format_quote Originally Posted by
cooterhein
I can understand avoiding certain things, or being selective about how you spend your free time outside of work, but this seems a bit excessive. For one thing, it's not good for your quality of life. For another, there's a certain set of things that tend to happen when people surround themselves with people who agree with them on just about everything of importance and insulate themselves from any influence besides that....and the results are not too good. And finally, this really seems to imply that you look at all non-Muslims, in general, as if they are harmful to your deen whenever you interact with them beyond surface level. Right now you're not even talking about extremely close relationships, you're talking about avoiding casual socialization. For you, right now, this is literally about being anti-social. That idea, insofar as it is that exact thing, deserves a bit of scrutiny.
I do believe in having a healthy exchange of ideas. In fact, I disagree with this discussion board’s policy that severely restricts expression of alternative views. I believe that everyone should feel free to ask questions and offer alternative views, so long as it is in a polite and respectful way.
But casual socialization is a different matter. Muslims are not just a religion but a very distinct social group. Catholics, Mormons, Hindus, Jews, and atheists are different religious or irreligious groups, but for the most part there are no barriers for social interaction among them. Therefore, despite belonging to different denominations and religions, socially they are part of the same mainstream society. But Muslims are an exception because we form a distinct social group as well. Our social behavior is so divergent from that of mainstream society that it is impossible to conceive of an observant Muslim socially interacting with non-Muslims outside of a strictly business context.
I don’t think this results in the kind of insulation that prevents intellectual and educational growth. The purpose of socialization is obviously social. I might read a non-Muslim’s book for educational purpose, or engage with him in an intellectual discussion about any subject, but socializing with him is a totally different thing.
You express amazement at how even surface level interaction between Muslim and non-Muslim can harm the former’s Deen. If by surface level interaction you still mean an interaction that is “social” then yes it is harmful. Islam is very exceptional in the world of religions in that it effects the social behavior of its adherents much more profoundly than any other major world religion. For example, Muslims are not only forbidden from drinking, but even strictly forbidden from sitting at a table where hard drink is being served, hence why it is inconceivable that an observant Muslim would enter a bar or certain restaurants (the major settings for socialization in non-Muslim society).
You argue that this is being “anti-social”. I think you will find that being anti-social is not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to wanting to avoid mainstream society. Muslims are basically people striving to create a counterculture or subculture and go against the grain. If you know the philosophy of Abrahamic religion, that is considered as something virtuous and ideal.