Sunday, August 31, 2008

New Reading on Deck

Long term readers know of my respect for author Stephen Schwartz. He presents a type of Islam that is more in touch with the modern era. Schwartz fights the uphill fight against Wahabi nuts who make a mockery of his faith.

The new Schwartz book deals with Sufism. While we are familiar with the draconian absolutism from the Wahabi nuts it will be informative to learn about other views. Ultimately, radicalism fails due to its excesses and Islamic radicalism is not immune to history.

12 comments:

Always On Watch said...

Sufism, the mystic version of Islam, has never been "mainstream" Islam, particularly since the discovery of oil in the Middle East. In fact, Sufis are despised by Sunnis and Shi'ites.

I didn't know that Mr. Schwartz had released a new book. As you know, I've been out of the loop for several weeks with a miserable cold and the surgery of a few days ago.

Anonymous said...

...I've an urge to whirl!!!!!!!!

Always On Watch said...

FJ,
LOL.

Ducky's here said...

All the anti-Muslim crap you generate and just now you're getting around to doing a little reading?

Outstanding.

Ducky's here said...

Discuss:

Sarah Palin is a more vulgar example of tokenism than Condo "Brown Sugar" Rice.
T or F?

Ducky's here said...

Quote for class discussion:

"I have a very honorable opponent. There are stark differences between us." -- John McCain

beakerkin said...

Poultry

You must have this blog confused with
another blog. We are against Islamo
Nazism/Communism not the peaceful
practice of religion. Islam has been spread by colonialism and has a Jim Crow history.

If there is anyone who is in denial
of actual history it is you.

Pallin is a great VP who is more qualified than Obama to be President. The GOP has always allowed more diversity of opinion than the Dem who have run quasi Marxists like Gomer Kerry and Obama. A governor is not a token.

She is more qualified than Hillary
when she ran for Senate and is more
qualified as an executive than Obama or Biden.It is sexist to claim a governor is not qualified.

Always On Watch said...

This article on Sufism isn't very flattering. It's by Andrew Bostom.

I'd be interested in Mr. Schwartz's response to the information therein.

beakerkin said...

It is important to note that this article is a subtly penned attack on
Stephen Schwartz. It is important to
note even when I frequently disagree
with Schwartz I always respect his
heart and intellect.

Sufism like its parallel mystical movements in Judaism would have several branches. Comparing the mostly benign Lubavitcher with the freaks of Neturai Karta would be a false premise.

I would like to see what Schwartz
has to say.

Ultimately, Schwartz may be closer
to the truth for a different reason. Radicalism wanes after it fails and Islamic radicalism is not immune from this trend.

Muslims are angrier in Europe than
they are in Yemen or America. In Europe you have a far left rationalizing every antisocial or
insane claim by Muslims. Communists
have a vested interest in being at
the forefront of a disgruntled minority. The parallel is the far left for the Black Panthers, The Jewish bogeynan is merely a tool for co-optation of a large group of
a large group.

In short your average Muslim is likely less militant than the nuts
in your social science gulag in higher ed.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Discuss:

Sarah Palin is a more vulgar example of tokenism than Condo "Brown Sugar" Rice.
T or F?


Nice to see you out in your sheet and hood, Ducky.

False. Neither are examples of tokenism.

Sarah Palin has greater qualifications to be in the White House herself than "my husband used to get blowjobs from interns there." She'll settle for living at the Naval Observatory.

Condi Rice never dropped out of dental school, so she's not as qualified to clean teeth as Sandy Berger.

Always On Watch said...

Beak,
Muslims are angrier in Europe than they are in Yemen or America.

Overtly, yes.

However, I would call this to your attention. Excerpt:

[S]ince 1973, the Saudi government has spent an unbelievable $87B to promote Wahhabism in the United States, Africa, Southeast Asia and Europe.

According to official Saudi information, Saudi funds have been used to build and maintain over 1,500 mosques, 202 colleges, 210 Islamic Centers wholly or partly financed by Saudi Arabia, and almost 2,000 schools for educating Muslim children in non-Islamic countries in Europe, North and South America, Australia and Asia.

The Kingdom has fully or partially financed Islamic Centers in Los Angeles; San Francisco; Fresno; Chicago; New York; Washington; Tucson; Raleigh, N.C. and Toledo, Ohio as well as in Austria, Great Britain, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Russia, Turkey, and even in some Muslim countries such as Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia and Djibuti.

Saudi aid to Muslims abroad, however, comes with strings attached, and most of the recipient institutions end up promoting the Wahhabi version of Islam.


Have you seen the latest from Dispatches? I posted the videos at my site this morning.

It takes a while for Wahhabism to reap its whirlwind. And I have it from several Muslims that the radicalization of mosques in the United States is ongoing. In fact, some of my Muslim clients have quit attending the Falls Church Mosque for that very reason. Wahhabism has moved in!

Always On Watch said...

And...

I'm not here to bash Stephen Schwartz. I happen to believe that he is sincere and a patriotic American.

Is he picking and choosing the Islam he believes? I think so, but I can't say for sure as I have no contact with him.

BTW, the Muslims I knew in college were Sufis. No problems whatsoever. They had fled the Wahhabists and the Salafists, as well as the Shi'ites.