Great list item, Numbah, thanks.
In the West in the last century, there have been drastic changes to our cultural and religious landscape. Depending on who you ask; Christianity is either being persecuted or Christians are busy persecuting. Both sides feel that they are the victim. In the past 100 years the west has seen Christianity dominate both the political and social landscape and then slide back into the churches. In this country we have religious freedom, this freedom encompasses mainstream religions, alternate religions and cults. We are a country run by secular law, and this is a good thing, as countries run by theocratic laws tend to have a lot of social and civil problems.
Many Muslims that come to this country find themselves caught between religious freedom and past opression. This is something they must come to terms with themselves, many choose our freedoms, but still hold on to vestiges of their previous life, customs or religious practices. (though, for the record, I have yet to meet a Muslim who doesn't drink. )
America, for better or for worse, is a very influential country, we have media which pervades every country (someone tell me what sitcoms they have in Tunisia, for example), we have theoretically, lots of money and we have a big-ass army. Our influence on other countries is stronger than we realize. Our values are seeping into many countries in the Middle East. Change can be a scary thing for many. They see our acceptance of sex, both heterosexual and homosexual, our acceptance of alcohol and womens roles in society. Among other things. Its what they choose to do with that information that causes conflict.
I specified the Middle East because they seem to be having a hard time with weternization. In reality Mid-Easterners only make up a small fraction of Muslims world wide. The problems between the West and Islam are ideological, therefore, no easy answer exists. But as the world continues to shrink Muslims have to make a choice, they can sink or they can swim. They can adapt to the ever changing world as some Christians and some Jews have done or they can cling to their beliefs. However, they must realize that holding fastly and stubbornly to their beliefs they will need to completely shut out the rest of the changing world. Now I am not saying they need to abandon their religious customs, they can adapt many of those to the changing landscape, but they can not hold on to their political ideals and expect to impact the rest of the world on a global scale. (Again, I want to specify Muslims in the Mid-East, which is less than 20% of the Muslim population)
I also feel the need to point out, for the sake of balance, that in the Western world Christians have adapted, but many lost much of their religious identity. Many Christians know little about Christian theology. Muslims see this as well.
Is there a way to adapt to the secular world without losing ones religious ideology?
