Fundamentalist Islam Essay - 2425 Words

The key issue in the Middle East, increasingly, has less to do with the Arab-Israeli conflict and more to do with fundamentalist Islam. What is fundamentalist Islam? On the one hand, it manifests itself as a new religious conviction, reaffirming faith in an awe-inspiring God. On the other hand, it appears as a militant ideology, demanding political action now. One day its spokesmen call for a jihad (sacred war) against the West, evoking the deepest historic resentments. Another day, its leaders appeal for reconciliation with the West, emphasizing shared values. Its economic theorists reject capitalist greed in the name of social justice, yet they rise to the defense of private property. Its moralists pour scorn on Western consumer culture†¦show more content†¦But if Muslims now return to the original Islam, they can preserve and even restore their power. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;That return, to be effective, must be comprehensive. It is not merely a religion, in the Western sense of a system of belief in God. It possesses an immutable law, revealed by God that deals with every aspect of life, and it is an ideology, a complete system of belief about the organization of the state and the world. This law and ideology can only be implemented through the establishment of a truly Islamic state, under the sovereignty of God. The empowerment of Islam, which is God’s plan for mankind, is a sacred end. It may be pursued by any means that can be rationalized in terms of Islam’s own code. At various times, these have included persuasion, guile, and force. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;What is remarkable about fundamentalist Islam is not its diversity. It is the fact that this idea of power for Islam appeals so effectively across such a wide range of humanity. Fundamentalists everywhere must act in narrow circumstances of time and place. But they are who they are precisely because their idea exists above all circumstances. Over nearly a century, this idea has evolved into a coherent ideology, which demonstrates a striking consistency in content and form across a wide expanse of the Muslim world. [2] Fundamentalist Forerunners nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The pursuit ofShow MoreRelated Ideology of Fundamentalist Islam Explained Essay5434 Words   |  22 Pagespolitical orientation of Sayyid Qutb (1906-1966), an Egyptian civil servant turned political and religious activist, inspired by fundamentalist Islam. To gain an understanding of what influenced and formulated Qutb’s ideas it has been necessary to provide some background information relating the history of modern day Egypt and the emergence of reformist and fundamentalist Islam, from the 19th century until Qutb’s time. The essay also seeks to give some biographical information in order to provide a fullerRead MoreCulture and Religion8004 Words   |  33 Pageshats, praying at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. TV has also covered the revolution in Iran and the Taliban victory in Afghanistan. These pictures give us a good idea of fundamentalism in two if the three major monotheistic religions, Judaism and Islam. The other one is fundamentali sm within Christianity. II. ORIGINS OF CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALISM The Enlightenment, in the 18th and 19th century Europe, inaugurated a period in which traditional Christian beliefs were placed under attack. EnlightenedRead MoreCharacteristics of Religious Fundamentalism Essay1162 Words   |  5 Pagesauthority and oppose the challengers, often using political means o further their cause. One characteristic of religious Fundamentalism is that most Fundamentalist groups have a charismatic, authoritarian leader. This person is usually male, who may claim to be divinely informed. An example of this was the Christian Fundamentalist Peoples Temple religious cult led by Reverend Jim Jones. 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The failure of the state to provide basic need to the people, increasing violence in Economy and political sector growing discrimination in society,Read More Terrorism and the Pursuit of God Essay example648 Words   |  3 PagesIslamic religion, the religion that the hijackers are suspected to adhere to, claiming that Islam reveres its martyrs and sanctions war. But the answer is much more complicated than this, and a look at religion and technology can help get a clearer picture of Islam and the events of September 11. Karen Armstrong, in her book The Battle for God, claims that nearly all religions have a sect of â€Å"fundamentalists,† or what some have called â€Å"extremists,† who feel it their duty to rebel against the recentRead MoreIslamic Fundamentalism is based on Islamic ideology. It is also seen as a group of religious800 Words   |  4 PagesIslamic Fundamentalism is based on Islamic ideology. It is also seen as a group of religious ideologies trying to return to the fundamentals of Islam. Muslim Brotherhood started in Egypt in the year of 1928. Muslim Brotherhood is an anti-colonial, transnational Sunni Islamist movement, it is attempting to integrate Islam into politics and government. Members of the brotherhood believe the Quran and Sunnah should be the basis of the government (Johnson, 2014). Muslim Brotherhood is not only foundRead MoreIslamic Extremism Is Becoming A Global Matter1605 Words   |  7 PagesIslamophobia. To fully comprehend how attitudes toward the Is lamic religion have changed in the past decade, one must consider the history of Islam, and the societal and cultural changes pertaining to Islam. Islamophobia is becoming a global matter, and one must be aware to understand religious conflicts, as it can immensely influence society. The religion of Islam originated from the Prophet Muhammad whom Muslims believe that he was chosen to spread God, or Allah’s message (â€Å"The Prophet†, n.d.). AccordingRead MoreMuslim Immigrants And The United States871 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"extremists†, â€Å"jihadists†, â€Å"fanatics†, â€Å"fundamentalists† etc. They were being feared, discriminated and even harassed. One of the most widely discussed issues in the U.S. Muslim community is the negative image of Islam in the American media, an issue that was cause for concern even before 9/11. While appeals to the media for accuracy and fairness continue, newspaper headlines regularly print the words â€Å"Islam† and â€Å"Muslim† next to words like â€Å"fanatic,† â€Å"fundamentalist,† â€Å"militant,† â€Å"terrorist† and â€Å"violence