New interpretations

Hizbollah, the pros and the cons according to Ziauddin Sardar.

But [the] positive aspects of Hezbollah should not distract us from understanding its overall goal: to create a faith-based state in Lebanon.

This is where Hezbollah and I part company. If recent Muslim history is anything to go by, the so-called Islamic states, where Islam controls all aspects of citizens' lives, have been a disaster.
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In Islam, politics can never really be separated from religion. Muslims have interpreted this to mean that they must work to create an Islamic state. I would argue for a new interpretation where politics based on faith is directed towards developing a civic society.

When the Koran tells Muslims to co-operate with other communities, and "help one another in goodness and piety", it is not asking Muslims to create a state based on faith. Rather, it is suggesting that the faithful should strive to create a good, equitable and just civic society.

And for an extended meditation attempting to 'free it [the tradition] from those who turn metaphors into literalism' - with particular reference to the metaphor of Jews as apes and pigs - see here. (Thanks: RA.)