[lit-ideas] Radical and Moderate Islam

From: Eternitytime1@xxxxxxx
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2006 14:55:31 EST
Hi,
An interesting analysis of the differences between radical and moderate  
Islam.
 
_http://www.rand.org/pubs/testimonies/2005/RAND_CT251.pdf_ 
(http://www.rand.org/pubs/testimonies/2005/RAND_CT251.pdf) 
 
Interesting statement:
 
Nevertheless, radicals have the advantage because they have developed  
extensive networks, spanning the Muslim world and sometimes reaching beyond it. 
 
Liberal and moderate Muslims, although a majority in almost all countries, have 
 
not created similar networks. Muslim moderates feel exposed and isolated. 
Their  voices are often fractured or silenced. Even in Indonesia, the world's 
largest  Muslim majority country, where moderate Isam is the norm..."
 
(One thought--maybe we should stop enabling the Saudi government? based  on:  
)
 
"The prevalence of authoritarian political systems, especially in the Arab  
world, is a source of strength for radicals. In the absence of channels for the 
 expression of legitimate political dissent, such as genuine opposition 
political  parties, those who are disaffected with the status quo-and they have 
much to be  disaffected with-turn to the mosque and to underground Islamist 
organizations as  political alternatives to the ruling circles.
 
There are also more practical reasons for the success of radical groups  
gaining the ideological upper hand. One is the effect of decades of Saudi  
funding 
and export of their intolerant version of Islam..."
 
SIDENOTE: The piece about the 'rite of passage' being appealing to the  
younger set was extremely interesting. There has been much written about the  
need 
for this in Western (esp American) society--and how important it is --  
interesting that the need seems to transcend cultures--and that the 'lack' has  
caused some of the same outcomes there as here...hm...Who needs a research 
topic  
for Our Upcoming Conference?
 
This is a fairly short piece--only eight pages. Obviously the RAND  
Corporation has identified differences between moderate and radical  Muslims.  
This is 
an interesting search--that of finding out who thinks  what and wondering why 
some people are 'open' towards realizing that not all can  be in a single box 
and why others demand that they must be...
 
Best,
Marlena in Missouri
wondering what YOUR (collective YOUR) rite(s) of passage were...
[lit-ideas] Radical and Moderate Islam

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