Although you’re correct that Islam had a Reformation and the literalists won, we have not yet had this “second reformation” where Muslims realize that simply because it says in Sharia Law that an adulterer SHOULD be stoned, that doesn’t mean that the adulterer MUST be stoned. The Jews had two millennia to figure out how to live in nonJewish societies; however, living in nonMuslim societies is a new thing for Muslims. The instinct to hold on to religious ways is very strong in the immigrant generation; not so strong in the subsequent generations. This doesn’t mean that we *secularize*, but we *adapt*. This takes a bit of time.
This. I’ve been saying this for a long time. Christianity had its “awakening”, if you will quite a while ago. It is why most people pass off “well the Old Testament says <insert bad thing here>” comments. Christians and non-Christians alike know of The Inquisition (what a show), but we also know that they basically went “well, this isn’t so good so let us stop doing it”.
From the perspective of violence and force, I think every major monotheistic religion has to go from a “conquest” mindset (either hearts and minds or force of arms) to a “moral beacon” mindset. Christianity has made that transition and Islam has yet to do so. Eventually, I think it will.
But while outsiders can point it out, the actual change can only come “from within”. I think this is another point of contention between Christians and Muslims: today’s Christians were not around to witness its atrocities and conquest mindset. As a result to them the conquest mindest of a religion is alien. It is difficult, meaning it requires conscious thought and effort, to grapple with alien concepts.
From “the other side”, in many of the countries in the Middle East the concept of the People being independent of the Government is alien. For them the idea that the American government is not the same as the American people is difficult to grapple with because for them the government control is so far-reaching.
Thus these two mutually alien concepts breeds a lot of misunderstanding and generalized thinking (“Americans” and “Muslims”). You bring up an important aspect of cultural evolution: “integration”.
The American Left has for quite some time been objecting the very idea of “the melting pot”, and increasingly pushing segregation. Yet it is precisely the integration the metaphor references that leads to understanding and familiarity. Where, I think, the greatest actual concern lies is in the rate and level of it. Even the icon of compassion, the Dalai Lama, has commented on this.
Like any admixture you do risk dilution if you mix one component to quickly. Conversely if you encapsulate one component in the admixture you don’t achieve blending. I think at a non-conscious level people “get” this, and they are the ones who are concerned at the rate. But when the isolationists are so vocal and painting with a broad brush wielded by drunken hands that group of people isn’t able to crystallize that sense into its proper context.
People will seek to crystallize, to explain, that gut feeling. If they ar eonly presented with the option of identity, then they are pushed toward radical, and incorrect, views. While there is some blame for the correct answer not being presented enough, there is far more left over for those who push the wrong answer and insist it is the only one.
