Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 1:33 pm
Belinda wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 12:54 pm
I think this is all very true. I'd like to add that some families, neighbourhoods, and ethnic groups encourage emotionality while others encourage keeping emotions well hidden from view.
Yes, that's true.
Now, in Islam, there are various sects -- though Islam prefers us all to think there is only one Ummah, one Islam, and that the proliferation of sects raises questions about the validity of a religion, and particularly about Judaism and Christianity. But the proliferation of sects is tied to other concerns than truthfulness, such as the availability of choice and the seriousness with which people are treating theology within their groups (stronger belief tends to produce more sects). Judaism famously has four major divisions, plus lesser ones, for example. And they are separated by the degree of intensity with which they adhere to various traditions, teachers or texts. But all are accepted within Judaism, albeit with some internal grumbling.
Islam has two major divisions, the Shia and the Sunni, and then minor sub-sects, like the Sufis, the Ahmadi and the Bahai. The latter three, especially in the west, tend to be much more liberal than the first two: but the first two are also vastly dominant. But there is a remarkable degree of hatred between the Shia and the Sunni. You can see that in Iran/Iraq tensions and wars, for example. Even in western contexts, the two often will have nothing to do with each other -- to the point of even refusing to sit beside each other, denying that each other's mosques are really mosques, or saying that the other side drinks urine, and other such canards. (I have seen all this first hand.)
So even a religion as autocratic and tyrannical as Islam has sects. All religions end up with them. However, in Islam, the Sunnis are about 80% and the Shia about 20%...the remainder of sects being absorbed in one or the other, or else excluded by both from any consideration as genuine Islam.
So you do know something about Islam, i suspect i know more though.
there are 5 sects of Islam BTW, and the Ahmadiyya are not any more western than any other Sect of Islam (persons from all the sects may be western or not). Ahmadiyya Muslims formed in Pakistan 400 yrs ago via a "prophet" and gained followers to him (just like the Mormans, and Sikhs)
BTW the main divide is between the Shia and Sunni, but the real percentage is 15/85 (it is like the divide between Prots and Catholics)- there is no theological division between then (outside of small stuff like kosher - Shia do not eat shellfish) - the main divide between them is via history, Ali/vs whomeever during the first 50 yrs of Islam - Shia thought only a decendent of Mohammed could become Caliphate, the Sunni did not - and thus the "War" of succession - purely political, not theological.
Sufie are Sunni Spirituallists - there may be a similar Shia sect, but i do not know of them is there is one. Sufies are an outgrowth of contact with India - via the Mogol conquest of India - some Muslims found value in hinduism and incorporated the latter's mindset into Islam.
Allowites - make up a huge 1-percent of Syria - worship Ali (Mohammed's nephew?) - as semi-devine (Christlike) - this is heresy of course per Islam proper (Ahmadiyya is the same - they may nor worship their prophet as devine, but affirm him - and per islam proper there can not be any later prophets than mohhomad).
Allowites rule Syria and though only make up 1-percent of Shia, Syria is majority Sunni! - so the ruling party of Syria is from a minoriy heretical sect of a minority sect of islam - Syrians are majority Sunni!!!!!! - and explains why the Syrian gov allows the militia Hezbollah to rule Lebanon - they being Shia, though not Allowite shia, is good enough for the gov of Syria to use them (and vise versa) - to secure their powers in lands that are made up of 90-percent Sunni.
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so sects of Islam = in order of population:
1. Sunni (82 percent)
2. Shia (15 percent)
3. Ahmadiyya (2 percent)
4. Sufi (who are Sunni as i said above) - 3?? percent?
5. Allowite - 1/5th percent?
education/internet is a wonderful thing.