Saturday, May 29, 2004
Radicals and militants who claim to be followers of Islam continue to cause the world -- as well as Islam itself -- pain and heartache.
They have twisted the ancient faith to justify terrorism and to work toward their goal of worldwide dominance by a warped Islam that stands against the democratic values of freedom, equality and dignity for all. Their presence confronts a frazzled, puzzled and wounded world with these questions: How much support do the radicals have and what can be done to help moderates in Islam win this struggle for the religion's heart and soul?
The answers are not simple because the questions themselves point to a complexity many people do not grasp. But extremists -- in violation of Islamic principles -- clearly are drawing followers who are willing to kill themselves and others without regard for the innocence of those who die. And the more moderate strains of Islam so far have been unable to prevent that.
Even though this is largely an internal Islamic battle, those outside the faith have a stake in the outcome and can educate themselves about Islam's internal divisions. They also can encourage Muslims who understand that their religion is an instrument of peace and progress and fully compatible with principles of human freedom and dignity.
Report offers suggestions
A recent report written by Rand Corp. senior political scientist Cheryl Benard suggests ways to think about Islam's divisions and ways to encourage what she calls "civil, democratic Islam."
Benard describes an "ongoing ideological struggle within Islam" that will "determine its own nature and values." She catalogues seven strains of Islam -- from "radical fundamentalists" on the right to "radical secularists" on the left -- and describes the position each takes on such issues as democracy, human rights, polygamy and the status of minorities in majority-Islamic states.
This may sound so complex that understanding it all is impossible. But, in fact, outlining these various groups and positions (even if they aren't precise and can be debated vigorously) is helpful -- and hopeful. It points to the reality that most of Islam opposes the violent radicals and can be an ally in the world's struggle to defang them.
Neutralizing the terrorists who hide behind Islam must be the goal. Any clear reading of history shows it's naive to imagine that terrorism can be wiped out. But that should not prevent a persistent effort to make it rare.
Benard is right, however, when she says that as the United States works toward that goal, "it needs to avoid the impression that [it] is 'opposed to Islam.'" She's also right to say that the United States "must find ways to help address the deeper economic, social and political causes feeding Islamic radicalism."
In that regard, it's worth self-examination to acknowledge that using confrontational "Bring 'em on" language and abusing prisoners in Iraq feed the anger that produces terrorism. Nothing, of course, excuses terrorism, but nations trying to prevent it must understand how their own actions either encourage or discourage it.
"When people feel that their identity in whatever religious tradition they're part of is being actively threatened, conflict-oriented religion tends to have a strong appeal," Michael A. Sells, a professor of comparative religions at Haverford College, said recently in an interview with Beliefnet.com.
Issues of faith
Now that the Cold War is over, Sells asked, "Where do people go if they have deep grievances? They are going to religion. Where do people go if they feel like their identity is being threatened or that they are occupied? Revivals of militant Islam, militant Hinduism, militant Judaism, militant Christianity -- they're all growing very quickly in the world."
Members of each faith in which extremism is growing must help curb it and point extremists toward better answers. But because the victims of a religion's extremism are not limited to members of that faith, outsiders also have an obligation to understand -- and try to fix -- what is happening.
My own interest in understanding and curbing religious extremism predates the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. But because I lost a nephew that day -- he was a passenger on the first plane to hit the World Trade Center -- my commitment to finding answers is firm. My dream is that no other family will ever have to go through what my family has gone through.
XBill Tammeus is a columnist for The Kansas City Star. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.