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What will moderate Islam look like?

Reader comment on item: That Failed Philadelphia "Islamic Jew-Hatred" Bus Ad
in response to reader comment: Moderate Islam is a mythical concept and doesn't exist!

Submitted by Prashant (United States), Jun 18, 2015 at 14:31

Dear Dr Pipes, your reader Jaladhi stated that moderate Islam is a mythical concept and does not exist. I do not know. Jaladhi might be right. However, it might be useful to think what will moderate Islam look like if it were to exist. If we know what it would look like if it were to exist, we will be able to recognize it when we find it.

Why do we call someone a moderate? Who is a moderate Jew, Christian, Hindu, or Buddist? I think one fundamental value espoused by moderate religions (or moderate religious people) is that at some level we recognize that there is a set of values that would bring peace, prosperity, forgiveness and love among us all. And the purpose of religion(s) is to encourage and spread these values. Thus, the religions exist to serve the purpose of these values and not the other way round. And, hopefully, God will like us if we follow these values and the God's cause is not in contradiction to these values.

Life presents us with ample opportunities to practice the above policy. If we see a thief, we call him bad irrespective of his religion. If a country tormentizes another, we call the former bad. If a person or group of people refuses to forgive someone else, we ask them to move on. If a politician serves special interests, we call the politician bad. If two young people fall in love, we let love win over the beliefs or doctrines. The examples and many and small but they can go on and on and they define what being moderate is. Religious labels play no roles in these day-to-day decisions.

Every Muslim can judge himself/herself by these criteria and every one of us can judge muslims and everyone else using these criteria and we will know who is moderate and who is not.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (22) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
2Husseini was not just a voice in a hurriicane [158 words]walter BensonJul 9, 2015 12:49224122
2A question in reguards to the Arab involvment in world war 2. [28 words]Brian HockersmithJun 21, 2015 19:40223891
5I know my 1st response was too long to be posted. This one will be a better fit for the topic & space provided [131 words]DrRJPJun 3, 2015 12:04223658
2Envy: the basis of Jew-hatred [331 words]Michael SJun 13, 2015 04:43223658
Team Spirit [167 words]Michael sJun 1, 2015 21:21223617
Geller's people stir up controversy -- perhaps to avoid a deeper controversy [354 words]Michael SJun 1, 2015 16:18223615
3A different composition of the ad copy [59 words]PezDispenserMay 29, 2015 07:20223585
2Today is farhud day [130 words]DrwillyJun 1, 2015 06:21223585
14Moderate Islam [144 words]Sister of Wafa, Nonie, and AyaanMay 28, 2015 18:13223576
1Islam needs a Reformation [44 words]GuestJun 8, 2015 22:38223576
3Moderate Islam is a mythical concept and doesn't exist! [120 words]JaladhiJun 16, 2015 16:52223576
1What will moderate Islam look like? [314 words]PrashantJun 18, 2015 14:31223576
struggling for a better advertisement [177 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
George KeselmanMay 28, 2015 13:19223572
5Husseini Was Not Marginal [108 words]DaveMay 27, 2015 18:39223565
Impact on the average American.... [210 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Jon LoewMay 27, 2015 09:40223555
5Based on a false premise [101 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
PattiMay 27, 2015 08:50223554
I agree but... [30 words]BernardMay 26, 2015 22:56223543
6Moderate Islam? [254 words]Boston Tea PartyMay 26, 2015 22:44223542
3The goals of the campaign. [71 words]Januk36May 26, 2015 21:56223540
3It is no surprise [158 words]PrashantMay 26, 2015 20:04223537
To Ad Or Not To Ad? [233 words]YonasonMay 26, 2015 19:36223536
no chance to sway minds that are determined [13 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
AlanMay 26, 2015 17:57223532

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