Shows like this, once again, beg the question: why is it only Islam that always needs to be “demystified”? Why is Islam the only religion that is so “misunderstood“? Where are the series dedicated to “demystifying” Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism””you know, so we can “clear the air,” once and for all? As with the canard that, one need be fluent in Arabic to truly understand the commandments of the Koran, the hackneyed concept that Islam is so “profound” that only some sort of transcended sage can truly understand it””and in the meantime, the rest of humanity are better keeping silent on the matter””is no more than a shameless smokescreen. Indeed, that’s Suffi and, to a much lesser extent, Shia talk. Sunni Islam, on the other hand (which makes up well over 90% of all Islam) is of all the major religions the most straightforward, black and white, totally legalistic and therefore totally “demystified” religion there is.
“Channel 4 continues to “˜de-mystify Islam,– from AIM, July 14:
A week-long television series starting on Channel 4 on 14th July, titled “˜The Seven Wonders of the Muslim World”, will travel into the heart of Muslim-majority countries from across the world.
This series is part of a special week of programmes which aims to de-mystify Islam, offering an insight into the lives and beliefs of Muslims all over the world.
It will start with Mecca in Saudi Arabia the city where the religion started and which is the birth place of its founder. The guides are six pilgrims from different parts of the world – including a young Spanish pizza chef, a newspaper boy from Jerusalem, and a PR professional from Pakistan.
They all have a dream, to visit Mecca for pilgrimage.
On Sunday 20th July, building on the people and themes introduced earlier, Channel 4 will screen a 90-minute documentary with unprecedented access to Mecca.
The season on de-mystifying Islam also includes the first in-depth documentary on the Qu”ran and a website “˜Osama Loves”, which explores the diversity of the Muslim world by finding as many people called Osama as possible in a journey ranging from Indonesia to New York.
Also from New York, there is a special series of Sharia TV, giving young Muslims the chance to pose questions to experts drawn from a spectrum of Islamic opinion.