Here is an alternate view on Islam from a retired Episcopal priest who has spent some years actively engaged with Mosques near his parish.
Since his retirement party included two Imams along with several bishops, his views deserve to be listened to.
For one of the few instances in the time we have known each other, I find that I must disagree with you and your view on Islam. My experience of Muslims here in Maryland has been totally different. From 9/11 on, the Muslims here have spoken out forcefully against the violence that has perpetrated in the name of Islam. This includes Shia, Sufi, Sunni and Admadaya Muslims.
As for the violence in the Qur'an, I find it to be as culturally determined as both the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Scriptures. Even Jesus said that he had come to bring not peace, but a sword and to divide family member against family (probably had a really bad day that time.)
The thing I see is that the media are not very interested in reporting those who do speak out but interested in reporting those who advocate violence. Case in point, when the former president of Iran, Mohammad Khatami spoke at Washington Cathedral and engaged in dialogue with Dean Lloyd and Bishop Chane(I also think that it was probably the first time that I had been protested against, rather than being a protestor. There go my 60's credentials.) In addition, there was virtually no coverage of Bishop Chane's trip to Iran in further engage the government and Khatami there.
Just a few days ago, the Pew Global Attitudes Project's 47 nation survey finds that 34% of Lebanese Muslims think suicide bombing is sometimes justified (vs 74% in 2002). In Bangladesh, Pakistan and Indonesia, the proportion of Muslims who view suicide bombing and other attacks against civilians as being often or sometimes justified has declined by half or more over the past five years.
The Washington Post reported on a conference of young Muslim American leaders and there emerging as a force in this country. Since most of the Muslims in America are foreign born, this bodes well for the future of Muslims in America as they begin to emerge as leaders of their community. It seems important to me that the rest of us keep in touch with these young people as they grow into our diverse society.
Finally, the Washington Post did an excellent series of editorials but Muslims on what is the future and present of Islam in the world and in this country. (July 22, 2007).
Again, I don't know if you have seen the online "On Faith" discussion that is currently going on at newsweek.washingtonpost.com/on faith. I find it very encouraging.
My personal view is that Islam is in need of a Reformation such as happened to Christianity about 500 years ago. Islamic countries are also in need of a middle class, because that is where I find the moderates. Extreme poverty and lack of education means that dictatorial rulers can and do manipulate people. My biggest hope is all those programs that are working for the education of girls. Women can, do and have changed the world.
My friend, Sabir Rahman, past president of the Sunni and Shia mosque up the road from me, maintains that the Muslim experience in the United States will eventually change Islam world wide. His reasoning is that Muslims here are learning how to exist as "one of many" in a diverse society and that will spread back. He cites the fact that in his mosque, Sunni's and Shiites worship side by side and together run the mosque.
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