Thursday, October 25, 2007

Welcome to Islamolibertarianism!

So, we have heard a lot about "Islamofascism" (see this for one view, and this for a counter-view). In fact, Islamofascism Awareness Week is currently underway on some 150 American college campuses (see a reaction by the libertarian-leaning Minaret of Freedom Institute). Well, it turns out that "fascism" is not the only suffix that can be appended to "Islamo". This (informal) "blog" will focus on an alternate suffix often dismissed by many as impossible -- the "libertarianism" suffix.

Could there be such a thing as Islamolibertarianism? I believe that the answer is "yes". My goal here is twofold. The first is to allow both Muslims and non-Muslims explore the question of whether Islam and Liberty are mutually exclusive concepts, or whether there is some overlap? If there is room for an overlap, how much of an overlap? The second goal is to allow both Muslims and non-Muslims to put on the table evidence and counter evidence on whether Islam and Liberty can go hand in hand. I believe that they won't always go hand in hand, but I also believe that the evidence will be such that in a secular (i.e., with Church-State separation) a Muslim will be able to live in a libertarian-leaning society without any moral conflict, and that Islam, just like other religions and secular philosophies, can equally exist in society.

I will also post links to articles, news items, and literature that relate to either or both topics of Islam and libertarianism.

7 comments:

Ali said...

I am glad that you came across this "blog" (which I will attempt to maintain on and off depending on my schedule). I hope that you can give your feedback to my posts frequently (and, of course, please feel free to disagree -- that, demonstrating diversity of views, is exactly the point of this "blog").

You say:

A great many Westerners do not see the clear distinction between Islam and Islamism

True. But, more importantly, there are Muslims who have hard time making that distinction. I hope that this little blog of mine will help these Muslims who have such a difficulty discover liberty and diversity (along with knowing how to peacefully deal with diversity and opposite views) without necessarily violating their Muslim identity.

I also find that it is important to highlight the meaning and value of liberty in Islam (versus a stringent, closed-minded Islamism [a la the Christian Identity Movement] as you point out in your comment).

In any case, welcome here!

Anonymous said...

"there are Muslims who have hard time making that distinction."

I think you are wrong.

Moderate Muslims see the division as Moderates vs. Islamists.
Radical Muslims see the division True Muslims vs. Apostates.

Ali said...

MGS:

Sure. However, these "moderate" Muslims do not form a perfect collection of identical, uniform individuals. One has to also emphasize the individuality and diversity of views amongst these "moderate Muslims" (e.g., some moderate Muslims are libertarian [something that this blog seeks to explore], and some are socialist, etc). Amongst this group of individuals, there is always room for improvement, construction, and exchange of ideas. As any libertarian would tell you, collectivism is not a favorable concept. So is statism (i.e. favoring the state over individuality and individual rights and freedoms, as in fascism and communism), which is what the Islamists (who are fascist statists) really are.

Anonymous said...

Muslims are split in two groups. The ones who believe in Islamic supremacy (fundamentalist) and the ones who don't (moderate).

Politically, they could be all over the spectrum, but belief in Islamic supremacy is the most important distinction.

Ali said...

MAS:

Certainly -- if by merely being Muslim makes one somehow better than others, then that is outright supremacy. Religious supremacy is the worst kind of supremacy --worse then racial supremacy since the combination of supremacy and religion tends to be a very destructive formula as history tells us (if only we --human beings-- learn).

Ali said...

MAS:

BTW, what do you think of the other articles on the blog? Any feedback there?

Anonymous said...

what do you think of the other articles on the blog?

- interesting

Any feedback there?

- not at this time

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