Quote:
Originally Posted by ACE844
In reference to your statement above how would one go about vetting this in the face of the fact of so many differing viewpoints? Some are close and many are all over the map. So how are the warriors and educators vetting-setting their 'zero' on this issue?
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Ace--
As the discussion of Islamic theology and its role in GWOT reflects differing points of view, it remains up to each participant and each observer to judge for himself which views are more credible than others.
My perspective reflects the fact that I've spent a modest amount of time studying history. Three good rules of thumb in the study of history are:
- no one is just one thing,
- no one does anything for just one reason, and
- the best answers to questions are those that
- consider a multiple number of causal factors, and
- raise additional questions.
Even if, for the sake of argument, one were to stipulate that Warrior Mentor and others were correct in their interpretation of Islamic theology*, the interpretation raises a number of questions worth consideration. These questions include (but are hardly limited to):
- Is what is preached being practiced or are most Muslims picking and choosing which tenets of their faith to follow and which to ignore?
- Are there significant dynamics of accommodation, resistance, and reform within the Muslim world?
- What other factors (such as gender, race/ethnicity, social class, and politics) are shaping Muslim identity?
- Can these dynamics and factors be 'harnessed' or 'exploited' as moderating/disrupting influences on Muslim belief and practice?
- Are key philological issues being missed?
- To what extent are our own (read: Western) preconceptions and assumptions shaping what we see and, potentially, preventing us from seeing what may be hiding in plain sight?
- Is this struggle of civilizations essentially about religion or modernity or power (be it gendered, political, economic, or cultural)?
IMHO, this last question is critically important. I think the focus on religion comes at the expense of delving deeper into the issues of modernity and gendered identity.
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* Please note that I'm using the past subjunctive.