There Is Hope Yet For Reason To Abide.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

Last week I posted a (to me) inspirational young Yemeni muslim girl who had rebelled loudly and globally about being married off by her family.
You can find the link here:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Society-and-Culture/Question1261451.html

Then she did a follow up video.
In it she is with her uncle, who she lived with all along as it turns out, and clarifies her position, Her family's reason for it all? Money. So to her, religion is just a handy shield for the greed that her family placed over her well-being. It's here:



My question is, do you think that Muslim culture is becoming more powerful and insidious, that sharia law will become the norm and that we'll all be Muslim eventually unless we fight?
Or...
With the advent of global internet access, widespread journalism, social media and image sharing the young people of any country are going to be provided with a more balanced view than their parents alone would provide and the trend is likely to go the other way, where enlightened Muslims reject the dogma and see the quran in a different light?
I'd like to think the latter and based on those videos, why not?

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

Oh I get it, my question was too long

[naomi24]

What we’re seeing in Egypt is an indication of the rift that is growing daily within Islam. The voice of fundamentalist Islam is making itself heard, but in many quarters it is far from welcome and ultimately people will choose freedom over oppression. I am confident of that.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

I hope so Naomi and I'd like to think so.
Personally, I believe that as more Muslim communities acquire technology and education, the hard line view will weaken.
I live in hope of that and children like those encourage me further.

[naomi24]

Mojo, I've been told by a Muslim on these very pages that the reason Muslims come to the west is not for a better life, but to show us 'the way'. Sadly for them they failed to consider the influence that western culture would have on their young. Fundamentalist Islam will die.

[sandyRoe]

Saudi must be one of the richest countries in the world. It's thriving there. As it is in rural Pakistan, one of the poorest. What happens to followers of Islam in the West hardly matters.

[chrisgel]

Couldn't stand Whitney Houston but "I believe the children are our future" has a nice ring to it. Hope it's true.

[chrisgel]

It matters to me Sandy.

[boxtops]

Interesting feature on Tunisia on the TV news last night, the faith police chasing round after young women spending time with men they are not related to - rank and file Tunisians fearing for their freedom of expression if more extremist views take hold. The backlash of the Arab Spring, which started in Tunisia, is not what they expected.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

I don't think it's a question of simple numbers right now Sandy.
I think it's the same generational thing that made me rebel when I wasn't allowed "nig-nog" friends.
I didn't want to be that shallow or be as constricted as that.

[sandyRoe]

I meant that however Islam developes in the West it isn't going to change the powerhouse of the religion in the Middle East.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

I think you're wrong Sandy. I think that growing access to world opinion will change that

[naomi24]

sandyRoe, Don't be so sure. From little acorns and all that....

Fundamentalist Islam is not offering the young what they want - the situation in Egypt aside, the boy in the video is evidence of that - as is Malala Yousafzai, shot by the Taliban for wanting an education, and 11 year old Yemeni, Nada al-Ahdal, who fled from the prospect of an arranged marriage – and let the world know about it. The young are beginning to say ‘no’ – and I predict that fundamentalist Islam has a fight on its hands. Go kids!

[wildwood]

Until the 'Western' govts get off their chuff and take a more realistic stance on Sharia law in the West, we will be struggling against it.

One day the Law may recognise that Its own rules are continuously being broken by citizens who practice racism, sexual discrimination, child abuse, physical violence and terrorism.

[naomi24]

An astute observation, Wildwood.

[lightbulb247]

fundamental islam will die, islam will not. Hopefully it will get stronger.

[lightbulb247]

and as you wills see in the coming years, when all these people who give islam a bad name back off, islam will show how peaceful and tolerant it is.

[naomi24]

I wait with bated breath.

[lightbulb247]

good for you

[naomi24]

Good argument, Lightbulb. ;o)

[jomifl]

I think that the existence of fundamentalist islam is as a result of 'mainstream' islam's moral weakness and lack of leadership. It is basically a rabble of narrow minded and bigoted sects fighting amongst themselves for superiority and ignoring their own holy book in so doing. At least the catholic church has a hierarchy that can exert some control over it's adherants. Islam is a sprawling balkanised religion with ignorant power hungry mullahs and imams succeeding only in spreading ignorance, poverty and violence.