69 million page views

Think harder, dig deeper, go higher

Reader comment on item: Secularism - Will It Survive?
in response to reader comment: Why secularism fails in Muslim world?

Submitted by Hani Bahnam (Lebanon), Aug 8, 2008 at 21:55

This is just a comment and not a fully fledged article so I will not engage in idea to idea analysis rather a strategic view on the causes leading up to the current state.

You see, the world has been created so to make 1 notion prevalent on all others. Capitalism. Everything that stands in the way of capitalism is pushed aside by the unraveling of its sheer power.

Religion in the state, by the state or by the people is a threat. The world cannot survive if it does not grow and growth requires a regulation system that is free of any form of constant enduring principles such as religion.

I will elaborate with one more example and 1 piece of advice.

Europe was ruled by all walks of church form, from Spain to France and Russia. They all fell, and the civil state prevailed as did Capitalism. Historically, the Arabs and Islamic peoples made all the initial inventions in a multitude of sciences but were handicapped by the lack of enough evolution in laws that prevented the flourishing of Capitalism.

The Arab world and Islam should follow the path of the French revolution and Turkish transformation. Move away from faith, turn into a civil state. That is the only sure way to have hope in 50 years from now. Voila, secularism is a means to an end. Capitalism replaced it, or is it capitalism that imposed it? hmmm

We mentioned Turkey, Now Dubai. Dubai is such a great example and the biggest threat to the advocates of Islam within the state regimes; yes regimes because 1 person can change the history of his people or the region, as did Ataturk with Turkey and Al-Nahyan family of Dubai.

There is hope because of Dubai. Don't look at the night life and sky scrapers, look at strategy, the obvious and the hidden. The only thing stronger than religion is greed. Others will follow suite because the global warming crisis (a threat to capitalism, again capitalism) cannot endure at this pace for the next 20 years, let alone 100 years; and as such energy sources will move away from gas to cleaner sources; and thus the inevitable need of transforming Arab countries into Dubai like economies to survive.

In short, the transformation of Islam into a niche religion just like Christianity. All problems solved. Islam will be embraced and will prosper.

As like the Vatican where the evolution of capitalism made it extinct. Nothing can stand in the way of capitalism.

Oil slowed the transformation and oil will speed it up, slowly.

Read your Adam Smith please. He has all the answers.

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Submit a comment on this item

<< Previous Comment      Next Comment >>

Reader comments (28) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
have some respect please [64 words]readerOct 23, 2011 10:01190308
1Why secularism fails in Muslim world? [564 words]Syed KasimDec 25, 2006 02:5170466
Thanks for your analysis [27 words]Rasha JammalMay 16, 2007 19:1370466
Albania- poor [17 words]GooieAug 16, 2007 01:4970466
Think harder, dig deeper, go higher [441 words]Hani BahnamAug 8, 2008 21:5570466
take it on [456 words]Hani BahnamAug 22, 2008 18:0570466
no muslim majority country could be secular [98 words]anmolJan 13, 2015 01:3370466
6 [20 words]islam_indiaJan 13, 2016 13:1970466
Origins of secularism [196 words]Roger D. McKinneyOct 18, 2005 11:2027042
2Roger D. McKinney, You Are Misinformed [70 words]John M. DagdelenAug 16, 2010 22:2127042
1A secular state, the ONLY way to freedom of and freedom from religion [304 words]Nick (South Africa)Oct 18, 2005 07:0327037
Secularism foredooms itself. [432 words]Peter HerzOct 16, 2005 00:2426982
1Protestantism-Mr. Hertz [390 words]Tom MartinezMar 21, 2006 11:2126982
Roger Williams [969 words]djlOct 15, 2005 10:5926975
impressive [8 words]Dale EhrgottOct 13, 2005 23:4926930
Secularism equals political correctness [28 words]John GiannascasOct 13, 2005 21:0026923
Secularism and Democracy: The only discussion we should be having [238 words]Victor PurintonOct 13, 2005 17:0926917
Secularism - past, present and future [1056 words]John BastileOct 13, 2005 13:5826906
Response to John Bastile: Islam and Secularism can co-exist - and in fact do. [360 words]Kane GoughJun 30, 2006 06:5526906
Muslims... [315 words]Hadia ToorOct 31, 2008 04:1926906
Reply to article [68 words]Emaan AslamiJun 9, 2009 05:2526906
a simple question [104 words]M. UMAIR (Poltical scienteit)Apr 25, 2010 07:2526906
2you are wrong [292 words]ali omerJun 13, 2010 09:4226906
2India and Indonesia [103 words]SanjeevOct 2, 2010 09:2826906
secularism past and present [135 words]sughra malikMar 31, 2013 10:2826906
Is this real? [66 words]AnnaAug 2, 2014 21:2226906
2weakness of secularism [386 words]roger wilkinsonOct 13, 2005 01:2026893
1Genuine Secularism Versus 'Converted Secularism' [783 words]Swahili DinazOct 12, 2005 10:5226861

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)