What Islam really needs to in order to modernize is an Enlightenment, which would bring the separation of the church and state, democratization, liberalization and the acceptance of principles and practices of tolerance, openness, innovation and progress. Yes, in many ways the Enlightenment was a child of the Reformation, but the Western world had to go through two centuries of conflict and upheaval to get there. Today, we don't have that much time to wait until the Muslim world truly embraces modernity.I would add the following critical observation.
It must be noted that what was "reformed" in Christianity was not the text that motivated it, nor of the basic doctrines behind it, but rather simply the institution of the Church. It was a bureacratic reformation.
With Islam on the other hand, there is no "church" to reform. What's worse, the problems are rooted in the texts of the koran and the hadith. That's intractible.
Because to reform a religion's text, rather than merely its institutions, is essentially to destroy it, and that's going to get a lot of resistance.
The effort required would be more akin to "deprogramming" a massive cult, than a Reformation:
During participant-observation at a Unification Church training camp, the author found, to her surprise, that her intellect was unaffected; the “brainwashing” affected her emotionally (limbic system). Cult life involves much ritual behavior (R-complex) but de-emphasizes intellectual processes (neocortex). Interviews with deprogrammers indicated that their goal is to get the cultist to see contradictions between cult doctrine and practice—in essence, stimulating the neocortex. Thus, cult conversion and deconversion emphasize different parts of the brain.Hmmm, what major religion demands intrusive, repeated ritual behavior several times a day, every day?
Interestingly, such efforts have already begun!
Saudis "deprogramming" terroristsI'm not convinced they're serious about this, but it could be a positive development.
One of the approaches used at times to "deprogram" cult members is an examination of the leader's claims within a broader historical context.
It seems the government of Saudi Arabia understands this principle. They have decided to do their own form of "deprogramming," in an effort to solicit information from incarcerated terrorists and apparent followers of Osama bin Laden.
Islamic clerics are now working with prisoners to point out how far they may have strayed from basic Moslem teachings. By untwisting the Koran they hope to eventually "deprogram" the terrorists who might then provide helpful information, reports Newsday.
The FBI is observing this approach apparently with some interest.
One Saudi official stated, "It can be effective."
Though a Saudi professor of religious studies observed that some of the terrorists "have been brainwashed to a point of no return."
