Islam is incompatible with democracy. Discuss.

[Ivramire]

I'd have to say it is compatible.


Why wouldn't it be? + it seems to work well enough over here.

[Yosei]

I'd watch it, but I got another video loading and it eats up my connection x.x I'll check it out later.

[lamchopz]

This topic is about religion vs. politics. Personally, I don't see how a(ny) religion is compatible with democracy.

As one speaker pointed out, Christianity has undergone substantial changes to become harmonious with today's lifestyle. A religion in its original form, which was conceived thousands of years ago, can in no way fit in our view of a modern world. Islam is no exception. It has remained the same for thousands of years - something to which a friend of mine showed her deep regards.

The problem here is that those who practise Islam are faithful to the religion and resistant to change. It is understandable because changing a religion means changing the sacred doctrine that a religious follower is meant to uphold. However, the challenge is that Islam now exists in another society which in many ways does not see many of its features as "compatible with democracy". Instances that were singled out were the treatment towards women, the closure of the Muslim community and such. I have a lot of Muslim friends and for a while, I have been exploring Islam. I recall at one stage, I asked to visit a Muslim friend's house. He hesitated and did not indicate any possible time for my visit whereas the other Muslims were readily invited and could come over any time. This is an anecdotal evidence of closure.

Of course many of us will often think of the extremist cases when the term Islam is mentioned. The video is a discussion and an attempt to bring a more moderate representation of Islam.

This topic signifies the importance of secularity. The concept surfaced as a result of historic revolutions - science, technology and political philosophy. It has endured centuries of hardship. Many examples of the oppression imposed the ruling church can be drawn, of which my favourite one is Galileo and his heliocentrism which he was forced to deny because it opposed the teaching of the church. A theocratic authority is by no means an optimal model for governance. The speakers demonstrated that apart from Turkey which is a struggling democracy but a democracy nonetheless, the other Middle Eastern states are essentially Muslim states. This harks back to the Europe that consisted of largely Christian states. The facts are there for one to appraise and measure. A pertinent point here is that a dilemma has presented itself: Islam is targeted because some of its principles do not satisfy the way of a democratic life.

The defensive team brought up lots of arguments, which to me were weakly persuasive. However, their last speaker made two important and compelling points:

- What is democracy?
- What is "incompatible"?

So I leave my discussion here with those two questions for you to consider and another, which is obvious but elusive:

- Have we, those who live in the "West", been unfairly marking Islam as a target for repudiation?

[Hraesvelg]

I finally got around to watching the whole thing and the first gentleman made the most persuasive argument insofar as fundamental religions will always be at odds with democracy but that given enough reform it can be compatible.

I can't speak for all of western civilization, but I don't unfairly repudiate Islam, as I am equally disparaging to all forms of supernatural explanations for the universe, be it Islam, Christianity, or purple unicorns in my garage.

[Manzcar]

I will first admit I did not watch the video.

Religon and Democracy are not incompatible, but if the religion is the ruler over the people then it is not a Democracy but a "Dictatorship" of sorts.

For instance, you brought up the Catholic control over Europe. The religion did not control the European states, but the "rulers" of the religion. A group of individuals used the church to control the people, the rulers, and even blood lines of that time.

The "rulers" controled what people were allowed to read, think, say, and do. If you did not comply your were put in jail or put to death. Again, it wasn't the religion that said to do this, but the people who wanted power were able to use the religion to get what they wanted.

The pilgrims came to America to find religious freedom. Freedom from government controlled religion and religous controlled government. America showed that religion and government could co-exist in a Democracy.

So, no I do not believe that Islam is incompatible with democracy. But, if the religion is used to control what people are allowed to read, think, say, and do, then it is being used as a Dictatorship tool.