Islam In The West
Dean's World is having a Carnival of Islam in the West. Some very interesting posts are linked.
Here is a good one posted by some time commenter Ali Eteraz at Jewcy. Ali discusses the different schools of Islam up to the modern day.
He leaves out two of the most destructive influences from the West.
Communism/Socialism and National Socialism.
Both quasi religious doctrines disguised as political beliefs. A difficulty also seen in Islam although the emphasis may be reversed.
To become modern Islam must separate the public from the private. However, the result will be (as the "fundamentalists" do see) the end of Islam except as a vestige. Thus the war within Islam and between Islam and the West.
Islam will lose because people are human. Given the choice between heaven on earth and heaven in heaven people tend (by a wide margin) to choose the former over the latter. Material progress leads to spiritual decline.
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5 comments:
"Material progress leads to spiritual decline."
And thank Zeus for both. Hopefully, as the fear of having no control over ones life which comes from living in poverty and being exposed to the elements recedes, not only will our desire for a theistic Rescue Hero in the sky to take control also recede but the desire to meet that dream via a Rescue Hero in government will as well.
Unfortunately many find it difficult to believe that freedom and prosperity have such an effect on Islam since one can point to many educated and prosperous Muslims involved in terrorist activities (doctors and engineers etc). What this overlooks is that these people come from societies where the traditional views are shaped by the poor and the ignorant so associating these views with the doctors and engineers in the societies who have the skills, money and contacts to get involved in this kind of thing is not exactly accurate. A second overlooked factor is the fact that, while it is the second and third generation immigrants and the more wealthy and educated of the Islamic world who are often involved in political Islamism and terrorism, this is just as indicative of a reactionary movement as anything else. Their extreme reaction against "Western decadence" and secularism is a result of seeing it streaming through their communities and youth culture. Islamists are more reactive against the global culture now than in earlier recent times because they can tell it is winning.
Islam's demographic advantage everywhere is quickly waning (high birthrates exist but are falling faster than our own did) and their ability to gain converts is minuscule. As ex-Muslim groups form across Europe the Islamists are putting people off with greater extremism yet loosing their power to intimidate ex-Muslims with death threats due to the increasing numbers of new ex-Muslims.
Baron,
Most perceptive. It mirrors a lot of things I have been mulling over.
To become modern Islam must separate the public from the private.
Islam will always remain a "public" religion regardless of what non-believers want of it. When a man or woman becomes a Muslim, he or she joins a worldwide Ummah; what affects the Ummah in one part of the world affects Muslims everywhere. Religion is not just an individual or private affair. Our beliefs and actions, for good or ill, affect everyone (regardless of whether that person is Muslim or not). Non-Muslims better learn that basic truth if they want to get "modern."
Islam will lose because people are human.
Islam will win because non-Muslims are human ... and because they sell their souls for a miserable price.
Given the choice between heaven on earth and heaven in heaven people tend (by a wide margin) to choose the former over the latter. Material progress leads to spiritual decline.
Given the choice between worldly life vs. the hereafter, Muslims choose the hereafter. We know better. We know that wealth and children ("material progress") are but an adornment to this life, that they are tests to pass.
"And nothing is the life of this world but a play and a passing delight; and the life in the hereafter is by far the better for all who are conscious of God. Will you not, then, use your reason?" (6:32)
Go on with your delusions, your vain desires about how you'd like Islam to be. It won't get you anywhere.
As you point out, Islam will not change.
However, its followers will.
Once again, wishful thinking on your part.
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