RE: Does Islam Need A Reformation (supossedly a debate but not really)
March 13, 2016 at 12:02 pm
(This post was last modified: March 13, 2016 at 12:16 pm by Anomalocaris.)
When you say Islam "needs" a reformation, it begs the question "Islam need a reformation in order to serve what and whose purpose"?
If the purpose is to allow Islam to last longer by reducing the friction it generates with forces of progress that has proven much stronger than Islam itself, and against which Islam has hitherto struggled savagely but ineffectually, then yes, a reformation is needed to serve that purpose.
But I am not sure that would be my purpose. I am not an optimist about whether any religion is likely to ever reform itself in a way that makes itself temporarily a driver rather not hinderer of normal progress.
I am not sure letting Islam last longer is either a worthy goal in itself, or would it on the whole reduce the toll Islam would inflict before it is eventually largely sidelined. So from my perspective, no, no reformation is needed. Better it inflict a high toll now and go down in the next 100 years, then to inflict a similarly high toll over a much longer period and remain a baleful influence over a quarter of humanity for another 300-400 years.
If the purpose is to allow Islam to last longer by reducing the friction it generates with forces of progress that has proven much stronger than Islam itself, and against which Islam has hitherto struggled savagely but ineffectually, then yes, a reformation is needed to serve that purpose.
But I am not sure that would be my purpose. I am not an optimist about whether any religion is likely to ever reform itself in a way that makes itself temporarily a driver rather not hinderer of normal progress.
I am not sure letting Islam last longer is either a worthy goal in itself, or would it on the whole reduce the toll Islam would inflict before it is eventually largely sidelined. So from my perspective, no, no reformation is needed. Better it inflict a high toll now and go down in the next 100 years, then to inflict a similarly high toll over a much longer period and remain a baleful influence over a quarter of humanity for another 300-400 years.
