Fundamentalist Islam (Salafism): A Muslim Problem

The opposite of fundamentalism is secularism.  A Jew, a Catholic, or Protestant can still claim membership in their faith and yet enjoy the freedom to disagree.  Those who disagree most are generally described as secular.  In Judaism, secular Jews include Jews who don't really believe that G-d created the world in 6 days -- resting on the 7th.  They believe in the 'big bag."

I have known Catholics who did not believe all truth came from the Vatican.  Yet they felt that they had been born into the Church and were as Catholic as anyone.  And, furthermore, they could find priests who supported them in this belief.

What should also be recognized is that when a particular line of belief can no longer be supported, alternate forms of the faith can be created.  When the Catholic priest, Martin Luther, could no longer subscribe to all the tenets of his faith, he found alternate tenets. At the time, hundreds of years ago, that could be a dangerous thing.  The Church tried to have him eliminated.  But, luckily he had powerful supporters who helped him escape those who would murder him.

Deviancy is far rarer among Muslims.  The only case, I am aware of are the Ahmadiyyas.  There are, I have read, tens of millions of them.  They deviate from conventional Muslims in a number of ways.  Perhaps their greatest deviancy is that they believe G-d sent a prophet after Muhammed.  This prophet came in the 1800's and he preached among other things that there should be a separation between mosque and state.  In America, Ahmadiyyas are considered Muslims.  Not so in Pakistan.  Over there it is a crime for an Ahmadiyya to declare himself a Muslim.

Let's set the Ahmadiyyas aside for a moment.  Instead, let's focus on most Muslims who, while they divide themselves into Sunni and Shiite camps, cleave to essentially the same belief system; namely, that the last word in all things are the words and actions of Muhammed, and that Islam is the last and final stage to which G-d (Allah) has elevated man. The laws of Islam derived from the Quran, the Hadith, and the Sunnah, Muslims believe, apply to all people and have dominion above and beyond man's laws.

So how do you deal with fundamentalist Islam, if secular Muslims are simply Muslims who drink, shake women's hands and in other ways violate the tenets of their faith simply because they find it expedient to do so in places where other religions are dominant?  Most such Muslims would not be uncomfortable living in America.  The problem is that they still view fundamentalist Islam as the true faith.  If they can't follow true Islam, so be it.  But, for them, fundamentalist Islam is the true path to an Islamic life.  This is unlike what we see with Presbyterians, who are often at odds with Baptists, and who will never convince Baptists that they, the Presbyterians, are the true Protestants.  The Catholic Church has given up trying to convince Protestants that they, the Catholics, are the true Christians.  Muslims may appear secular, but they generally agree that fundamentalist Islam is the true Islam.

In non-Muslim countries, where they have not yet established an overwhelming beachhead, Muslims generally behave much like other citizens.  However, if one of their number becomes mentally unstable and seeks to meet Allah, such a person, or persons, can become dangerous to the community.

So what should be the American posture vis a vis Muslims?  In my opinion, Muslims entering the country must be informed that the practice of Shariah in America will not be tolerated.  They will be subject only to American law.  If they can not touch alcoholic beverages, they should avoid working in a convenience store.  If they can not look in the eyes of a woman, most sales positions will prove unsuitable for them.

Mostly however there should be heavy screening of the imams.  One imam was recorded preaching at a mosque in Orlando, Florida.  The message he was taped delivering was that to kill a gay man was to do him a favor.  A gay man carries the burden of sin.  By killing him you relieve him of this sin.  America doesn't need such imams, either as visitors or as immigrants.  The universities that turn out these imams -- even those overseas -- should be investigated and identified.  So why hasn't this already been done?  Here we must turn to Saudi Arabia one of the most fundamentalist of nations.  Sen. Wm. Fulbright was one of their first lobbyists.  They set up organizations like CAIR (Committee on American Islamic Relations) and ISNA (Islamic Society of North America).  At present, with their money, these organizations are dedicated to preventing the type of screening this country must do if it is to screen out such fundamentalist imams.

Why can't we recognize and give preference to the Ahmadiyya, to the Yazidis, and other Middle Eastern religious groups that have been decimated by the genocide inflicted on them by Muslims.
It is high time that Muslims in America establish organizations that, while acknowledging the roots of their faith, now choose to reform that faith.