Probing Islam - General Comments

<body> <table border="0" cellpadding="30" cellspacing="0" width="100%" id="table5"> <tr> <td> <h1>What is happening? <br>                               ...and where do we go from here?</h1> <h3>(or What is to be done? Where to begin? Lenin 1902)</h3> <h3>An ordinary Brit’s review, Summer 2007</h3> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" id="table6"> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top"><span class="bold">‘Probing-Islam Part 1’ began by saying ‘There is always the Middle Way – if men’s hearts will open to it?’ It bent over backwards to keep a balance under specific Chapter headings and in small text bites, in reporting ‘other people’s views’ on the emotive, even threatening subject of Islam and the West yesterday, today and tomorrow. </span> <p>I’m still seeking ‘the middle way’. ‘Probing-Islam Part II’ is hopefully just as balanced. You need to see this author as reporter not commentator (except for a few words, such as these author comments). </p> <p>‘Vox populi’ sources have proliferated in the past year, since Part 1 emerged. On the subject of Islam and the West, it is hard work uncovering ‘theories, opinions, beliefs’ which reflect the positive; overall the tenor is antagonistic, whether drawn for or from East or West. </p> <p>Voices are more numerous, much stronger, polarised, courageous, whether warning about inroads into Western freedoms and perceived threats, or pleading the case for Islam the religion, defending its sincerity, and denying an intent - among the mass of Muslims - to ‘dominate’ the religious world. The goodwill and hopes of many in secular democracy for ‘middle way’ solutions are under great strain. </p> <p>But we’re in this together. East and West, Islam and Christianity (and all the other historic acceptable ‘religions’). In all communities, everywhere, any age, anytime, there is peace, violence, human and fallible ‘theories, opinions and beliefs’ arising, dominating, driving… all too often into violence, our ego’s I Am Right, ergo You Are Wrong. Left and right extremisms are powerful. The true spiritual does not insist. Ego has to give way. It has always has been thus. The middle way is surely still mankind’s ideal. Otherwise …</p> </td> <td align="left" valign="top"> <img border="0" src="images/gen-comm.jpg" width="200" height="315" hspace="10"></td> </tr> </table> <div align="right"> <table id="table7" width="80%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td align="right"> <img src="images/table-right_01.gif" width="80" height="30" alt=""></td> <td width="30" height="30"> <img src="images/table-right_02.gif" width="30" height="30" alt=""></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right"> “And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off;<br>  for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.<br> <br> Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey; <br> and the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no judgment.”<br> <br> The Bible, Isaiah 59.14,15</td> <td width="30" background="images/table-right_04.gif">  </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right"> <img src="images/table-right_05.gif" width="80" height="30" alt=""></td> <td width="30" height="30"> <img src="images/table-right_06.gif" width="30" height="30" alt=""></td> </tr> </table> </div> <p align="right"><i><span class="titchy"><a href="#" onclick="window.print();return false;">print page</a> | <a href="general-comments.htm">reload page</a> | <a target="_top" href="index.htm">reload site</a></span></i></p> </td> </tr> </table> </body>