Hi Universe!
Ok.. where was I? Oh .. inability to change. So, while I believe orthodox factions of other religions continue to exist, modern society has generally left them behind. These are types of people who can't see each other during sex, or can't eat hamburger on Wednesdays, etc. They don't have a large enough force in today's society to make a difference. I.e. Amish people are stuck in the past, but really don't have enough influence to get the whole world to be Amish like them, nor do they really care about trying to do so. So modern society leaves them alone. Muslims are generally the same way; but they number in the billions. They have their own economies, countries, etc. However, having a robust economy and believing that everyone should live poor are opposing ideas. (Many religions feel being poor means being closer to God or coming closer to enlightenment, i.e. Buddhist monks, priests, etc.; Islam is no different) So in every instance when a Muslim country tries to compete with a non-Muslim counterpart, i.e. Pakistan vs India, the latter will win become of a stronger impetus to improve. Muslims generally believe the pinnacle of society was in 1400 AD, and we should emulate that as much as possible. They generally just want to be left alone, to deal with their own messes in their own way, similar to Hasidics and the Amish.
Now, here is where it gets tricky. The left views Muslims as something to be coddled as they are generally discriminated against in America. That part is true. The right tends to believe that Sharia (Islamic law) is being implemented in America. That is not true. 99% of Muslims have nothing to do with terrorism and absolutely don't condone that behavior. In fact, most Muslims have such a hard time with the fact that Muslims are responsible for terrorism they have created elaborate rewrites on history to rationalize what it takes to kill thousands of people in the name of religion in the modern era. If you ask many Muslims if Osama bin laden was responsible for 9/11, you will get a few scripted responses. These scripted responses are: OBL was involved with 9/11, but it was a secret American plot. OBL was not involved with 9/11, in fact it was (insert some random enemy here). Or finally, my favorite, OBL was involved with 9/11, but look at how the West has treated Muslim countries. Not one Muslim I know of has been able to point a finger at themselves, and say.. wow, Islam has a real problem with fundamentalism, lets try to work on that. This is because Islam is complete, whole and final. If blame is to be assigned, it can be assigned to the measly humans who exist to interpret and live with Islam; but not the religion in its purest form. This may be true, Islam it it's purest form doesn't a give a rats behind about states, economies, laws, etc. It has to do with a personal subservience to God that is reached through constant spiritual reminders and prayer. All worldly distractions are just that: distractions that should be avoided if they move you away from prayer to your Master. Admitting that Islam has become a negative influence on the world, and that it is not the shining light of Peace that it was meant to be, would mean absolute disaster for the faith. Nothing can be done to turn that around.
Another interesting fact is that Islam has a legal code. Again, very similar to Judiasm. And in both, that legal code is one that favors those that belong the faith. So while the purest form of Islam is a very simple concept, (One God, submit), it grows to become a larger entity to encompass work, play, marriage, etc. As everything can come in line to submit to God, this is how a very simple thing becomes very complicated. There is a very real attraction toward submitting yourself to something else, think Fifty shades of Grey. You can find respite knowing that life may be unfair, but at least there is a larger purpose to it. As long as you continue to submit, there is really no disaster you can't handle, because God has a plan. There is also a real attraction to the lack of moral ambiguity. A huge plus to a Muslim. You don't have to wrestle with grey areas; everything is put in to neat little boxes for you. Gays = bad. Alcohol = bad. Gambling = bad. I remember a picture book of foods you could eat with big Xs on the animals that were ... bad. The fact that we have technology that makes those foods safe to eat in 2015: not relevant. God commanded don't do it.. so don't do it. So easy. Quite attractive, when in reality the world is in constant moral flux. Almost as attractive, is the fact that when you've forsaken the world for God, you really don't have that much to care about. Other than making people see things your way, to lift the veil off the world and expose it for the cancer it is. Those walking in that path with you are your brothers and sisters, and you can rely on them like family. Now since Muslim economies generally can't compete in the world economy.. there is high unemployment.. which leads to sending your kids to madrasa (Islamic schooling) and the short stepping stone from madrasa to terrorist cell.
Western Muslims do have a more enlightened view of Islam that is not wholly incompatible with modernization and often retort that Muslims only turn to fundamentalism because the West is so corrupt and they need a counter to all the sex, drugs, etc. Or because of the West's policies to Muslim countries. This is unfortunately not the case. Muslim countries did a fine job destroying themselves. They have persistently shown themselves incapable of rooting out terrorism, simply because the ask is too great. Islam treats insiders better than outsiders.. FACT. You have to tell people the Islamic doctrine needs amending which would have zero buy in. It would be next to impossible to drop the Sharia Law and just follow tenets of the religion, praying, charity, fasting, etc. On the other hand, the Bible also says some ridiculously horrible things,but these things have largely been whitewashed away, as they are ridiculous in the 21st century. Islam has a much harder time with this.
Is there any reason to fear a Muslim for being Muslim.. No! Absolutely not. Are they free to exercise their religion as they please.. Yes of course! Are they trying to bring Sharia Law to the US.. No.. not at all. When living in a foreign land, Muslims are prescribed to live in peace and follow the rules of that land. They just want to practice freely, and in peace, like we allow the Amish to do. However, if you believe that 1400 Arabia is the goal, you will never be able to maximize your potential, and if allowed to run countries...they will always run into the ground. Are Muslims generally xenophobic, sure.. but so are many other cultures. Muslims need to understand that parts of Sharia Law are outdated, and need to come up with new laws on interacting with each other and outsiders to live in the 21st century.
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