I hear that a lot on the news. Consider, though, that Islam is about as old as Christianity was during the Dark Ages. Is part of the Islamic world experiencing their own 'Dark Age'? Also, take into account all of the grand achievements of Islam, throughout its history. Algebra is just 1 of many positive contributions of the Muslim World. What say you? Algebra is Arabic for 'restoration'.
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Do yall think there's a fundamental 'clash of civilizations' between Islam n' the west?
- Thread starter Ichabod
- Start date
Pull My Finger
New member
No. There are plenty of liberal Muslim believers and non-believers stuck in Muslim theocracies. In various times and places, their movements away from Islamic fundamentalism have made some progress. However, the biggest factor driving people in the Muslim world to fundamentalist leadership is because the West has put so much undue pressure on countries in the Middle East, and Islamic terror groups seem to offer some resistance to exploitation by the West. It is well known that times of warfare and other threats to peace drive people into following strong, totalitarian/ fundamentalist leadership. So, the US and its allies have to take some of the blame for the persistence of Islamic fundamentalism.
Old Timer Too
New member
There are fundamental "clashes" between any two societies, simply because they have differences.
The "clash" between the "West" and Islam is largely driven through ignorance, fear, and a strong desire for a scapegoat for hatred.
The "clash" between the "West" and Islam is largely driven through ignorance, fear, and a strong desire for a scapegoat for hatred.
I wouldn't call it their dark age. There is still a ton of productivity in the Middle East (see Dubai for proof). It's just that I think most religions go through a little "hormonal teenager" phase. I dunno, during the Christian dark ages, the Muslim world made HUGE advances in just about every field.
I wouldn't say the clash is with Islam and the west, but just with Islamic Fundamentalism in the west. We kinda tolerated Christian Fundamentalism, because we are a majority Christian. We tolerated normal Muslims, cause it's not like they're really that different from us, it's just their religion. But Fundamentalist Muslims is a bit too different for the West, so it doesn't really mesh. Most of it is probably ignorance and irrational hatred.
I wouldn't say the clash is with Islam and the west, but just with Islamic Fundamentalism in the west. We kinda tolerated Christian Fundamentalism, because we are a majority Christian. We tolerated normal Muslims, cause it's not like they're really that different from us, it's just their religion. But Fundamentalist Muslims is a bit too different for the West, so it doesn't really mesh. Most of it is probably ignorance and irrational hatred.
I think this East Vs. West clash is far older than either Christianity or Islam, and it goes much deeper, hitting more visceral chords. Since before the Roman world and the Parthians, before Hellenistic world and the Persians, before even the Achean Greeks and the Trojans I suspect that those on the Western side of those key trade routes and those on the Eastern side of the key trade routes have been fighting to the control the access to resources and commerce that has to flow inbetween.
It gets buried under fighting over religions, or insults to national pride, or even a woman whose face could launch a thousand ships. But ultimately, the reasons for conflicts between nations are going to come down to access to resources and control of trade.
It gets buried under fighting over religions, or insults to national pride, or even a woman whose face could launch a thousand ships. But ultimately, the reasons for conflicts between nations are going to come down to access to resources and control of trade.