[lit-ideas] Re: Islam vs the Islamists
- From: "Lawrence Helm"<lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 04:02:06 +0000
Phil writes, "I think it is fairly obvious that Lawrence underestimates the
moderate element of Islam." I would feel more kindly toward such gratuitous
condescension if it were backed up a bit. This is a subject I've been
discussing off and on through scores of books and hundreds of articles -- all
to be dismissed as my "fairly obvious" error. Even my challenge to Omar to
produce some Moderates came to naught. He didn't find my error "fairly
obvious" though he believed in it. I conceded all along that there were
moderates, just not in the Middle East. There are a lot of people who share my
viewpoint; so it is not fairly obvious to them either, and I see you singled me
out for the "fairly obvious" error and ignore PBS about which the article was
written -- that is, about their decision not to produce the film comparing
moderates with radicals. PBS decided to concentrate upon the radicals and
ignore the moderates -- perhaps because they didn't exist as a viable voice in
the Middle East.
It is "fairly obvious" to me that every time someone produces a lot of
"moderates" to refute me they find them either in the United States or some
other place outside of the Middle East. As to Indonesia, I read Clifford
Geertz two books, "Islam Observed, Religious Development in Morocco and
Indonesia," and "After the Fact, Two Countries, Four Decades, One
Anthropologist." Geertz is all over the place in these books, but if there is
a trend in regard to Moderates vs Radicals, it is against the former and in
favor of the latter. Why is that? Why is an area that was once a haven for
Sufis embracing, more and more, the radicalism made popular in the Middle East.
It is fairly obvious to me that Phil hasn't been paying attention. The center
for radical Islam is the Middle East. The horrors of Islamic radicalism
originated there with such seminal thinkers as Sayyid Qutb and Ruhollah
Khomeini. The Arabs of the Middle East and the Persians of Iran and Lebanon
have advocated a great revolution and many there believe it is on the march and
unstoppable. Viewing areas outside of the Middle East with equanimity is a
serious error. Wherever there is Islam, Radicalism is making progress --
Wherever Moderation exists it is losing ground. The Moderates don't speak out
in the Middle East; they most go elsewhere to do that, and when they do speak
out it isn't heard in the Middle East -- with some obvious exceptions like Iraq
and some of the Gulf States.
Some time back I encountered a moderate professor teaching in Pakistan. I
admired the moderation expressed in an article he wrote and told him so. He
responded and I questioned him further. He wrote his article in English. The
radicals we read about that may be housing Osama bin Laden and other members of
Al Quaeda don't speak English; so the "moderation" expressed by this professor
was not confronting the radicalism to be found in the countryside.
Congratulations on your appointment, but don't overestimate the moderation you
believe is there. Remember what happened to Malcom Kerr.
Lawrence Helm
San Jacinto
------------Original Message------------
From: "Phil Enns" <phil.enns@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Fri, Jun-22-2007 7:50 PM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Islam vs the Islamists
Lawrence Helm wrote:
"There may be a lot more moderates out there than I realized ..."
I think so.
In September I will be taking up a teaching position in the Graduate
department at Universitas Islam Negri in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. This
Islamic University, the oldest and preeminent Islamic University in
Indonesia, self-identifies as being "very moderate and rational"
emphasizing "critical thought and objective enquiry; understanding
other religions; a participatory, democratic and inclusive approach to
development; and respect for the humanistic, tolerant, egalitarian and
open traditions of classical Islam." I have been asked to teach
Philosophy and Christianity with an emphasis on developing an
understanding of the peaceful role religion can have in society. I
will be the first non-Muslim to teach at the university so I am not
exactly sure how it will work. I also have to teach in Indonesian, so
I have a bit of language work to do as well.
. Indonesia has its radical element but this school,
with over 10000 students, stands in explicit opposition to extremism.
Just think Lawrence, a Christian pacifist teaching Philosophy and
Christianity from a peace perspective to Indonesian Muslims at the
request of an Islamic University.
Sincerely,
Phil Enns
------------------------------------------------------------------
To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off,
digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html
------------------------------------------------------------------
To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off,
digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html
Other related posts:
