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While I'm totally against any type of theocracy and especially Islamic Sharia; what if America and the western world actually adopted the Islamic "Sharia Law" without the actual penal and dress code?
For example, basic food, clothing and shelter, including water, house, medicine, etc. would all be free of charge based on the need of the individual, banks wouldn't be allowed to charge any interest rate, etc.
Thoughts?
Last edited by MX City visiting; 05-21-2015 at 09:35 AM..
While I'm totally against any type of theocracy and especially Islamic Sharia; what if America and the western world actually adopted the Islamic "Sharia Law" without the actual penal and dress code?
For example, basic food, clothing and shelter, including water, house, etc. would all be free of charge based on the need of the individual, banks wouldn't be allowed to charge any interest rate, etc.
Thoughts?
I suggest you google Islamic Banking and you might understand that there is always a price for money.
The problem here is that Islamic law isn't actually universal, despite what many think. Just as Christians can't agree on certain thinks (was Jesus man or God, for example), Muslims are the same way. That should be readily apparent given the extreme amount of violence, which they love to point out when they're point requires it, but if not, their argument comes down to 'all Muslims think the same.'
So, those aspects of Islamic law that require charity? That wouldn't be bad, in the sense that it wouldn't be harmful (a bit authoritarian, but when we're talking about a religious law of any kind, that's what it's gonna be). You seem to be coming from the 5 pillars of Islam, which are the nice part of Islam.
But, what's the source? Are we saying it's the Koran? Because if so, that law can be twisted. We could start out with the nice charity, but before long, be executing apostates like Saudi Arabia.
Charity is great, and I encourage people to give generously and be kind and thoughtful to those with less, but adopting a religious law to get to that point is a dangerous gamble.
The ban on interest rates (in both Islam and Christianity) show the ideal to which both religions aspired to and their attempts to get rid of debt issues that they saw in their times, but were clearly very bad ideas economically. Spain banned usury (interest) and that was a large part of what caused their stagnation as an empire. Jesus had a lot of rather bad economical advice all throughout the New Testament. It sounds good in a story, but is horrible in practice.
Supposedly in Russian history, one of the great leaders (Vladimir I think) adopted Christianity and was so transformed that he outlawed any form of retaliation. People were supposed to turn the other cheek as Jesus commanded. The country was soon overrun with bandits and outlaws.
The ban on interest rates (in both Islam and Christianity) show the ideal to which both religions aspired to and their attempts to get rid of debt issues that they saw in their times, but were clearly very bad ideas economically. Spain banned usury (interest) and that was a large part of what caused their stagnation as an empire. Jesus had a lot of rather bad economical advice all throughout the New Testament. It sounds good in a story, but is horrible in practice.
Supposedly in Russian history, one of the great leaders (Vladimir I think) adopted Christianity and was so transformed that he outlawed any form of retaliation. People were supposed to turn the other cheek as Jesus commanded. The country was soon overrun with bandits and outlaws.
This is interesting to me. This is one of my many proofs (for lack of better term) of my atheism. I think most economists would agree that usury laws are a bad idea. It is a form of price control, and price controls are generally considered harmful.
And interestingly also, it is one of those ideas that shows up both in religion and in liberalism. Regulating payday lenders has become a hobby horse issue for liberal Democrats in my state. It seems that every year now there is a fight over it in the legislature.
This is interesting to me. This is one of my many proofs (for lack of better term) of my atheism. I think most economists would agree that usury laws are a bad idea. It is a form of price control, and price controls are generally considered harmful.
And interestingly also, it is one of those ideas that shows up both in religion and in liberalism. Regulating payday lenders has become a hobby horse issue for liberal Democrats in my state. It seems that every year now there is a fight over it in the legislature.
I don't know about price controls necessarily... it just erodes the principle of the time value of money, which leads to only those who have accumulated capital to be the ones who are able to invest in capital.
If interest didn't make economic sense, we wouldn't care if we had our money today or in a million years.
That being said, modern 'usury' laws... I don't know. You'd think people would be smart enough to not accept >25% annual interest rates but apparently people do. I don't think those have too much of an impact as I'd hope most of the transactions happen at much lower rates. I do think some of the information laws, like showing the full amount of the loan and things like that are a good idea though.
While I'm totally against any type of theocracy and especially Islamic Sharia; what if America and the western world actually adopted the Islamic "Sharia Law" without the actual penal and dress code?
For example, basic food, clothing and shelter, including water, house, medicine, etc. would all be free of charge based on the need of the individual, banks wouldn't be allowed to charge any interest rate, etc.
Thoughts?
No way in Hell would I ever give up bacon.
[you can keep your 72 virgins]
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What if we adopted only the social system of Islamic law?
