Do all Muslims bear responsibility?

[Fidel_Castronaut]

I

I totally agree, but how do we engage.

My PhD is somewhat on this topic (though not on Islam specifically).

It does take discourse, a lot of it, from varied sources and varied opinions. IT relies on exposing the extremism inherent within and forcing out into the wider forum of ideas. Religion, after all, is just simply an idea that is up for debate in the wider public forum anyway.

The issue is that a lot of believers don't see it like that because of it's sacred connotations to them. This is the true difference between reformed Christianity in the West and, as an example, most contemporary Islamic sects; The ability to take a joke and criticism, and not equating that to a personal attack.

There is no right answer to this, unfortunately. Things like inter-faith groups help aid understanding between the religious leaders and sometimes the laity, but in the end it's just a gradual creeping of outside influences to dilute (and form) new ideologies into the future. It's actually pretty hard to stop, but you can force it in different directions.

You have tried discourse with a good friend of Islamic conviction, as have I, neither of which bore fruit. What it did show was a complete lack willingness and displacement of the social responsibility, on both attempts (mine and yours).

This is true in some respects but I'd be reluctant to utilise this as a conclusion for all Muslims in all scenarios.

That is not to say we give up and leave the Islamic community pitted against itself in the middle east until there is but one crazy Mohammedan left we can quarantine, but nor is it acceptable to me to put the women and children of (Insert Western country here) on the front line of a dialogue that will get them killed. Which is what has been done.

Also note the tempered nature of Christianity and Judaism came from "in house" criticism and want of change with natural societal growth (marked with great atrocities), any attempt at outside influence on the development of the Islamic culture further instils an us and them mentality, deepens segregation and provide a breeding ground for all the above.

The last paragraph is very true, and which is why I believe empowerment is the key, especially of women.

I'm obviously not an women who believes in the religion of Islam, but I would say there are really great examples of where women (And men) are pushing the boundary of liberalising extreme ideologies and combating them. Benazir Bhutto is/was one, and the increased resistance in places like Saudi to the restrictions on almost all female societal freedoms.

Another great tool to be used today which will undoubtedly speed up the process of liberalising is the interwebz. Instant information anywhere you want is one reason cited why women in Saudi are protesting about not being able to drive for example. The freedoms that we take for granted here in the UK/West in general can be seen as common place in places like Saudi (even with their restrictions), showing how the grass does indeed grow greener and what people are missing out on.

The 9/11 hijackers were not goat herders from Afghan. Another case that comes to mind, and I can provide links if you wish, a London doctor was facing a tribunal THIS MONTH for performing FGM on patients.

It is said some 66,000 females suffer from this in the UK, with no convictions. I am not sure if it said 66,000 had it done in the UK, seems unlikely though. But it also noted thousands of girls in the UK were still at risk.

The plight of women suffering from FGM (despite it being explicitly illegal in the UK) is a shame on us a society. A pox on religious sensibilities.

Must also add that this is an issue for many Northern and Central African sects of Christianity too. It's a cultural issue that is prevalent in religious communities owing to its 'sacred' connotations to believers, but it is a continental problem as well as a religious one IMHO.