69 million page views

From my experience in talking with Muslims...

Reader comment on item: Failing to Find Moderate Muslims at the "Progressive Muslim Union"

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.
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".

<< Previous Comment

Reader comments (3) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
I was looking for a 'progressive' movement [51 words]El CidOct 8, 2015 14:39225520
From my experience in talking with Muslims... [242 words]KStahlFeb 23, 2006 22:4737867
muslim's ignorance [203 words]sue ma ahmedFeb 11, 2006 13:2634949

Comment on this item

Mark my comment as a response to From my experience in talking with Muslims... by KStahl

Email me if someone replies to my comment

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".

See recent outstanding comments.

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.)