The difficuilties facing Muslims in space

[Hepcat]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21656416-2,00.html

I saw this in the newspaper at work today and found it quite interesting. Muslims will need to find a way around this if we ever do begin colonising planets, or if they want to go on commercial space flights.

[Fragony]

hehe that's hysterical, quite the dilemma indeed :laugh4:

[English assassin]

And what do they do when they meet the Pigs In Spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaace?

[CountArach]

Wow, I didn't see that coming. It is an interesting question though...

[Fragony]

And what do they do when they meet the Pigs In Spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaace

Thinks of Mel Brook's 'History of the world'... Or worse, jews in space! :beam:

[Husar]

I thought Allah is forgiving?
Allah will surely know that the Astronaut cannot keep up with certain things, so what's all that about?:sweatdrop:

[macsen rufus]

Well, strict adherence is going to be impossible, isn't it? But I thought the final comment about halal food was bit of a copout. Imagine the derision if someone said "I'm a vegetarian but eat meat consistent with restraining hunger"???? I think it all goes to show that by the time you (as a species) get into space you really should have grown out of religion :beam:

[Vladimir]

I thought Allah is forgiving?
Allah will surely know that the Astronaut cannot keep up with certain things, so what's all that about?:sweatdrop:

It's not about Allah but the fanatics that will chop your head off once you land. :smash: Maybe devout muslims should stay home barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen?

[InsaneApache]

Would the women have to wear a burka under their pressure suit, when they go for a spacewalk? :inquisitive: :laugh4:

[Husar]

I think it all goes to show that by the time you (as a species) get into space you really should have grown out of religion :beam:
I don't think so since I don't see the issues of a christian in space, can you name one? I'm not sure about other religions, but christian pray whenever they feel like it and into whatever direction they feel like, they can also eat any kind of food, don't need a carpet etc.

[Samurai Waki]

Yes, but I also think that by and large Christians tend to believe that Earth is the place of our origin, so it should be revered in some way. But not entirely the place of our future. Its a rather shallow view to believe that the all-knowing Allah, God, Jehova etc is confined within the limits of only one solar system.

In Futurama when Bender talks to God he says he wants to go back to Earth, and god replies "oh, which direction is that?" Had a good laugh after that.

[Don Corleone]

Fundamentalist Christians believe Genesis literally. So that could cause a big problem, when they see that in fact stars are not 'in our sky', but just other solar systems. I'm pretty sure they reject the possibility of life on other planets, mainly because God created the chosen people here.

Interestingly, Ray Bradbury wrote a short story about the ramifications of life on other planets. Basically, the birth, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ would be an epochal event that is triggered by society reaching a certain level of accomplishment (think Golden Age in Civilization III). Jesus roams the galaxies, repeating this cycle on various planets as their societies progress to a point where they can even understand his ministry. There's a guy trying to catch up to him but always misses him, he always arrives closer and closer but always right after the ascension.

I don't think more rational Christians who take the Pentetauch as metaphorical, would have any issues along these lines.

[Husar]

If god created the universe, and that's what I believe, I don't see why he should be confined or anything. Concerning fundamental christians who believe that the stars are "in our sky"....I don't know what to say, it's how it's written down and we still use the phrase in love poems, but it's like saying any material not exactly mentioned in the bible doesn't exist, so just because the bible never mentions computers they either don't exist or are a thing of the devil or what? I mean such abelief is so unbelievable that I just don't know what to say.:laugh4:

[Don Corleone]

I never said it made any sense. For a lot of fundies, yes, electricity and computers are indeed from the devil. :dizzy2:

Personally, I think it's blasphemous to say try to limit God's power and say what He was and was not capable of. If He wanted to scatter life throughout the cosmos, who are we to come up with 'only-child' syndrome.

[Geoffrey S]

These kind of things show just how pointless it is to take holy scriptures and apply them literally to everyday life. Christianity has for a large part progressed beyond such contradictory issues, but it is clear that the Islam has not.

Interestingly, Ray Bradbury wrote a short story about the ramifications of life on other planets. Basically, the birth, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ would be an epochal event that is triggered by society reaching a certain level of accomplishment (think Golden Age in Civilization III). Jesus roams the galaxies, repeating this cycle on various planets as their societies progress to a point where they can even understand his ministry. There's a guy trying to catch up to him but always misses him, he always arrives closer and closer but always right after the ascension.
That was a good one, and I liked the point the author was making on belief.

[Leet Eriksson]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21656416-2,00.html

I saw this in the newspaper at work today and found it quite interesting. Muslims will need to find a way around this if we ever do begin colonising planets, or if they want to go on commercial space flights.

I think these have been already answered.

As mentioned in the article, already 2 muslims went to space, if you can't preform any rituals, you don't have to. However it should be noted that while travelling facing mecca is not obligatory, particularily if you don't know where meccas direction is. And if you are suspended in space you can usually just recite the ritual in your heart.

And if it so happens we colonise planets sometime in the far future, it wouldn't be a big problem becuase the prayers while travelling rule still apply.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

In space, no-one can hear you pray.

[Martok]

Schrödinger's Mecca? :idea2:

[English assassin]

Interestingly, Ray Bradbury wrote a short story about the ramifications of life on other planets. Basically, the birth, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ would be an epochal event that is triggered by society reaching a certain level of accomplishment (think Golden Age in Civilization III). Jesus roams the galaxies, repeating this cycle on various planets as their societies progress to a point where they can even understand his ministry. There's a guy trying to catch up to him but always misses him, he always arrives closer and closer but always right after the ascension.

Ray Bradbury is teh bomb :2thumbsup:

[naut]

Good question. :laugh4: