Posted by Illuminati on 11/13/2007, 1:31 pm, in reply to "Science and Religion"
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The most obvious result of Muslims belief in submission to the inscrutable Allah who governs the universe through whim and magic is Sharia law. The draw of Sharia law, with its unaccountable totalitarian governments, is almost irresistable for the average Muslim. Even "moderate" Muslims are drawn to Sharia law like the night flying moths to the electric light.
The following public opinion pole of Islamic countries is revealing:
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/apr07/START_Apr07_rpt.pdf
Besides their strong dislike for America, which is one of the strongest and oldest democracies in history with freedom of religion, a large majority of Muslims wanted Sharia law, which imposes Islam on other people, enforced. Here is the summary of data from the site:
"Large majorities in most countries—an average of 71 percent (39% strongly)—agree with the goal of requiring 'strict application of Shari’a law in every Islamic country.'"
Those Westerners who think Muslims are just like everyone else and "just want to get along" should think again about the implications of welcoming large groups of Muslims into a previously democratic country. If you are a Hindu, a Christian, a Buddhist or even an atheist, and you love your own freedom, you need to understand that the ultimate goal of a majority of Muslims is to destroy your religion and culture, eleminate your free democracy, and impose Islam as the state religion, destroy people's freedom to convert to another religion, and impose a dictatorship. Under Sharia, the only way someone can leave Islam is in a Casket. Muslims who move to Western countries for a better life should also consider carefully what they are doing, because if you have your way, that better life will end very soon.
The ironic thing is that most Muslims don't really like living in a opressive totalitarian society with the accompanying poverty and ignorance. The same Muslims who are clamoring for Sharia law also recognize the advantages of democracy and want it for themselves. In the same report, "In all four countries polled, strong majorities (67% overall) said they considered 'a democratic political system' to be a good way of governing their country." Since democracy is antithetical to Sharia law, it is clear that many Muslims recognize the benefits available to the Western population through democracy but don't know how to achieve those benefits and remain faithful to Islam.
At first Muslims' attatchment to Sharia law seems mysterious since it is a tradition not drawn directly from the Koran or the Hadiths. Superficially it would appear that one could be a good Muslim and reject Sharia law, however rejecting Sharia law while remaining Muslim would require insights which these numbers indicate are beyond the reach of most Muslims.
The massive voter turnout in Iraq demonstrates the Muslims' hunger for freedom, and we hope that with American help, the Iraquis will achieve some degree of success, however the results in other Islamic countries don't appear promising. For example, the general hatred expressed by Muslims against America, one of the only countries which have consistantly stood up for human freedom over the past century, doesn't appear promising for their success. When hatred of kaffirs is stronger than love of freedom, fascism, or in this case a Califate, is surely close behind.
Since a majority of Muslims recognize the advantages of Democracy, why is it that they inevitably achieve instead a dictatorship? Ultimately, this is a question Muslims will have to answer for themselves, however from my understanding of Islam, it appears obvious that because Muslims don't believe in reasonable divine laws, they are unable to approach government with sufficient reason, logic and eithics to make a democracy possible. Democracy requires a cultural sophictication which is beyond most Muslim countries. A fear society, ruled by the most brutal and cunning members for their own benefit, it the default society when reason and the rule of law fail.
If it is not directly mandated by the Koran and Hadiths, then it appears Sharia law may be nothing more than floatsom remaining from past totalitarian Islamic governments. That modern Muslims cling so tightly to this refuse shows the intellectual vaccum which has descended over Islam in the last 1,000 years of increasingly fundamentalist "reforms." Because the Muslims believe that the rules which governed the early Islamic Caliphates, which were little more than bands of desert bandits, are immutable, they are unable to adapt to the modern world.
The only modern Muslim who has shown a genuine understanding of the problem facing Islamic societies is Ataturk in Turkey. Even though Turkey, with the aid of the military, has managed to remain largely democratic since his time, it is still an open question whether the citizens of Turkey can resist the call of Sharia and can maintain anything resembling a modern government for much longer. Because Turkey, like all Muslim countries, limits religious freedom and the freedom of expression including the right to criticize Islam, the future doesn't look promising.
If they could ensure dictators who were even somewhat enlightened, those Muslims who wish for a Caliphate may not be all wrong. At the present time, the most prosperous and free Muslim countries are run by enlightened despots. However, the nature of totalitarian governments favors the most brutal and egoistic rulers which makes it unlikely that the majority of countries run by dictators will be in any way successful.
If we love humanity, including Muslims, we can only wish the Muslims the best. However, until Muslims are willing to put their ideas out in the free market place of ideas and compete on a fair open playing field, Islam can not produce free democratic societies. On the other hand, torturing and killing people who disagree with you is definitely not a good thing.
So, I have expressed my opinions about Islam after spending considerable time researching it. If the Muslims think I have misunderstood their religion, they are welcome to respond. In this discussion, perhaps we can both learn something.
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