Authors Introduction
‘The West’s sun has finally set’, but is another
‘Enlightenment’ possible?
‘The sun has finally set in
the West’, said one Muslim writer in ominous tone.
‘The Enlightenment is over’ he went on. The West’s
global leadership, its liberty, its freedom and
human rights ideals are dying, with the Muslim world
‘an appendage to the capitalist world system’. Yet
the future, he went on, has a part for Islamic
intellectualism to play in the ‘rediscovery of its
great prophetic mission’.
(excerpt, Islamic
website, 2007)
Many in the West would disagree,
saying this present civilisation, warts and
brilliance, is like no other, and will surely rise
again in another ‘Enlightenment’, another age, to
display moral and ethical recovery, with a new
balance regarding ‘materialism’. He as others
avoided the critical questions about claims of
‘victim-hood’ and ‘self-pity’ woven into his world
and perhaps over-stated in its hopes for
‘intellectual potential’. Regarding the West’s many
faults, the Christian story of the Prodigal Son is
one with an optimistic ending. So, perhaps both
worlds can hope to meet, by finding ’The Middle
Way’?
Be
courteous when you argue with the People of the
Book, except with those among them who do evil.
Say: "We believe in that which is revealed to us
and which was revealed to you. Our God and your
God is one. To Him we surrender ourselves.
(Qu'ran
29:46)
Few in the West can agree on ‘What
is Islam’ today. Authors of books and websites and
broadcasts throughout the West have puzzled since
well before 2001 on whether ‘The West’ can
understand a rising, resurgent Islam in its midst,
let alone coexist with it? [more]
Integration does not mean giving up
your religion, culture, ideals or principles. It
means accepting that you have a positive role to
play in the society you are a member of. We have
some fantastic values in the Muslim community, and
integration will show UK society our values. We need
to make efforts to be productive Muslims and thus
productive members of society. The 'Muslim
community' in the UK is possibly the single biggest
reason why we are in this position (of being
criticised) and the sooner we disband the shackles
of the 'community institution' the better. In turn
this will bring greater understanding and harmony
(Muslims and society). It is all most Muslims want."
[more]
(excerpt, email response to
Muslim article, website, UK national newspaper,
January 2007)
If anyone questions what Islam will do, to force Americans to buckle under, with
the kinds of (implacable. author) pressure that Muslims put on countries around
the world, look to Great Britain today. It is sad to see the depths of
intimidation that Islam will go. (subtly, in parallel with covert activities
that disarm? author) The bottom line is the threat, (un-stated, understated, or
violent) of potential terrorist action. In Great Britain (the reader alleges.
author) Muslim imams and others have influence over the local Members of
Parliament. ‘Political Correctness’ then arises. [more]
(excerpt, conflation, reader
email, website article on Dangerous Knowledge, academic website, March 2007)
On ‘Muslims worldwide, and Western cultures’ a poll in 11 countries, conducted
for the UK’s BBC in February 2007, resulted in 86 per cent of people approached
willing to say Yes or No to questions about Common Ground or the Inevitability
of Violent Conflict, East (Islam) and the West’. Some 57 per cent agreed that
Common (Peaceful) Ground could be found. Some 30 per cent felt Violent Conflict
(Protestings, Rioting) as inevitable. The poll was conducted in the USA, France,
Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Indonesia, India, Kenya, Lebanon, Nigeria and
Turkey. [more]
(excerpt, conflation, Poll results, website, BBC report, issued February
2007)
The different strains of Islamic fundamentalism can be
distinguished from one another according to whether they rely on the
achievements of the Islamic legal tradition, or whether they reject them in
favour of a direct relation with the Qur’an and the Sunna. The former (legal
tradition) are as diverse as the Deobandi, the Barelvi, and Jamaat Al-Tabligh.
The latter include the Wahabi and the Salafi movements. This division is as much
cultural and theological. From India comes mystical elements in their ideology. Wahibism from
the Middle East rejects mysticism. [more]
(excerpts, conflations, book, chapter The
Absolutized Community, 2004) |
