Flash: Pope Blasts Islam

Originally Posted by jhuskey

PS.There is a difference between an invasion and immigration. Geddit?

The American Indians and the Native Aussies might disagree.

Originally Posted by 11ring

I think to understand these issues one must realise that religion is incredibly flexible. It can be used as a call to subservience or rebellion, for peace or war.

Political islam is expressing modern ideas and in reaction to modern realities. like nationalism and imperialism. Why is Islam the most popular flag of anti-imperialist resistance? Namely, because the nationalist secular movements in the Arab world were defeated by Israel and the US, with the help of their own realiance on stalinist interpretations of socialist tactics. (cosy up with right wing nationalists that eventually chop your heads off, all in the hope of establishing a "popular front" against imperialism)

Sure there are "fundamentalist" Islamic groups that are truly guided by their leaders interpretation of Islam. But time and time again throughout history in religious societies we see a political movement end up expressing its aims in religious terms.

The thirty years war in Europe was obsensibly religious. But what you see motivating people is not religion per say but incipient nationalism, liberalism and ideas regarding property rights.

Likewise in the middle east Jihad can be used to mean "war for independence" or "struggle against imperialism" which are the real motivators.

In Iraq, 90% want us troops out. In the absense of a secular alternative they express this urge through the langauge of religion.







[QUOTE=Carrera]If your point is that radical Islamics are currently showing themselves to be more extreme than Jews and Christians in these modern times, I take your point.