So, how do you all suggest we not act sexually repressed without violating our Islamic sexual ethics?

Thanks for the clarification. I always had a feeling Judaism and Islam had more in common than Judaism and Christianity, but with the term “Judeo-Christian” tradition it’s easy to think other wise.

So, while you have a point about Christianity vs. Islam, I think you’re misplacing Judaism in the picture.

What I meant by Islam being part of every facet of human life, I meant it in a historical framework. Just examine how Islam was implemented by the Prophet (SAWS) in Madinah (where he served as as the political leader and commander-in-chief within an Islamic state and implemented all rules regarding politics, economics, and social welfare by the dictates of Islam). I am not talking about this day and age where Muslims either don’t apply Islamic rules in totality and whatever rules they do apply they misapply it (thus the draconian and vulgar laws we see in existence today).
And WRT to Judaism and celibacy thank you for pointing that out to me because I was unaware of that. However it still holds true that historically in Europe, since Christianity was the predominant religion there, it played a large part in shaping people’s views towards sex and sexuality, which ultimately led to the sexual revolution.

Also, that religion permeate through every facet of life can be extremely problematic as well. Isn’t it this assumption of permeation that has led to the imposition of draconian and often vulgar laws on people in various parts of the world and in various points in history? And I’m not just referring to Islam here.

Really?

You seriously don’t think Christians incorporate their religion into their daily lives? Or Jews? Come to where I grew up, in Middle America Evangelical country and you’ll see otherwise. Or go to new york, where orthodox Jews can’t press elevator keys on the sabbath.

To say that Islam permeates into people’s lives but Christianity and Judaism do not is ethnocentric and really just… weird. There are plenty of “secular Muslims” out there.

And by the way, Jews never practiced celibacy and Judaism frankly encourages sex just like Islam. Sex is practically required on the sabbath.

there’s even much more wrong with the German government’s dealing with immigrants but that would probably derail the comments even more. Actually, there’s not much difference whether they talk about fancy bras and being prude. On the one hand “look at them, they’re still in the middle ages” is a nice cover so nobody has to reflect on the fact that much of Germany’s gender and sexual conventions are still stuck in the fifties and carry on ideas from the Nazi era. Also the article in question mentioned that western influence has led to the popularity of those undergarments (good western ideas + bad repressed people = way over the top bras = quality entertainment). It was only article though and 99% of the coverage is on the side of “this are the problems Muslim countries have with sex”. More recently the ad about sexy lingerie under burqas was passed around everywhere just like circusses (is that the proper plural form?) used to show off human “atrocities”.

Sorry if this is a bit incoherent but it’s quite late.

[This comment has been edited to fit within comment moderation guidelines.]

Islam by contrast never instructed its followers to practice celibacy or to view sex as immoral and corrupt. Instead it frankly encourages its followers to seek the pleasures of sex freely with the lawful institution of marriage. Instead of feeling shameful for having had sex Muslims are told of the endless rewards for having it each time they do it as marital partners. The other difference between Islam and Judeo-Christian tradition has to do with the fact that Islam has ideological underpinnings that make it exist within every facet of society from the personal to the political. By failing to understand this basic historical framework between Islam and the Western Judo-Christian tradition, Ates’ recommendation falls far short.