Dr. Pipes evasion
Reader comment on item: More Special Privileges for Muslims

Submitted by Ralph C Whaley MD (United States), Aug 7, 2006 at 11:39

Dear Dr. Pipes,

Your writings imply that you believe that Islam is being corrupted by a false understanding expressed in acts of terrorism and war against fellow Muslims and non- Muslims alike. You propose a different understanding of Islam that would be compatible with peaceful arrangements between all men.

The problem in such an approach is failure to understand the nature of Islam and more broadly the nature of religion in general. The essence of all religion is faith. All serious religionists agree on this point. Faith is a belief in the absence of evidence and/or in controversion of evidence. Men of faith who confront men who do not accept faith have no recourse to reason based dealing with non believers. They specifically reject reason and appeal to their faith which leaves them only one course of action, FORCE.

For a detailed explanation of the corollaries of Faith and Force all srious thinkers should read Ayn Rand's essay "Faith and Force: The Destroyers of the Modern World" in "Philosophy: Who Needs It" available at book stores everywhere.

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Daniel Pipes replies:

"Your writings imply that you believe that Islam is being corrupted by a false understanding expressed in acts of terrorism and war against fellow Muslims and non- Muslims alike."

Not so. I have repeatedly argued against the "hijacked Islam" thesis - see "Has Islam Been Hijacked?" - and acknowledge radical Islam as a valid, if evil, reading.