Modern technology is a dual-edged sword

Submitted by Prashant (United States), Jan 3, 2014 at 02:20

Dear Dr Pipes,

You pointed out ,and many people agreed, that with time different versions of Islam tend to converge to the single normative form. I think that in today's world this process of convergence to the normative form is enabled by the modern technology. First, mullahs and redicals in one country can now interact with mullahs and radicals in another instantaneously. Similarly, the worldwide feeling of victimhood can now be instantaneouly propagated from Israel to Kashmir to Northern Nigeria, to Southern Philippines, to London, to Minnesota back to the West Bank. Modern Technology is thus making it possible for Islamic radicals to spread their ideas and feeling around the world and contributing to Muslim's quick convergence to normative Islam. But that is not the end of the story.

When we see Hijab's in the western cities we tend to get alarmed about this phenomenon. But technology is a two way street; for every new Hijab in a western city, there might be ten muslim girls rejecting the Hijab in their own native societies. I think the fraction of MINO class of people (muslims in name only) might be increasing around the world. That might be a ray of good hope.

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