Salam,
The major mistake some people make is to believe there is this super-united front on Islamic reform, so one agenda or opinion can pushed forward. This is not the case so we have to work with many different and compromise the subjects. Edip and I tried to create the subjects for discussion, but as prof.Hargey didn't communicate with us as it should have been, there was a very wrong and confused agenda and list of speakers.
Edip and I will not allow this to happen with the next conference.
As for your comments towards me, you show the typical beginner's mistake. First of all, Edip also believes in democracy in the way I do, so put him also on your list of 'confused'
As not all people on earth will believe in the Quran, and as mankind will have to work together although having differences (see 49:13, 5:48 etc.). As it is not allowed to oppress one group, or make another dominant over the other (see 3:64 where we will not take each other as arbaban/lords/masters), it is important we cooperate and each person has a voice. That is why democracy is the system (42:38, 3:159, 4:58 etc.) that makes sure no one is oppressed.
God can NEVER rule in the way you present, as it is always HUMANS who interpretate the text. Nobody can ever say that his interpretation represents God's Will, making God the sovereign, as this would mean that the interpretation cannot be addressed or criticized, as then it would be like criticizing God's sovereignty. God cannot be a sovereign in this way, as it is always HUMAN interpretation of the text, so nobody can claim God's authority in this way. God will not judge people on earth, as it are human judges who try to understand the law and implant it etc. You make the classical mistake which Sunni and Shia also make.
Through democracy people have to decide which interpretation works for them, without contradicting other verses or it allowing the oppression of non-muslims. And as mankind is diverse, not all being Muslims, their must be an interaction of how to form society. Also, the Qur'an doesn't talk about descriptive law, but about LIMITS 'hudud'. The punishments as flogging are pre-islamic punishments which God has used as examples, it is about knowing what are the behaviours that are obstacles for a healthy society. God gives the limits of society, so any system working within these limits can be considered as islamic. Deen indeed doesn't mean 'religion', but it also doesn't mean 'system' in the modern sense that every step is determined by the Quran. It only discusses the main issues and limits of society to make sure people don't oppress each other. Deen also means 'behaviour', and so the Quran refers to a certain behaviour mankind must attain so they do not oppress each other and work together on peaceful and respectful terms.
To change the system, like the use of usury, we have to be part of the system and engage with it. This is why I endorse to be part of democracy. It doesn't mean I like all the parts of the current systems. The beauty of democracy is that everybody can work in it to implant changes in society, this is why the Quran endorses democracy.
I can see that many of your ideas are from Parwez, which is one of my heroes, but sadly his political ideas where mostly a reaction to British imperialism and had many misunderstandings of hermeneutics and pluralistic democracy. Also your work was not disregarded, but sent in far too late. The conference was about showing the different ideas of Islamic reformers, and what they focus on to create reform. The first conferences are more about people getting to know each other, then to directly 'start a movement'. And because of the vast differences among islamic reformists, which we can see on this website also, we must stop thinking in group-mentality, but in cooperating as individuals to work for freedom of thought in islamic thought and to address oppression in the name of islam.
This is what I addressed in my first speech when I sat on the stage with Edip and Layth. People in the audience started to address us as if we represented a group of 'Quranists', that Layth represented Freeminds, Edip '19-ers' etc. I responded to this by pointing out that we don't represent groups. The new Islamic reform movements is about individuals working together, about individual thought in Islam, it is not about creating a new group to put against Sunnism or Shi'ism. When we start thinking in group mentality, we will just create a new sect and will get us nowhere.
The REAL islamic reform is about individualism in Islamic thought, and working together for the betterment of mankind, and for a serious engagement with the Quranic text, and about honesty and criticism of historical islam.
