Tag of Islam vs. Religion of Islam

Submitted by Prashant (United States), Jul 25, 2011 at 11:00

Dear Dr Pipes:

The reader Naushad believes that Islam is on the march. Naushad's belief goes hand in hand with the propaganda that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. On the surface that might be true but deep down it might only be the tag of Islam that is winning. The number of muslims who are nominally muslims but are opening to other religious practices might be growing (no one will know about it though). For example,

** The percentage of muslims who believe that expansion of religion by resorting to violence is not right might be increasing.

** The percentage of muslims who believe that dogs are not "haram" might be increasing.

** The percentage of muslims who believe that democracy is good even in Islamic countries might be increasing.

** The percentage of muslims who believe that stubborn monotheism is 'much ado aboout nothing' might be increasing.

** The percentage of muslims who are willing to read about other religious philosophies might be increasing.

** The percentage of muslims who discard hijab and burqa might be increasing (if a woman stops wearing Hijab, how will you know that?).

** The percentage of Muslim women who share a husband with another, might be decreasing compared with , say, a century ago.

** The percentage of Muslims who will as much inheritence to their daughters as to their sons (thus going against Sharia) might be increasing.

** The percentage of Muslims who agree that a code written 1400 years ago should ot dictate the minutest detail of yor life might be increasing.

You get the idea.

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