Only Muslims can solve this problem
Reader comment on item: God and Mammon: Does Poverty Cause Militant Islam?

Submitted by Bharati (United States), Jan 11, 2003 at 10:31

I am an Indian Hindu & have first hand knowledge of Muslim society since my childhood. My opinion is that it is a myth that poverty creates fanatism in Islam.

It lies in the hope to regain the lost glory of Islam of the Middle Ages. For these Muslims, ONLY ISLAM deserves to rule the world & all the non-muslims belongs to them as slaves (This includes everybody -- Hindus, Jews, Christians).

Their history also teaches them that intimidation works. It worked in India for almost 1000 years. They were able to steal everything that Indians owned & glorify themselves in the eyes of world as their own.

This thinking has nothing to do with wealth. My opinion is, if the Muslim world becomes as economically successful as Japan/China, it will make this movement even stronger as it will further be a proof for these people that Islam is reaching its past (well deserved) glory.

I think only progressive Muslims can eradicate this thinking if they choose to talk about these shortcomings. My experience is that while there are a lot of modern Muslims out there, they don't dare to talk publicly against this ill.

So the world needs to stop falsely glorifying Islam & should instead encourage the progressive Muslims to speak up against their religious bigotry.

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