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| Southeast Asia |
| In Indonesia, apprehension about a changing Islam |
| 2007-04-15 |
| Almost seven years ago, in the pre-9/11 autumn of 2000, I was retrieving my luggage at the airport in Jakarta when a tall Indonesian man in a flowing white robe and green scarf accidentally bumped me off my feet. He apologized and helped me up. Then I noticed he was part of a gang of grim young men stalking the airport with wooden rods. He said they were from the Islamic Defenders Front and were searching for Israelis to kill. I doubt they found any, but I was shocked. Such bullying and militancy contrasted sharply with the Indonesia I had come to know on previous reporting trips: a model of Islam as a tolerant, compassionate, inclusive and peaceful religion. The many varieties of culture and styles of life in this enormous archipelago had bred a unique form of Islam - or, more precisely, many such forms, thriving side by side and often drawing on a rich pre-Islamic history replete with magic, Buddhism and South Seas gods. I had thought the prospects for retaining this style had only been enhanced by the coming of democracy in 1998. It has not quite worked out that way, and now the big questions facing Indonesia are: Can Islam and democracy coexist? And what would such a democracy look like? continued at link |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #2 In Indonesia, apprehension about a changing Islam In the very near future, Muslims had best become extremely concerned about an unchanging Islam. Without reformation, the constant terrorist atrocities, massive violations of human rights and institutionalized abuse of women will cause Islam to be banned and dismantled in many, if not all, Western nations. The time for reformation is not some vague undefined point in the future, then is when unreformed Islam will be scrubbed from human memory. Reformation's time is now. Islam has already spent over a millennia making life unbearable for all those who have collided with it. Little patience is left for those who think that such an abrasive and intolerant creed can continue on unchastised for its innumerable transgressions. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-04-15 20:17 |
| #1 This is the link to the first page of the article. |
| Posted by: ryuge 2007-04-15 09:57 |