The Core
Dr. Bob wrestles with what the core of Islam really is:
Which behavior–peaceful coexistence or belligerent conquest and conversion, with death to the infidels–best represents the core of Islam?
…
Islam was born under the sword, and lived by the sword: it was from the start the divine judgment on the infidel, executed by the hand of man.It is this very core which persists today, unchanged and unchangeable. If Mohammed is the Prophet and the Apostle of God, and the Quran Allah’s inspired and unchangeable word thus revealed, then the manifestation of this revelation was evident from the religion’s earliest days: conversion by coercion, and death to those who refuse the “submission”, and its “peace” enforced at the point of the sword. For Islam to reform from within–as many wistfully hope it will–is for Islam to reject that which Allah gave to His last and greatest Prophet. Such “reform” would be as the Jew rejecting Moses as the giver of the Law from Yahweh, or the Christian to reject Jesus Christ as the Son of God: it is only those who dilute and corrupt their faith who could believe thus, thereby undermining and destroying the very essence of the faith they would thereby “reform.”
At its heart, Islam is a faith of weakness wrapped in the armor of a warrior. Its god Allah is incapable of winning victory or changing hearts except by the murder, warfare, subjugation, and coercion of his followers. Who needs such a God when man is fully capable of such deeds without Him? For to convert a man through threat of death is to fail utterly to change a man’s heart. To enforce morals through coercion is not to create moral men or righteous societies, but fearful men and tyrannical rule, strapped by rigid legalism, and fear, and the slavery of hatred which crushes rather than renews the spirit of man.
You’ll want to read his entire post, it is a thoughtful self examaniation in addition to the conclusion I have posted above.
I have wondered the same things myself. Is Islam compatible or incompatible with modernity and the liberal-secular tradition that is so central to western civilization. I fear that Dr. Bob may be right, and continue to hope that he is not.
It is difficult for outsiders to accurately judge a religion. As someone who is fairly familiar with Christianity, I see distortions and misunderstanding of that religion from more secular people all the time. If such confusion can arrise about Christianity, which has been integral to western historical development and is a major influence on our society then one must imagine that an outsiders view of Islam will likely be even less accurate.
I remain hopeful that Muslims will find a way to create a society that is compatible with the liberal traditions I hold so dear. In part this is due to a selfish desire to not have planes flown into our buildings. Even more though, it is because I believe, if push comes to shove, the west can, and will, do what is necessary to survive. I really hope that what is necessary is not the destruction of Islam through violence. In the end though, if Islam is not compatible with secularism, then one or the other must be destroyed.
This is a good portion of why I strongly support our efforts in Iraq. If Iraq can succeed in becoming a liberal democracy, it means we have options other than submission or genocide.
(hat tip: Anchoress)
