Looking for the answer with the wrong question

Submitted by MMR (United States), Aug 5, 2013 at 03:00

The trick to what Dr. Pipes is talking about is understanding that level-headed, rational compromises on religion happened as a natural response to an observed reality. No great leader arose to lead the masses on a revolutionary shift into moderation. Great leaders arise for radical movements instead (such as attempts to perfectly implement Shariah in the past).

There won't be a nation or a leader to change Islam. Instead Muslims as a whole, when living with the challenges of modernity like functional civic governments, healthy economic growth, and honestly open media, will naturally begin to see the folly in fundamentalism and clamor for gradual changes in theory and application of the law if not outright compromise on an Islamic fantasy with reality.

For example, take a look at Communism, how it's fanatics in various countries like Russia and China just lost interest in toting the party line and eventually started addressing actual problems and ignoring theoretical ones.

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