Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Like the schoolyard bully, Islam "radicalizes" in the face of passivity

The following is a good introductory essay which should be read in its entirety, especially by those still "confused" about Islam. "Moderate Islam?" by Sam Solomon, for Europe News, July 28: Where is moderate Islam? Does it exist? If so, then where? Is it rooted in true Islam or just wishful thinking?
[...]

A 2001 survey revealed how Muslims in Britain viewed themselves:

15% said they were radical in that they followed a literal understanding of the Qur'an and the example of Muhammad. 70% described themselves as nominal - that is, they followed Islamic traditions and their cultural adaptations. 15% saw themselves as liberal - they were happy to follow the West and assimilate fully into British culture.

What is the situation today?

The Sunday Telegraph on 19 February 2006 carried a YouGov survey report that revealed:

40% of British Muslims identified with Islamic radicalism.

This was post 7/7, and, for whatever reason, shows that radicalism is on the increase in Britain. It may be that new immigrants are swelling the numbers of radical Islam, but it is certainly true that many British Muslims are being won over to a more Islamist position. It is reasonable to conclude that between 2001 and 2006 converts to the "radical cause' came from the group previously identified as nominal.
Read more:http://europenews.dk/en/node/12574

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