I have a problem with the arbitrarty limits Islam sets....What do you think of this view? I would agree with you that ethnic or nationalist expressions are frequently so strong that they can even overwhelm or distort religious teachings. This can lead to an encroachment on certain artistic and scientific endeavours - of course, the absence of all limitations can also lead to an encroachment by the arts or sciences into other spheres of life (such as ethics). At the same time ethnic expressions and differences can also enrich and enliven both religious and artistic traditions. A self-correcting balancing act is required to maintain some sort of equilibrium in these areas.

Of course Islam does set limitations - not on science per se but on the use of the fruits of the sciences. For example, there are strict limits on the conduct of warfare laid out in the Qur'an and the hadith. And we are warned against the effects of warfare in a time when technology will make it extremely easy and therefore extremely tempting to devastate or obliterate an enemy. "I warn you of the wars of the future and the enormity of evil which they will carry...There will be those who will persist in inciting wars around the earth with the perseverance of an ostrich...." (from Nahjul Balagha)

The Qur'an disallows a war of aggression, but allows a war of defense only until the aggressor ceases his aggression. In the Prophet's time the conduct of war was so delimited by rules designed to preserve both lives and the environment that the Muslims frequently felt themselves to be under a tremendous handicap since the other side did not feel themselves bound in any way to the same rules. Yet they never wavered from those rules in favour of expedient but unethical techniques of warfare. War is never a positive event so it is important to limit and contain its negative effects as much as possible. On the other hand as long as there is oppression and aggression, wars of defense may be necessary for survival. Again, this is an ethical limitation, but one which impacts the use of technology. Having a powerful technology does not mean that the ethical principles are no longer valid - rather it makes their enforcement far more necessary.

As for art, Islam does set limits on it, but not so much by saying this and that is not permissable. Rather, it exalts art, raising it almost to the point of a religion in itself. Therefore it has a responsibility which is correspondingly great. Art brings consciousness to the unconscious human soul. It awakens within man that which is deeper than the surface, beyond the purely tangible and material level. It speaks in a very compact yet profound language. "Even plaster and stone transform into meaning, feeling, reflection, and abstraction under artful hands." (Ali Shari'ati in "Art, Awaiting the Saviour")

Too much of what passes for art has the function of deadening the consciousness - it attempts to appeal to what is base in man since this is far easier than appealing to what is noble. To consider art as merely an entertainment, something with which to keep people occupied, or as a relief from the strain of modern life is to "...give this lowest of tasks to the most sacred of activities.....The state of art is such today that the worst of duties and the most mischievous of missions is (given in its hands)." (Ali Shari'ati).

But if much of art is a false and pointless or egotistical (making much of the feeblest and most self-indulgent whims of the "artist") enterprise it is also true that "...if you see that there is a forged coin in the market, know that there has been a golden one which was a true means of exchange." (Rumi) Misuse of truth, religion, art etc. is no reason to cast these things aside - instead we should endeavour to discover their true use.