History

Submitted by Mike Shapiro (United States), Aug 13, 2002 at 21:31

While I certainly appreciate Daniel Pipes' hopeful view of the future of Islam, as manifest in a very few, relatively isolated instances (i.e. Turkey), as a historian and, I fear, a realist, I have doubts about the ability to "modernize" Islam.

There have been a number of instances, over the centuries, of "progressive" Islam (please remember that, in context, the concept of women praying next to men, or "mixed" marriages would not have ever come up a millenium ago. Spain in the Golden age comes to mind as just one.

But, in the long run, these progressive forms of Islam have been, without exception, overrun by the extremists. Looking back at 1,400 years, one must conclude that the prevalent doctrines and outlook of Islam has always been dominated by the extremist elements...and always will be.

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