non-issues

[gnostic]

Actually this is a request for Muslims and Christians.

Often when I come across Christians using the word "non-Christians", they are usually talking about Muslims. Similarly, when Muslims use the word "non-Muslims" they usually mean Christians.

Ok, non-Muslims are Christians, and non-Christians are Muslims, but there are groups who aren't either Christians or Muslims. I know that I am being fussy, but both Christians and Muslims are using words of general group, when they should be more specific.

I also have trouble with Muslims using the word, "Westerner". Not all Westerners are Christians, so please use "Christian" instead. Non-Christian Westerners, such as atheists and agnostics don't preach.

I suppose I have the same problem when dealing with "Muslim" when I mean "Arabic". I can usually distinguish Muslims from Indonesians, but the Muslims/Arabic is often blurry grey area. If I do so, I didn't to it intentional, because it is often very difficult to divide what is Muslim and what is Arabic in some issues.

The other thing is that that not all Muslims are terrorists. Please don't generalise or use this stereotype. Yes, there are quite few extremists among the Muslims, but not all Muslims are like that. Using this word "terrorist" on ordinary Muslim is a terrible accusation to use on those who just want to get on with their life.

But getting back to my point.

Can I ask both groups - Christians and Muslims - to be more specific when using the "non-" group?

 

[Ibrahim Al-Amin]

gnostic,

Excellent points. Thank you for bringing up this issue. The sensitivities of this issue are often overlooked.

To clarify, I use the term "Westerner" in the civilizational sense, as outlined by Huntington (although his oversimplistic notions are not entirely plausible). Western civilization includes everyone from Russians, across Europe (excluding Orthodox Eastern Europe), the Americas, Australia, South Africa, and various other points. You're right, not all Westerners are Christians, but the vast majority of Westerners conform with a value system that has its identity and roots in Western Christendom. So although your point is well taken in that it is not fair to lump all "Westerners" into one religious category, it is fair to lump all Westerners into Western "Civilization." I indeed am a Westerner, but I'm certainly not a Christian.

When you write "Muslim" versus "Arabic," are you meaning Muslim versus "Arab?" Arab (or Arabian) is an ethnicity and Arabic is their language. I assume you mean Muslim versus Arab, and you're analogy is accurate. Arab cannot be interchanged with Muslim, as many Arabs are not Muslim, and the majority of Muslims in the world are not Arabs. In fact, there is a rather substantial Arab Christian population.

Again, thanks for raising the issue.

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[gnostic]

I assume you mean Muslim versus Arab, and you're analogy is accurate.

I mean of Arabic culture. There are lot more Arabs than just those in Saudi Arabia. Arabs that have spread all across northern African. I guess Middle Eastern could be used as well as Arabs.

Do you see what I mean? It is not easy to classify Arabs, because they have many nations. The Pakistani and the Indians looked alike. The main difference is that of religion (ie Islam and Hinduism) and cultures. Pakistani have adopted many Arabic culture, when they have adopted Islam.

Here, in Australia, I dare not ask a person if a person is either Pakistani or Indian, because I am afraid to offend someone. So I rarely ask for their nationality. And this was even before 9/11; I knew of the tension between the 2 countries. *sigh*

 

[Ibrahim Al-Amin]

Do you see what I mean? It is not easy to classify Arabs, because they have many nations. The Pakistani and the Indians looked alike. The main difference is that of religion (ie Islam and Hinduism) and cultures. Pakistani have adopted many Arabic culture, when they have adopted Islam.

Here, in Australia, I dare not ask a person if a person is either Pakistani or Indian, because I am afraid to offend someone. So I rarely ask for their nationality. And this was even before 9/11; I knew of the tension between the 2 countries. *sigh*

I entirely understand. It's very difficult to tell them apart. For us, I can tell an Aussie from a American just by the way he dresses and his body language, before he even talks. And I'm sure it's just as easy for a Qatari to spot the difference between a Saudi Arab and a UAE Arab by similar observations. For you and me, unless we ask, we may never know.

The fact that you are respectful enough to care speaks volumes about your virtuosity. :highfive: