Refreshing

Interesting article in Time last week. It outlines the views of one of the top Muslim scholars in Indonesia (the most populous Islamic country in the world) In the article he debunks the ridiculous idea that Islamist terrorism and violence have nothing to do with Islam and pours scorn on certain "progressive" attitudes in the West regarding the criticism of Islam (as a set of ideas) and the silencing of moderate views by labelling them "racist" or "Islamophobic". I particularly like the following quote,

"Western politicians should stop pretending that extremism and terrorism have nothing to do with Islam. There is a clear relationship between fundamentalism, terrorism, and the basic assumptions of Islamic orthodoxy. So long as we lack consensus regarding this matter, we cannot gain victory over fundamentalist violence within Islam."

It clarifies the problem that such attitudes create, i.e. critically it prevents moderates within the faith from countering the literalists and the fundamentalists, i.e. exactly the opposite of what most people in the multi-cultural West actually desire, i.e. a tolerant and peaceful approach to normalising our differences. Another comment that struck me as accurate was an articulation of which particular traditions within Islam are problematic, he says,

"The relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims, the relationship of Muslims with the state, and Muslims’ relationship to the prevailing legal system wherever they live … Within the classical tradition, the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims is assumed to be one of segregation and enmity."

"Too many Muslims view civilisation, and the peaceful co-existence of people of different faiths, as something they must combat. Many Europeans can sense this attitude among Muslims."

This guy should be invited on a speaking tour of Europe IMO; particularly focusing on left-leaning University campuses, councils and the Labour party, maybe get him on question-time to counter the ludicrous positions of people like Corbyn and Abbott. It would be fun to watch them squirm with cognitive dissonance as they attempt to label an Islamic scholar, Islamophobic, for simply pointing out the bleeding obvious.