Islam will change at an exponential speed

Submitted by Prashant (United States), Mar 4, 2015 at 10:45

Dear Dr Pipes, In reference to your blog comparing your viewpoint and Yetkin's, I think it is a moot point whether you or Yetkin is more correct or you and Yetkin even differ from each other. I think as long as a large number of Muslims start wondering that their religion has not lived up to its declared promise, the purpose will be served. And, Yetkin's article is a step in the right direction. And, your analysis is also one such step.

Separation of church and state is a good value. All human societies must follow this value. But this value, by itself, is not enough. Unless this value comes with freedom of thought and freedom of expression, it becomes valueless. So the erstwhile communist states cannot be cited as good examples of entities that separated church and state from each other.

I believe that with a smartphone in every hand, Islam will change much much faster than anyone of us can imagine. Even the biggest supporter of ISIS will be able to see for himself/herself the destruction around him/her and peace and prosperity elsewhere. No one who is fully informed can support boko-haram for too long. No one who is fully informed can support honor-killings for too long. No one who is fully informed can support the idea someone is a sinner just because he/she uses a different set of objects as their reminders of God than him/her. No one who is fully informed can resist the idea for too long that while calls for prayers are good, calls for prayers on loud speakers were never meant to be. These and hundreds of other such small thoughts must creep into the Islamic mindset before a neighbor-friendly version of Islam emerges.

I believe that with easier spread of information and education this process will take place at an exponentially accelerated pace. More and more muslims will realize that even if Islamic principles are hundred percent correct, they are not worth dying for or killing for. That will bring the true change.

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