Islam has been on the nose for the past 800 years or so, ever since its days of freedom were brought to an end by fanatic orthodoxy.

Since then it has become more of a problem than a solution, more of a challenge than support for an already suffering humanity. 

People are AFRAID to deal with Islam. They pretend it is not a problem. They engage in self-censorship when it comes to asking harsh questions from this religion which is often seen (by many across the world) as a byword for brutal inhumanity.

And yet, this need not be the case. I've discussed this issue extensively earlier (both on this blog and at length in the draft DOF). At one time Islam was a far more tolerant religion than Christianity was. More importantly, it was the hub-centre of critical thinking in the world for nearly six hundred years.

Harsh Vora sent me a link to http://faithwithoutfear.moralcourage.com/  a few days ago, saying that he is "quite convinced that she [Irshad Manji] is the light that today's Islamic world desperately needs!"

I'd never heard about her. So, what's so special about Irshad?

Well, I finally found time to go through the link he sent (took me 20 minutes), and yes, it was a very positive experience. Irshad speaks like the OLD-TIME Muslims of the medieval era – Muslims who were open to critical thinking and ijtihad (something Benazir Bhutto had elaborated at length in her book, Reconciliation, as well). 

Ijtihad is about critical thinking. It is the foundation of ALL CIVILISED DISCOURSE. I particularly liked Irshad's view that we need liberty because each of us knows so little. Our ignorance means we are constantly learning. That is the view that J.S. Mill so elegantly expressed in On Liberty, as the basic reason why we must have freedom of expression. That is also the reason why, as elaborated by Hayek, a centrally planned economy (socialism) is FATAL. 

All those who think the KNOW all the answers are suffering from what Hayek would call The Fatal Conceit.

Humility is liberty. It begins by saying we don't know, so here's what we think – and what do you think about what I think? Let's discuss, respectfully.

That's IJTIHAD. That's what the world needs.

I also came across her new book, released just a few months ago (June 2011), entitled, Allah, Liberty and Love. I'm not going to have time to read it, but I did go through the three short Youtube clips Irshad has put out about this book (which I'm linking below). 7-8 minutes in all.

Do listen to her. You'll be VERY impressed. Surely Muslims are not a bunch of children who will "melt" when challenged.

Let there be Ijtihad.

Then Islam will become the world's leading religion – for a good reason.

I am happy to accommodate good aspects of all religions, but Islam scares me a lot. I know it was good in the past, but today there are few Muslims in this world with whom I'd be comfortable having a vigorous debate about anything. These people seem to be so delicate. They take offence at virtually anything.

Let Muslims grow up into adults who can discuss. Manji has issued Islam a wake up call.

Note: I'm so impressed I'm going to provide a link to her website through the Project Ijtihad image.

Join the Freedom Team of India or become a Freedom Partner.

Related posts:

1. Islam – how a (relatively) tolerant religion has become intolerant
2. Women in Islam
3. Can Islam revive its golden age of scientific thought or is it going to remain hijacked by mad mullahs?
4. The urgent need to recover the Islam that Mohammed brought to mankind
5. Anti-Muslim Hindu fanatics are everywhere in India. What hope for peace?
6. How Christianity – finally – became a tolerant religion
7. There is hope for Muslims. Timur Kuran shows the way.
8. Religion to be severed from Politics
9. Ludwig von Mises on why religion and the state must not mix
10. Doctors: the rapacious, unaccountable enemies of humanity