"Is the Islamic State Islamic?" "Are all Muslims terrorists?"
To answer these questions, many would tell you the answer lies in the
study of the Koran or in the study of Muslim history. If only we would
look deeply into the faith, we would find the answers.
Of course, most of us never have the time to devote to this study.
If we did have the time, we would find that Islam, like most other faiths,
can be confusing and contradicting in the passages we find.
So let's cut to the chase. At the crux, it's a question of personal beliefs.
If you believe that each individual has the right to choose which religion
(or not) to follow, then you must recognize that some Islamic Radicals
do not want to allow this choice to individuals.
Even if you're a Muslim, but not of the correct sect, you are at serious
risk if you do not convert. So this is a Muslim problem.
Just like the Nazis were a German problem that should have been
handled by the Germans...or Communism was a Russian problem that
should have been handled by the Russians. Fascism was a problem
that should have been handled by the Italians. The Crusades were a
problem that should have been handled by Christians.
These are all examples where the people who were originally most
affected by an individual rights problem could not handle the situation,
and eventually the problem affected millions in other countries, through
wars and conflicts.
When you see Muslims executing other Muslims, in addition to
those of other religions, you know there's a problem. And, when
you know this religious in-fighting has been going back and forth for
centuries, you do have to wonder if there are enough open-minded
Muslims in the Middle-East to break the cycle.
We have to hope so, because, if not, sooner or later, the radicals will
be knocking on our door. And, assuming we still want to defend our
individual freedoms, there will be a major, horrific conflagration.
In the meantime, we have to do all we can to defeat, or discourage,
the Radical Muslims and to encourage moderate, open-minded Muslims
to engage the radicals on the battlefield, in the battle of ideas, and in
the mosques.
The Poor Man's Philosophy was, from the beginning, an attempt to
frame religious conflicts in a manner that allows for the acceptance of
religious beliefs, in addition to the belief in individual rights and
freedoms. You can use the "Universal Morality" as a way to identify
a legitimate religious claim from an illegitimate one.
The United States Constitution and Bill of Rights is still the most
magnificent example ever devised of a political solution to these
vexing religious questions...questions that are as relevant today as
they have always been.
It's not rocket science. If moderate Muslims cannot win their battle,
the future for all of us will include a hell of a war.
