Dr. Pipes is a patient man!
Reader comment on item: Vanquishing the Islamist Enemy

Submitted by jennifer solis (United States), Mar 8, 2008 at 01:19

Thank you to Dr. Pipes for making availiable this video. Very interesting and informative as always. I find Dr. Pipes' patience with regards to questions asked by the students as nothing less than amazing. If these questions are in any way reflective of the majority, God help us.

The question of one student, who tried to compare Christianity in the U.S. to Islamism, was absolutely ridiculous, but Dr. Pipes is nothing if not respectful, even towards bozos. His reply to the question was articulate, accurate (as always) and left no room for debate.

However, one extra point I would be curious for Dr. Pipes to comment towards, would be that in the U.S., any Christian religious group that turns into a cult, or claims to adhere only to "Theocratical" rule, etc., and in so doing breaks laws (Jim Jones, David Coresh), our government shows absolutely no favoritism based on the founding fathers having been Christian. Yes, there is seperation of Church and State. But the point I'm wondering about is how the U.S., predominately Christian, polices itself with regards to situations where Christianity is twisted into a cult, or otherwise perverted. These organizations are not allowed to continue.

Dr. Pipes stated that "moderate" Islam must be encouraged. I would ask Dr. Pipes, at what point would "moderate" Islam be expected to not "allow" Islamism to exist within Islam? According to Dr. Pipes, Islamism holds only around ten percent of the Muslim population. The "moderates" have the majority.

Is there any Muslim country wherein the "moderates" systematically eliminate Islamist "extremists"?

Would this be possible without seperation of "Mosque and State?"

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Daniel Pipes replies:

"Is there any Muslim country wherein the "moderates" systematically eliminate Islamist "extremists"?"

There is if one understands extremists to be violent-prone Islamists, in which case states in Tunisia, Egypt, Turkey, and elsewhere are vigilant. Non-violent Islamism, however, gets a pass just about everywhere.