The Long, Winding Road to Reform in Islam: Is it Possible?

Can Islam reform and become part of the great fabric of religious traditions?  I have always maintaine that yes, the possibility is there, and eventually it will happen, despite the best intentions of fundamentalists, jihadists, Islamists and Islamo-facists.  As of today these followers of Muhammad have the spotlight, the have the stage and are determining the direction of the play.  This cannot go one forever, and sooner or later, the great unwashed masses of ordinary Muslims will be forced to come together as one, and they will have no choice but to reclaim Islam in a manner which, after the dust settles will be the "religion of peace" which is so ardently claimed by millions of Muslims.

If there is no possibility of reform, if Muslims steadfastly refuse to acknowledge reform is not only possible but desireable within Islam, we may indeed be doomed to a battle where Islam is wiped off the earth, and Muslims will become a "religion without a home".

The last thing we need is an angry, disinfranchised Muslim diaspora, willing to do anything to regain their former glory and position among the world community.  Islam must change, Islam must be made to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it is entirely up to Muslims to take back the night.

I support those Muslims who are actively working towards that change, and pray the light at the end of the tunnel is not an oncoming train.

To enlighten on this subject, here is a piece from my friend and Act!4America chapter leader in Harrisonburg, VA.  His view is a bit different from mine, but his words carry weight in this debate, I urge you to read it all.


From Jon Anderson.

(.)...It's very difficult for me to believe that a movement to reform Islam into a belief system that does not include violent methods would be successful long-term.  So long as there is a Qur'an there will be violence - at the very least just beneath the surface.  

It's a fact that many people can associate themselves with a particular heritage, culture, religion or what have you without thinking deeply.  If they practice the religion at all, they don't know enough to be a problem for the rest of us kafirs except for their funding jihad in ignorance thru zakat.  However, there are those who do think, inquire, study and genuinely seek to please their god according to his word.  I don't think it wise to assume that these personality types will never come to a place where liberal Islamic theology is given a chance.  You may as well expect them to become Christians or Jews.  An orthodox view of Islam will persist b/c the Qur'an will persist and there is a percentage of the population that will only perceive it like a fundamentalist.

I envision Islam persisting in basically the same way it is now.  A large percentage of 'Muslims' that don't think, study, conform to Islamic ideas will simply do what they must to get along with be accepted by their peers.  A smaller percentage, who are slow to use violence in their jihad, will use political efforts and dawa to advance their religion.  Violence from this group seems to be very depended on the instruction from their imams.  A very small percentage, who agree with Muhammad and perceive violent jihad as the primary means of advancing allah's religion, will always be with us.  The real problem is that only 5% of a billion is 50 million militants.  If they learned how to move as one man, they world will burn.

 
Jon AndersonChapter Leader:  Harrisonburg VA
ACT! for America
 

Chapter Blog Site:   http://harrisonburg-va.actforamericachapters.org/