How do you define a moderate Muslim?

Submitted by Naomi (United States), Mar 14, 2006 at 16:01

How do you define an Islamist? An extremist? A moderate? What criteria are you looking to meet in order to define an individual as a moderate Muslim? What statements must an organization make (or not make) in order to be considered a moderate group? We throw around these terms but what do they really mean? I think we need to come to some solid answers to these questions before we assume the guilt of all Muslims. Where do you draw the line between respecting a diversity of opinion and riding off all Muslim organizations as anti-American?

Clearly I am not saying we should accept Muslim attitudes that look to establish Islamic law in America but at the same time we must be willing to respect the religious beliefs of Muslims. When we throw around these terms I think we tend to forget these important distinctions.

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