The differences between the Muslims and the West are not due to the differences between their religions.
The West has more or less given up on religion despite the fact that many Americans still go to church on Sundays. But practically religion has little influence on their collective lives; what drives decision making is primarily economic considerations.
The same trend is also prevalent in the Muslim world but the extent of it is less than in the rest of the world; Yes the Arab spring was driven by economics, but perhaps a majority of Muslims still want Islam to shape their social structures. This is why the Egyptians elected the Muslim brotherhood.
Christianity and Islam are not so different from each other in that we share reverence for almost all of the Prophets and the original ideas were the same; in fact both religions claim to have their origins in the faith that was revealed to Prophet Ibrahim or Abraham (peace be upon him). So while the Christians and Muslims share a lot as far as faith goes, we have to understand that the present day Christians and the present day Muslims are diametrically opposed to each other in where they want to go. Muslims, despite trends to the contrary, still want Allah's will and commandments to determine and shape their social lives, the present day Christians want nothing of God at the State level.
Muslims, despite wanting the worldly benefits, are not prepared to give up on God; to them Islam is not just a set of rituals or just a religion per se, but a complete way of life. Today most Westerners will have none of that; they want to keep God limited to privacy almost secrecy (its not appropriate to ask people about their religion or have fervent discussions on matters of faith).
So our differences are not about our faiths, but about how much of it we should have in our lives.
With time, more and more people in all countries (including Muslim countries) are aiming for implementing nationals policies based on acquisition and accumulation of wealth; but some still want God in their lives and beyond just weekly worship as a private act. Many muslims believe that it is not Islam to just pray and fast; to such muslims we cant really be Islamic until and unless we shape our societies and according to Allah's commands.
With time, more and more Muslims will endorse the Western way of life where religion finds little place outside the home and mosque. On the other hand, we also see other Muslims becoming more religious. (it is this grouping that is currently tearing up Muslims societies in countries like mine). I think if Christians were also becoming more religious, the conflict between the two civilizations would be less intense. Its the conflict over place of religion in society that makes the differences so severe, because it is this difference that makes our outlooks so diametrically opposed.
The differences between the Muslims and the West are not due to the differences between their religions.
The West has more or less given up on religion despite the fact that many Americans still go to church on Sundays. But practically religion has little influence on their collective lives; what drives decision making is primarily economic considerations.
The same trend is also prevalent in the Muslim world but the extent of it is less than in the rest of the world; Yes the Arab spring was driven by economics, but perhaps a majority of Muslims still want Islam to shape their social structures. This is why the Egyptians elected the Muslim brotherhood.
Christianity and Islam are not so different from each other in that we share reverence for almost all of the Prophets and the original ideas were the same; in fact both religions claim to have their origins in the faith that was revealed to Prophet Ibrahim or Abraham (peace be upon him). So while the Christians and Muslims share a lot as far as faith goes, we have to understand that the present day Christians and the present day Muslims are diametrically opposed to each other in where they want to go. Muslims, despite trends to the contrary, still want Allah's will and commandments to determine and shape their social lives, the present day Christians want nothing of God at the State level.
Muslims, despite wanting the worldly benefits, are not prepared to give up on God; to them Islam is not just a set of rituals or just a religion per se, but a complete way of life. Today most Westerners will have none of that; they want to keep God limited to privacy almost secrecy (its not appropriate to ask people about their religion or have fervent discussions on matters of faith).
So our differences are not about our faiths, but about how much of it we should have in our lives.
With time, more and more people in all countries (including Muslim countries) are aiming for implementing nationals policies based on acquisition and accumulation of wealth; but some still want God in their lives and beyond just weekly worship as a private act. Many muslims believe that it is not Islam to just pray and fast; to such muslims we cant really be Islamic until and unless we shape our societies and according to Allah's commands.
With time, more and more Muslims will endorse the Western way of life where religion finds little place outside the home and mosque. On the other hand, we also see other Muslims becoming more religious. (it is this grouping that is currently tearing up Muslims societies in countries like mine). I think if Christians were also becoming more religious, the conflict between the two civilizations would be less intense. Its the conflict over place of religion in society that makes the differences so severe, because it is this difference that makes our outlooks so diametrically opposed.
What to you all think?