August 05, 2005
SELF-CRITICISM:
Muslim scholars call anti-terror fatwa flawed (RACHEL ZOLL, August 5, 2005, Chicago Sun-Times)
As they issued an edict condemning religious extremism, American Muslims hoped to silence complaints from outsiders dating back to the Sept. 11 attacks that the community has done too little to confront terrorism.But as soon as last week's statement was released, sharp criticism came from another source -- within the U.S. Muslim community itself.
Several American Muslim academics now say that the edict, or fatwa, was so broad it was meaningless, and should have denounced specific terrorist groups including al-Qaida. Critics also said the declaration seemed geared more toward improving the faith's image rather than starting an honest discussion about Islamic teaching.
''The bulk of the Islamic tradition as it exists does stand against these lunatic, savage attacks on civilians,'' said Omid Safi, a Colgate University religion professor and chairman of the Progressive Muslim Union, an American reform group.
''But I would be more inclined to say there are elements of extremism in many parts of our tradition. Rather than simply saying these are not a part of Islam, I would acknowledge that these trends are there and do away with them.''
Hard to imagine a healthier development. Posted by Orrin Judd at August 5, 2005 06:06 AM
I can easily imagine a healthier development: something similar happening in a Muslim country.
But even here, the 'development' is considerably less than meets the ear.
I was amused, last night, to watch part of a public TV (don't know what show, was just passing through) discussion in which two young, very Ameicanized Muslim college students tried to get a top American imam to say, simply, that killing innocents was wrong, without also adding that you have to make exceptions for Palestinians killing Israelis.
He couldn't do it. He was melting down.
Posted by: Harry Eagar at August 5, 2005 03:08 PM66% there
Posted by: oj at August 5, 2005 04:54 PMPR hoaxes are how reality is changed--ask Gorbachev.
Posted by: oj at August 5, 2005 09:03 PMWhen "moderate" Muslims fight back against the Hamzas and Zawahiris, then we'll be there. But not until.
Remember that Gorbachev wasn't really there until after Chernobyl, and the real collapse started when the Hungarians opened the border to the West, and they told Honecker they weren't closing it for him.
When the loudest and most strident nutjobs hear people in the 'congregation' stand up and tell them to shut up, then we'll be there. But not until.
In my church, if a visiting pastor preached that I needed to go kill abortionists or gays or liberal Democrats, someone (like me) would stand up and say something. The same has to happen in the mosques.
Posted by: jim hamlen at August 5, 2005 11:04 PM