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Moderate Islam

Reader comment on item: Daniel Pipes fights the worldwide threat of Islamism - from Malibu
in response to reader comment: Last line

Submitted by Ian Campbell (United Kingdom), Mar 7, 2007 at 05:51

As Dr Pipes knows too well, the difficulty is being able to identify what is 'moderate Islam' and to harness it for the good of the world - and Islam itself. Edward Halper in his 'Last Line' comment rightly makes the point that Muslims need to experience 'the cultural space' in order to learn to practice moderation. This has never happened in Islam's history as far as I can tell so even 'moderate Islam' has no perception of what it is it has to do. Hence the clash that is now happening as Muslims spread among non-Muslims and a few do terrible things, but claely with a larger intent.

In the west we have to face Sharia law as practiced in apparently legitimate states who have an interest in both being a friend to/of the west but on the other hand require us to support and maintain them (directly with grant or indirectly with commerce) while they are governed by what is an increasingly illegitimate form of government .e.g Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt.

If we are to successfully argue for the space required for moderate Islam to flourish we must argue against such states' form of government in order to be able to to deny the unacceptable states e.g. Iran, Syria and 'Hamastan' legitimacy.

We hold back because we fear (radical) Islamist governments replacing them. But we must allow this to happen, providing they eschew violence and non-democratic means once in power, as part of the process of Islam moderating itself. Hamas argues that it has democratic legitimacy, but in a truly democratic environment a party that espouses violence as its means to its ends cannot be regarded as having a truly democratic intent. It should therefore not be permitted to participate in the democratic process and has only done so because of the vaccum that is the Israel/Palestine problem.

Until we have a state that is run by a radical Islamist party, on these terms, Islam will not begin to moderate itself.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (40) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1I'm proud to be muslim [14 words]authentichallMar 21, 2012 15:28194621
1Israel... The abused housewife [84 words]Barbara FreemanMar 11, 2008 15:27122406
A 21st century Daniel [78 words]DilliciaMar 10, 2007 04:2585573
Two-Edged Praise [157 words]Michele EzellSep 16, 2009 04:0285573
Two-Edged [19 words]Michele EzellSep 16, 2009 06:2185573
1The myth of Islamic intellectualism [196 words]J CampbellMar 9, 2007 21:0585543
When are you coming to Israel? [16 words]GabrielMar 8, 2007 16:3085282
1what about anti-hindu? [117 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
G. VishvasMar 8, 2007 05:2981302
About D.P. [28 words]Stephane S LubiczMar 7, 2007 21:4280785
Thank You [62 words]DelboyMar 7, 2007 15:2480721
Daniel Pipes fights the world wide threat of Islamism from Malibu [173 words]Debbie ShaferAug 3, 2008 20:2080721
How far? [44 words]David W. LincolnMar 7, 2007 13:4980705
1My Biblical perspective [185 words]MichaelMar 7, 2007 11:1380678
James Zogby - Moral Compass was broke a long time ago. [141 words]Jeff BurkeMar 7, 2007 07:1480663
The plain truth!! [113 words]Gina GershfeldMar 7, 2007 06:0180653
You can help the entire world Mr. Pipes. [116 words]Dee WardMar 7, 2007 02:5780639
Quran Will Have to Proven [782 words]kamekishMar 7, 2007 01:2380631
The only thing... [30 words]Mr. BurkeMar 6, 2007 21:0380608
nice article! [2 words]CocoMar 6, 2007 18:2380580
Thank You [120 words]PaulaMar 6, 2007 17:5780579
Good Article [1 words]Donald PufahlMar 6, 2007 17:1580574
Daniel Pipes for President [43 words]Howard E. CookMar 6, 2007 17:0980573
Yes!!! [26 words]YochannanApr 20, 2010 17:0280573
Thank You, Dr. Daniel Pipes [61 words]Regina GarrisonMar 6, 2007 17:0680572
Last line [88 words]Edward HalperMar 6, 2007 16:3780566
Dr. Daniel Pipes for President. [33 words]M.D'SouzaMar 6, 2007 20:2580566
Moderate Islam [334 words]Ian CampbellMar 7, 2007 05:5180566
I am sorry, as far as I can see, there is nothing called moderate Islam! [602 words]FaqiMar 7, 2007 17:5580566
Faqi : you are absolutely correct [198 words]DeeMar 8, 2007 01:1880566
Moderate Islam [230 words]Ian CampbellMar 8, 2007 05:1580566
Response to Mr. Ian Campbell [933 words]faqiMar 8, 2007 17:1680566
Prospects for the development of moderate Islam [237 words]Edward HalperMar 9, 2007 02:1680566
the answer [17 words]Yuval Brandstetter MDMar 9, 2007 11:4080566
Response to Mr. Edward Harper [1264 words]FaqiMar 9, 2007 14:0280566
Golden Age [309 words]Edward HalperMar 9, 2007 17:4480566
Educate the public of the dangers posed by Islam in the West [183 words]faqiMar 9, 2007 21:5380566
Mr, Campbell - There is plenty of hope for those moderate Muslims you posit [135 words]sullyMar 9, 2007 23:1680566
Moderate Islam [210 words]Ian CampbellMar 12, 2007 09:5480566
We don't want to be anyone's enemy. So, don't make us your enemy [397 words]Indonesian muslimNov 8, 2008 06:4780566
Intro to Islam (which means Peace) [293 words]Asma ( Lover of Islam (Peace))Mar 19, 2010 05:3280566

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