Irshad Manji and An-Na’im at Heretic Muslims Conference
April 2nd, 2008Too bad I couldn’t be there to attend it. The idea for the conference’s theme was inspired by the Sudanese An-Na’im himself who is prominently featured today at the front page of the Christian Science Monitor.
I am so ecstatic over the publicity his immensely important scholarly work is receiving. It’s also cool to see an intellectually diverse group of people like him and Manji working together to achieve a common goal we all share.
People, we are seeing the real beginnings of a growing Islamic reformation movement! And since I’ve been a long time Ustaz Taha fan, I’d naturally like to see the ideas he inspired spearhead it. I swear, I am sooo loving this. More publicity for ‘Islam and the Secular State‘ please!
As for the Muslim Heretics Conference, Manji blogged about it here. I’m awaiting her upcoming thoughts on Geert Wilder’s ‘Fitna’.
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An Islamic reformation would be a blessing indeed. But it has to come from within. Change is difficult, and will have to become woven into the fabric of Islamic thought. It can not be imposed from without.
The West, however, could play a significant role in this regard. The West should welcome the Muslim world into the global economy, while respecting the right of people to their cultural identities. Business can create an ideological imperative that stems the tide of extremist thinking. But people the world over are still entitled to be who they are, and to become who they want to become. The West needs to understand this, and to find ways to create mutuality where the need arises, but to respect differences where they need to be.