Conservative and opportunist

Submitted by Concerned Buddhist (Lithuania), Sep 22, 2007 at 02:13

Generally speaking, I would say that rural Muslims could be considered mostly conservative (trying to preserve old lifestyle as much as possible), while urban Muslims would be more opportunistic(trying to use the fruits of modernity and at the same time preserving Islamic values to lesser or greater degree), although obviously there is no clear-cut distinction. The majority has completely no interest into economical or legal aspects of Sharia, while a part of conservatives can be unhappy that sharia is not applied more fully than to family life, however they would consider that applying sharia is the business of government(sultan) and that private individuals shall passively suffer everything what political power applies on them as long as government does not forbid "establishing prayer".

[Unless Muslims give up Prophet Mohammed as an ideal man or sharia or calipahate , they can never fit in modern world.]

Muhammed combines the features of both religious leader on one side, and warlord and politician on other side. Because of that Muslims have dificulty distinguishing the two, so that some quite unholy political and military acts of Muhammed are considered as "perfect example" which Muslims are expected to follow. The distinguishing of the two sides of Muhammed would be absolutely necessary in order to fit Islam into modern world, yet this would require quite innovative theological thinking, of which, as for now, very little Muslims are really capable, and those who would be capable are intimidated either by governments or by radical islamists.

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