We’re not implying any one religion is better than the other, but it’s a little amusing that Junaid Bin Jahangir, a devout Muslim living in Canada who eventually came to grips with being gay, turned to a local Jewish counselor to help reconcile his faith and his sexuality. Which, for the record, now includes the belief that “Muslims misinterpret the Qur’an if they consider the ban on homosexuality to be as firm as bans on alcohol or pork,” reports the National Post. “The common story from which most Muslims draw their teaching is about violent homosexual rape, he says, and it’s time to rethink the possibility of consensual, supportive relationships.” Jahangir, now a professor at the University of Alberta, says none of the professors in the school’s Islamic Studies department will speak to him.
The Gay Muslim Scholar Who Turned to a Jewish Counselor to Figure Out This Whole ‘Gay + Islam’ Thing
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terrwill
Gay + Islam = Death. End of story, end of discussion…
http://www.nowpublic.com/silencing_dissent_in_iran_four_hanged_0
gay-kinda-sorta
Well, what he has done can only be a good thing. I don’t think his religion is any more logical or superior to any other religion, and if I were him I’d just tell Islam to fuck off. Organized religion is about control and I dislike control.
Helga von ornstein
Why didn’t this guy just seek the advice of Mr. Lucas?
Faisal Choudhury
The tragedy that I notice is that why is there so much focus on what muslim beliefs are. No news is good news. Front page news is some terrorist who btw is muslim kills innocent people, or muslim opinion about gays, or how many virgins one gets for killing an infidel. You know what I love my religion and I dont impose my beliefs on anyone and respect others what they do and offer and no you cannot change my “blind trust” in my religion I am getting pissed off. There are 1 Billion of us who are just beautiful who are not killing infidels who love people and want this spotlight off our religion. Just like if you are Catholic and you dont want everyone talking about how priest are child molesters and if you are jewish and how you love to massaccre Palestinians for lunch.
Mohamed
So a Muslim turned to a Jew for advice? Does queerty really think this is worthy of a news story???
FYI – academic religious scholars often look to others for interpretation, afterall the history of Christianity, Judaism and Islam are all intertwined. There are a great number of gay Muslim scholars including myself. Clearly being gay gives a different perspective in which to study the religious, cultural, political and historical aspects of Islam. While the fundamentalists have the loudest voice, there is a strong movement of scholars, and young people in the Arab world arguing for a modern interpretation of the Islamic religion. Just as fundamentalist Christians take the Bible literally, so do fundamental Muslims. Sadly this is what some Arab states use to base their moral and legal codes on. We have hope that we can creative positive human rights impact.
hephaestion
Islamic academics seem to be terrified of questioning or re-thinking their stances on homosexuality. Moslem people are way ahead of their academics in this regard, because I know many, many Moslems who are pro-gay.
B
In No. 6, hephaestion wrote, “Islamic academics seem to be terrified of questioning or re-thinking their stances on homosexuality. Moslem people are way ahead of their academics in this regard, because I know many, many Moslems who are pro-gay.”
Hey, I’ve met Muslims who are not only pro-gay but are gay. One jokingly told me that he thought he could get away with eating pork and drinking alcoholic beverages because he was in so much theological trouble for being gay that the “small stuff” was lost in the noise.
I don’t think he was particularly devout – if he went to a mosque for a religious service, it was probably while visiting his family: more a case of keeping his mother happy than anything else. That’s probably typical of a lot of Islamic countries, particularly those not in the Middle East, just as a sizable fraction of American church-goers go through a ritual on autopilot, showing up merely to keep other family members happy and ignore religion the rest of the week.
Junaid G
First of all Junaid is not a Scholar. He is well knowing of mugging a full book and acing any course which leads us to only one thing.. he lacks logical reasoning. Since grade 4th till our graduation (12th grade) Junaid aced with A++ in pretty much all the subjects. He use to be turned on when any one brought in a Play Boy Magazine. this guy just needs attention like he did in the past.
Not sure why he brought religion in the equation what he really needs is act together again.
Any why on earth he turned to a Jew for an advice.. ask your mother who gave you birth.. what a looser.
Like i have pointed out, like always he needs some attention and this post should have not existed because of his childless behavior since i know him since 4th grade.
Brent K
@Junaid G:
Actually, he is a scholar, and a very good one at that. I had him as a professor and he was exceptional and inspiring. And how does he lack logical reasoning? Someone who reads your post might be inclined to think that it is, in fact, you that lacks logical reasoning, because your writing is so terrible. Why did he bring religion into the equation? Well if you can’t figure that one out that you are hopeless. Why would he ask a Jew for advice? Well probably because she is a qualified professional that had a wealth of wisdom and insight to offer. How does appealing to a professional make you a loser? You make no sense.
Lastly, and most importantly, it is disgusting and frightening that you would suggest that Junaid is doing what he does for “attention”. Why would anyone struggle with such a terrible conflict between their religion, their sexuality, and their community? For attention? How terribly ignorant of you. The fact that you would suggest someone would go through a struggle that many of us cannot even fathom because they “want attention” shows how truly ignorant of reality you are. Your ignorance is your reward. I don’t care how long you’ve known Junaid, you understand him less than anyone. It is sad that he knew someone as pitiful as you in his life.
zammorano K
Well said, Brent K. I have known Junaid in the past and he is an honorable human being and an exceptional academic. I support him and his efforts wholeheartedly.