Submitted by KStahl (United States), Feb 23, 2006 at 22:47
From my experience in talking with Muslims, figuring out who is "moderate" and who is not has everything to do with the role and emphasis the individual wants to give to Sharia - especially in Western society. If you have someone who views Sharia as the ultimate expression of an ideal society - you are certainly not dealing with a "moderate, " because this person, when backed into a corner, will reluctantly admit that Sharia is better than Western forms of jurisprudence and constitutional law. So, when I'm trying to discern who is moderate or not, I force him out into the open about his views on Sharia and its place in a modern democratic society. I also have discovered that when you expose someone on this issue - or "force him out" - things start getting a bit "testy," because it leads to a series of other questions which ultimately call the "game."
The point is, one can have all kinds of "fruitful" dialogue about the Koran, and the true nature of Islam, religious tolerance, peace, non-violence, etc, etc, etc. and you still will not know where a Muslim is coming from on important questions like democracy, religious tolerance, human rights, women's rights, pluralism, free speech, freedom of conscience or other issues important to Americans until you make Sharia the issue. Then, you know. Trust me - this tactic works. I've forced out some amazing (and disturbing statements) from otherwise "moderate" Muslims.
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