or Hadith specifically emphasizes memorization over understanding. But my criticism has a wider mark than the tradition of memorizing the Qur’an. The source of authority in religions such as Islam is the unassailable truth captured in a holy book. You can memorize it, discuss it, even interpret it, but you cannot criticize it for truth or moral worth because it is the “word of God.”

So whatever beauty and goodness I found within the pages of the Quran was marred by the grave moral shortcomings and lapses of truth I saw in the book. When I read it, I saw women treated as second-class citizens who must bend to the will of men, a God who viciously punishes people for their theological beliefs, and hopelessly parochial attitudes toward politics and justice. This would be more palatable if I had recourse to reason and criticism, but the Quran repeatedly stresses that questioning the word is bad, and rejecting the word is even worse. The believer finds himself in an uncomfortable all-or-nothing situation, pitting his reason and sense of morality against the universally true word of God.

When I figured this out I decided to drop the dogmatic attitude and try looking at the writings of Islam from a purely historical perspective. The intellectual and moral frustrations I had as a curious teen evaporated. I haven’t looked back.

Sorry if this is too long or too strident. I’m sure I could make my ideas more clear if I needed to. Thanks for posing your question 43Noob