The spark of the first of the Arab civilisations recorded in world history is the nahda, the ‘resurgence’ which took place following the emergence of Islam. Islam, in this sense, is not merely a religion that appeared in the Arabian Peninsula but rather a cultural spur.
‘Islamic secularism’ is a term both shocking and fearful for many clerics as well as some of the more romantic-minded liberals. It is a new term in name yet it is an old one in application. Working towards this now we see as the realistic, pragmatic cure, the effective response to some of the clerics’ accusations against Arab liberals that they are atheists.
How can the Islam of History attain the goal of standing with its head held high alongside Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism? (Continued from Part One)
It seems that the cause for our backwardness (as concluded in Part One of this article) is the men of religion themselves and their opportunistic allies throughout history. When compared with the language of modernity, does not their discourse today appear somewhat medieval?
‘Islamic secularism’ is a term both shocking and fearful for many clerics as well as some of the more romantic-minded liberals. It is a new term in name yet it is an old one in application. Working towards this now we see as the realistic, pragmatic cure, the effective response to some of the clerics’ accusations against Arab liberals that they are atheists.
How can the Islam of History attain the goal of standing with its head held high alongside Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism? (Continued from Part One)
It seems that the cause for our backwardness (as concluded in Part One of this article) is the men of religion themselves and their opportunistic allies throughout history. When compared with the language of modernity, does not their discourse today appear somewhat medieval?
