I admire Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who suffered female circumcision and escaped an arranged marriage to a much older Muslim man in Somalia. Ali fled first to the Netherlands and then to the United States. Given what she endured at the hands of her Muslim family and community, I can't blame her for becoming an atheist.
But now this atheist seems to be trying to lead an Islamic reformation. Speaking at the Sydney Writers Festival, she called on Muslims to "review the example of the prophet Muhammad. Muslims are not used to criticizing Islam, they are not used to criticizing the prophet Muhammad." Well, Buddhists are not used to criticizing the Buddha either. Jews aren't known for their denunciations of Moses. Nor do believing Christians typically criticize the founder of their religion, Christ. Attacks on the founders of religions usually come from other religions, or from the enemies of religion.
I'm not suggesting that Muhammad or Islam are beyond criticism. I'm not suggesting that Ali's call for change is wrong. I am suggesting that it will never happen in response to the agitation of people like her. An atheist's call to Muslims to change the theology and practice of the Muslim religion is unlikely to fall on receptive ears in the Muslim world. Of course it will rally critics of Islam in the West, which is really Ali's constituency.
Imagine if Luther were not a devout Christian but rather an atheist. Could he have led the Reformation? The very idea is absurd. It took an Augustinian monk in some ways more devout than the Pope to bring about the transformation of Christendom. So it is with Islam. Change, if it comes, will be wrought by devout Muslims who combat the Islamic radicals by showing fellow Muslims a better way to practice their faith.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 4)
1. Again what you report and what was said/meant are not the same. She is calling for Muslims to reform Islam. DD who better to reform Islam than Muslims? George Bush? I think, we all see how well that is going.
What I have read of the Koran (admittedly very little) Mohammed didn't teach what Islam practices towards women. There is a site you can find on line called Muslim Bridges, it may behoove you to go there and read a tiny bit, before you make even a bigger ass of yourself.
Any radical of any faith, will corrupt the teachings of their faith to achieve a self-serving goal. I constantly see supposedly Christians bounce between the old and new testaments to achieve goals that would make Jesus weep.
Do you suppose, Jesus wants us in Iraq killing Muslims in his name? Is what we are doing in Iraq much different than what they did on 9/11? I mean other than the fact we didn't blind side them.
No, I am not a liberal, I wish with all my heart we had a Barry Goldwater on our ballot, I would so be there behind him, with actions and cash.
Mackie at 10:00PM on Jul 19th 2007
2. Even when you happen upon an intelligent subject to write about you screw that up too. You need to be out at 4 in the morning throwing the newspaper, give up writing, you suck like a Kirby vacume cleaner.
Steven Parker at 10:13PM on Jul 19th 2007
3. DD, you are absolutely correct. A Moslem
BB at 12:03AM on Jul 20th 2007
4. Jeez, guys. What's with all the Dinesh-bashing? I can't say I agree with his politics, but I believe his point here is quite practical. Truly, the best candidate to reform a religion is one who exists INSIDE of it. Her intentions are noble, and I sympathize with her atheism, but perhaps more subversive means are in order.
Seth at 11:35PM on Jul 19th 2007
5. I usually don't respond to other people's comments, but Mackie's just begs for a rebuttal. I spent two years in Iraq and I can guarantee that what we were doing was NOT in the name of Christianity. Where did you ever come up with that? Is it, because we have a Christian majority and we are at war, so we must be at war for Christ? Second, it confounds me how a seemingly intelligent person could ever compare what we are doing in Iraq with 9-11. Do you realize, can you realize, who we are fighting against? Sunni and Shia tribalism insurgents, al-Queda and a handful of other nasties? Do you know what they do? Can a person like you even conceive what they do? I hear so much simplistic BS out in cyber land, stuff even more moronic than what you wrote Mackie. Maybe I should have ignored you too!
Jay at 11:37PM on Jul 19th 2007
6. Muslims are insane..there is no reasoning with them, nor will there ever be..
Anyone who can believe that someone with the thug qualities of muhammad could be a prophet sent by God is quite frankly a loonatic. End of story.
That's what the world is dealing with. 7th century thinkers with 21st century weapons...They need to be treated like rabid dogs..either kill them or cage them.
JT at 11:40PM on Jul 19th 2007
7. If you say the religion needs to be reformed than you are saying there is something wrong with the religion. There is nothing wrong with the religion, there is something wrong with the people that follow it. The majority of muslims are not crazy radicals either. The reglion does not need to be changed its the culture that uses the religion as an excuse for violence that needs to change.
z at 11:52PM on Jul 19th 2007
8. and JT your an ignorant idiot people like you are the ones that need to be caged up
z at 11:46PM on Jul 19th 2007
9. Saying a religion needs to be reformed is saying there is something wrong with the religion. There is nothing wrong with the religion just the people that follow it. The culture that promotes violence is what needs to change. There is no foundation for all this violence that is going on in the world in the Quran. Before anyone makes a stupid comments seriously think about what your saying, i can guarantee half of yall havent even picked up a Quran and tried to understand it. People are dying around the world and instead of trying to help it...your saying cage people up. Grow up and stop giving people a reason to hate Americans.
z at 11:52PM on Jul 19th 2007
10. JT, peace be with you. Repel evil with good-Quran
BB at 12:13AM on Jul 20th 2007
11. Yes war in Iraq is part of war on Islam that Mr. Bush himself admitted he was doing. Thus, the war in Iraq is done in the name of Christianity like it or not. Also do you see other faiths represented other than Muslims in Guantanamo concentration Camp! Although many non Muslims carryout terror acts. Current US administration has done far worse things to innocent Muslims than the perpetrators of the 9/11 have done to us. Whether you like it or not what US government does is done in the name of all US citizens including me
Alex Hansen at 11:32AM on Jul 20th 2007
12. Wow, z- you're a complete and total idiot. There's "nothing wrong with the religion, just the people who follow it"? IF there is nothing wrong with the religion then why is it one of the most chavinistic, violence-promoting religions in the world? Do you see Buddhists or Jews running around blowing people up and telling women they can't drive? The Bible and the Qur'an are filled full of violence, misogyny and plain irrationality. All of these crazy radicals can site examples in their religious books of God/the prophets doing things that in our society would be considered crazy/un-realistic-thats where they get the "right" from- their religion.
Lauren at 2:07AM on Jul 20th 2007
13. if you reform religion, then it's not in the original context anymore. now it's trash or reality t.v. religion for entertainment as you wish it to be.
lay at 3:14AM on Jul 20th 2007
14. Of course Hirsi Ali will not be able to lead an Islamic reformation, not because she is an atheist, but because she is a woman. If she were a Roman Catholic,she would not be taken seriously in the Vatican for the very same reason.
And, Dinesh, you don't blame her for being an atheist? How big of you! I am sorry that she had to endure the mutilation of female circumcision, but I am happy that she has discarded religious superstition and stepped into the clear light of Reason.
emelpe at 4:31AM on Jul 20th 2007
15.
What happened to the concept of the marketplace of ideas?
What Ali is doing, being knowledgeable about Islam, is inserting ideas for reform of Islam into the void. How can a Muslim at this point even discuss reform, as it is forbidden by the religion itself (you have to admit that is a neat trick to keep people subdued).
Who better than an ex-Muslim, now atheist, to explain the deficiciences in the religion which she experienced.
Maybe Ali will be the catalyst that produces a reform leader within the Islamic community.
BettyBB at 5:10AM on Jul 20th 2007