Islam will collapse whether reformed or not

Submitted by S.R. Judah (United Kingdom), Aug 14, 2002 at 19:41

A matter of concern now is what can only be called the Great Islamic invasion of the West, particularly of Europe. Attendant with this is a high demographic growth which is leading to intense disquiet in the West for the future of Western civilisation. So I suppose a reformation of Islam is naturally a topic of interest.

As I posted earlier, the Reformation of Islam is unlikely as there is nothing in the Koran which will permit such. Mr Pipes cites the example of Turkey, which shows signs of such a reformation. Turkey though happens to be just one isolated case in the entire Islamic world and certainly cannot be taken as representative of a general movement towards reformation. Moreover, Turkey's hesitant steps are undertaken under the encouraging aegis of the Turkish army, which also maintains Turkey's secular state. This state of affairs is unlikely to last, as one of the conditions for Turkey's entry to the EU, is a genuine democracy, with no say for the armed forces. Further, as the reformation is a religious one, it would have to be transcribed in some form. The Koran in Turkish could carry the elements of the reformation. But the fact will remain, that the definitive version of the Koran will still be Arabic. Turkey though, once having gained entry to the EU with all the benefits of thereof and no further guidance from the army, may well revert to the original and definitive version of the Koran. Such an eventuality would be disastrous for the West and for Europe in particular.

I do feel though that Osama bin Laden and crew have won not just a battle but have gone some way to winning the war. Here I don't mean the destruction of the WTC. The main thrust of Islamists, moderate or otherwise is to propagate their faith. And the events of 9/11 have brought Islam to the centre of the political and religious arena, giving it an importance way in excess of its worth. And it is in this sense that bin Laden has gone some way to winning the war.

For us to turn this we have to show that Islamic values are not just incompatible with modern civilisation but that they lead to economic and social chaos, the enslavement of women and religious minorities and worse, the shut down of free and innovative thought. In other words Islamic values when applied coherently, lead to the regression of society to the Dark ages. Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Iran are sufficient examples.

Thus Islam and its adherents are in a fix. Islam will collapse if it is reformed and collapse if it doesn't, through its own internal contradictions and backwardness.

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