Can you be a "Non religious muslim"?

[Jehanne]

Both groups claim that the other are not true Muslims, which is why the more radical elements are killing each other.

True enough, he’s just saying that’s not what the topic is.

Boru

That's the whole point -- religious v. not is entirely subjective, absent Inquisitorial or Islamic courts to pass judgment on such things, and, who here would condone the latter much less the former??

[Mister Agenda]

Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is a mostly Shia Muslim country,[9] with more than 96% of its population being Muslim.[10] According to a 2009 Gallup Poll, Azerbaijan is one of the most irreligious countries in the Muslim world, with about 54% of respondents indicating the importance of religion in their life as little or none.[11][12] The same poll indicates that only 21% of the respondents has attended on religious services.[13] Gallup International indicated that only 34% of Azerbaijanis adhere to religious practices, and ranked Azerbaijan the 13th least religious country from data compiled in 2005, 2008 and 2015.[14] It is a secular country by its constitution,[15] and according to James Reynolds of BBC News one of the goals of the secular government of Azerbaijan is to "check the spread of political Islam".[16]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Muslims

[Rev. Rye]

Thank you, MA, this is exactly what I was talking about. I guess I was expecting that there'd be a Arabic term that covered the same idea, but evidently not.

[Aegon]

It sounds weird. But think about it. You just are like "Yeah i am a muslim, just not religious". Would that count as "not getting killed card"? i am just wondering? Since all you need is say you are a muslim but just not religious, and that is a way to not get killed for apostasy. But what you think?

Some people may also call it "Non-denominational Muslim"

Eh, I guess it depends how you define both "Muslim" and "religious."

There's a lot to respect about Islam. I think if I believed in the one god of the Abrahamic faiths, I would gravitate towards Islam. Lots of neat ideas, and I can see how such a lifestyle would create genuine gratitude for the experience of life.

 I think there are ways to institute some Muslim practices in a secular way. But if you find yourself literally praying to God five times per day, is there any way to do that that isn't explicitly religious? I don't think so. But if you don't really believe in God yet you choose to fast during Ramadan? Maybe that counts as a Muslim practice you can do without being explicitly religious.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

True enough, he’s just saying that’s not what the topic is.

Boru

That's the whole point -- religious v. not is entirely subjective, absent Inquisitorial or Islamic courts to pass judgment on such things, and, who here would condone the latter much less the former??

I think you may be mistaking ‘irreligious’ for ‘heretic’. If a Sunni kills a Shi’ite - or vicey-versey - they’re both religious (by definition). The Shi’ite isn’t being killed because he’s not religious, he’s being killed because he’s religious in the wrong way.

Boru

[Baloo]

I have met a lot of Muslims who would describe themselves as non religious, I have Muslim friends who self identify as such. When you are the type of person who frequents this type of forum iy is very easy to forget that many people simply are not that bothered about their faith unless it is a wedding or a funeral.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I have met a lot of Muslims who would describe themselves as non religious, I have Muslim friends who self identify as such. When you are the type of person who frequents this type of forum iy is very easy to forget that many people simply are not that bothered about their faith unless it is a wedding or a funeral.

You have never, ever, not once, met - nor will you ever meet - a non-religious Muslim. Why? Because a Muslim is a person who adheres to the RELIGION of Islam. A person who does not adhere to this religion is NOT a Muslim.

Boru

[Baloo]

I have met a lot of Muslims who would describe themselves as non religious, I have Muslim friends who self identify as such. When you are the type of person who frequents this type of forum iy is very easy to forget that many people simply are not that bothered about their faith unless it is a wedding or a funeral.

You have never, ever, not once, met - nor will you ever meet - a non-religious Muslim. Why? Because a Muslim is a person who adheres to the RELIGION of Islam. A person who does not adhere to this religion is NOT a Muslim.

Boru

I have met and am friends with many who self identify as such and I tend to let people identify themselves how they want. It is how Islam will die just as Christianity is dying, apathy.  I lived in a largely Muslim area of Bristol in the UK I saw the youth being just as apathetic about Islam as most christian youth are about Christianity. I even met non religious Muslims in Algeria. I am not going to argue with them about whether they can strictly speaking be a Muslim and be non religious because I think the more non religious Muslims we have in the world the better. Just being pragmatic and not pedantic.

[Jehanne]

That's the whole point -- religious v. not is entirely subjective, absent Inquisitorial or Islamic courts to pass judgment on such things, and, who here would condone the latter much less the former??

I think you may be mistaking ‘irreligious’ for ‘heretic’. If a Sunni kills a Shi’ite - or vicey-versey - they’re both religious (by definition). The Shi’ite isn’t being killed because he’s not religious, he’s being killed because he’s religious in the wrong way.

Boru

Even the Medieval Inquisitions struggled with that distinction.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I think you may be mistaking ‘irreligious’ for ‘heretic’. If a Sunni kills a Shi’ite - or vicey-versey - they’re both religious (by definition). The Shi’ite isn’t being killed because he’s not religious, he’s being killed because he’s religious in the wrong way.

Boru

Even the Medieval Inquisitions struggled with that distinction.

Actually, they didn’t even make that distinction.

Boru