instead.

Manichaeism reached its peak between the 3rd and 7th centuries CE and has since reduced dramatically.  This may or may not have to do with the strict vow abstinence for the elite.   Im not too convinced that would be enough to stop what was once the most widely spread world religion.  I lean more towards the fact that they were strict vegetarians.

‘Neither have I cast it into the oven, another hath brough me this and I have eaten it without guilt’

(Unfortunately for me, this brings to mind a scene from Notting Hill, starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts.  There is a blind date scene where Hugh’s date cannot eat fruits or vegetables that have been forcibly removed from the earth, only those that have ‘died’ and fallen.  She was not Manichaen, and there was not a second date)

I don’t think that this is an exact representation of Manichaeism, but the suggestion that the one who takes and cooks the vegetables is therefore  guilty, is implied.

Much of what we read this week also discussed the Sogdians.  They too traveled all over the Silk Road.  They were known for their trade, respected in office and eventually their language became that of the Silk Road.  I purpose that these two stories parallel each other, in the sence that both the Sogdains and the Manichaens saw success and growth as the result of the Silk Road and its  many facets.

Anyways, that is what I found interesting this week

Below you should see a small map depicting the spread of Manichaeism

huh?

Ok, so it’s time to start blog number two and Im being a little tardy.

To start off, this week we were asked to read ‘ Selections from the Han Narrative Histories’ and see if they correspond what we consider historical writing and if these two things go together.  I have to admit I’ve never given much thought to what I consider historical writing.  Is it something that just drolls on or is it meant to engage a reader.  Does it require arguments and explanations…or can it just list off endless facts.

I think it would be nice if it engages the reader and developed it thoughts, but to be honest I don’t think either is a technical requirement when it comes to the definition of ‘historical writing’.  Now, I don’t want to imply that I found the Han Narrative Histories dull and exact.  Im just trying to work out what Im supposed to be dissecting in this blog.

All in all I would definitely argue that what I read this week fell into the genre of Historical Writing.  I enjoyed reading excerpts from old letters and writings.  Quotes from people dead over a thousand years, learning of their superstitions, beliefs and hardships.  However, at times I also became quite lost.  Names of cities and Emperors that I can hardly wrap my mind around let alone my tongue.  There could be an Emperor from one region whose life span  overlapped two Emperors from another region, who may have overlapped  two more each somewhere else, and BAM I right back to where I started.  Sitting at a computer with countless tabs opened up on the internet trying to wiki this person and that, maps from my text book on the bed beside me.

I would say that I feel much more comfortable talking about chpt 4 from Frances Wood’s The Silk Road.   All the myths, wars and beliefs that surrounded the beautiful unearthly horses is what really interested me.  Wars were fought, and people killed over these horses.  Was it because they would give advantage in battle?  Was it because they were so surreal that they sweated blood and were somehow related to dragons? Or did the Emperors really believe that these horses would carry them into the land of Immortals?  All of these things seem so fantastic and surreal.  However, the repercussions were real.  People died.  Is this the stuff that makes up the history of the world?  Most likely.  No one can really deny that their history is so much more advanced than everyone elses.  It should be interesting though, to see the role that beliefs rather than facts played a role in that making of the history of the silk road.  After all, is that not what Religion is, a belief system.  This description of the horses is but a small example of the significance beliefs really do play.  Whether it is positive or negative isn’t for me or this course to decide.

off to a good start

Growing up in the late 20th, early 21st century I have always been told of how much we have to be great full for.  I can easily drive one hour, maybe three or four to a museum or art gallery sans excessive discomforts (including starvation, disease, physical exertion of any kind).  Maybe, if I feel adventurous, I can plan a trip to England or Germany and visit one of their many public houses.  No matter where I go within the western world I have access to some of the greatest treasures of the whole world!!!

I would like to say that I am and have almost always been aware of this amazing privilege.  However, it is only in my recent past that I have come to realize this is also a pity.

Peter Hopkirk’s Foreign Devils on the Silk Road and Frances Wood’s The Silk Road raise some interesting points, when it comes to the age-long argument of who gets what and why!  I am sorry to say that I haven’t read too far into either book (although I did do the assigned readings), so I am not yet about to pose any arguments of my own.  Right now, I am happy to read of the rich history, and personal accounts of people living in and under the rule of the Han and Tang Dynastys.   The only thing I can say right now is that it is a definite privilege and not a pity of any sort, that I do NOT have to travel through the Taklamakan desert and die an early death, lured off path by the sirens that lurk there.

Cheerio, that’s all for now!

Hello out there

This is the beginnings of a blog for my class ‘Religions of the Silk Road’. To be honest this is rather an experiment to see if I can get this going. Hopefully it all works out for the best, but I beg the patience of anyone editing or reading ANY of my blogs.

Cheers