Better Late than ever

Submitted by SS (Canada), Apr 3, 2008 at 05:30

It is just a matter of time till you see "traditional Europe" start to rise up and defend their culture and history, through political and possibly other means. People of the west generally speaking are a tolerant peace loving people, but, if you threaten their freedom - watch out.

In a recent conversation I had with a Muslim online - I discovered a few interesting things that help put things into perspective. He said that Sharia was not really a bad thing you know, and that I should not judge Islam too harshly, as other religions have been violent in the past. For example Christians used to burn people at the stake. I thought about this for a while then I responded with this:

Christianity and other religions have reformed and evolved over time. Christians not longer burn people at the stake. Islam however has not evolved or reformed - essentially at all - in the last 1400 years. With its current Koranic stance against unbelievers it is difficult for Islam to effectively convince people of other religions (and in general) of the world, that Islam wants to belong to the world community - as opposed to conquer it.

Another significant part of Islam is that it is a political platform - if it can build up enough critical mass (population) Islam will impose its political system and laws (Sharia Law) on the society in which it inhabits. This is not speculation, as Europe is now starting to see. Western civilization takes it Freedom seriously. The very platform of Islam - whether radical or not, is not compatible with the west.

So long as Islam is NOT willing to reform itself and lose all of its "non-believers are lessor beings" propaganda as well as its Sharia Law aspiration - I see no way for it to "get along with the west". The true problem I have with Islam is not a religious one, it is a social political one. Islam's all or nothing mentality in its current form will never be accepted in the west.

It is my view and the view of many, that their can be tolerant and peaceful Muslims, but not a tolerant and peaceful Islam. The serious obstacle that Islam will have - should it try and reform itself for the 21st century is - that the Entire Koran is considered to be the word of Allah. How can you really change the word of God? Furthermore much of the peaceful parts of the Koran are abrogated by the Violent parts. In my view the Koran is at best a big contradiction and Muslims really need to clearly state where they stand instead giving us the old "you are not a Muslim, so you do not understand" line of thinking.

Islam clearly has no control whatsoever over the very wide spread radical elements within it. Put that together with all that I mention above and you have a religion / social political party that is out of control, promotes a platform that is offensive to non-believers and makes no attempt amongst its moderates to seriously publicly protests what radicals are doing to its core. Islam has problems all right - none of which have anything to do with religion. It will NOT succeed in conquering any of the west, and if it continues to try, will be in for much more than it bargained for. It is nice to see the west starting to stand up - Better late than never.

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