Islamic Modernity Quotes
Ironically, while Radical Fundamentalist Muslims abroad claim that Western materialism and dem0cracy is not only anti-Islamic but a danger to Islam, in America there has been a growing and thriving Islamic community which has had far less difficulty reconciling their religion and American democracy and values than have other religions such as the Amish and orthodox Jews. This ease of the transition and Islamic compatibility with modern America is perhaps the central reason for the hatred of America. Aslan argues that the Muslim reformation is succeeding very smoothly in America and is the model for Muslims throughout the world.
Traditionally Islam was a religion of faith and since it was spread to illiterate and uneducated people, it was dogmatic and literal. Reason and logic was not a part of the theology originally. As Islamic societies developed intellectually, the theology matured and reason and logic was overlaid from the science and the technology to the religion. There were many very sophisticated philosophers and theologians until Islam closed intellectually and went into its decline. Just as there were few Islamic scientists and philosophers during the Enlightenment there were few theologians who appreciated the role of logic. Those few, like Abduh, had to become reformers and modernists and return to the era when Islam was as more modern than Christianity and most other religions.
