How to achieve a reformation?

Submitted by Rajender Razdan (United States), Aug 13, 2002 at 10:31

I agree with Daniel that Islam will have to find a way to adapt and that adaptation is indeed possible. One has the examples of Judaism and Christianity, two other sister monotheistic religions believing in the One (& only) "True" God, which have managed to go through such a reformation themselves, so much so that there are very few people who follow each and every word of the Torah or Bible. [That there is scope for even further reform in all these monotheistic religions so that they are truly more tolerant of other faiths, especially the non-monotheistic religions, is a subject for another study]. The example of Turkey is a good one as well. If Islam can reform in a place like Turkey why not elsewhere?

However, I disagree with Daniel in the mode to achieve such a reformation in Islam. I do not believe Islam will attempt such a reformation unless it is confronted head-front. Trying to split Islam into Radical Islam and Mainstream Islam just serves to further the cause of radical Islam. All of us have to insist that the Koran itself be reformed to strike down the clauses there asking its adherents to "kill infidels and slay idol-worshippers".

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