On Egypt, the Arab Revolution, and the future of Islam

I am a “fan” of Philip Adams in the same sense that I am a “fan” of Christopher Hitchens. So I do listen to “Late Night Life” every now and again.

For those interested in prognosticating the Middle Eastern outcome, especially in terms of the religious question, you might enjoy the latter part of this episode of “Late Night Live”, with Professor Anthony Grayling (Philosophy, Birkbeck College, London) and Professor John Keane (Politics, University of Sydney).

My one thought is this: Is the “Facebook” technology playing the same role in this this “revolution” that the Printing Press played in the 16th Century reformation? Might this be Islam’s Reformation?

About Schütz

I am a PhD candidate & sessional academic at Australian Catholic University in Melbourne, Australia. After almost 10 years in ministry as a Lutheran pastor, I was received into the Catholic Church in 2003. I worked for the Archdiocese of Melbourne for 18 years in Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations. I have been editor of Gesher for the Council of Christians & Jews and am guest editor of the historical journal “Footprints”. I have a passion for pilgrimage and pioneered the MacKillop Woods Way.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

6 Responses to On Egypt, the Arab Revolution, and the future of Islam

  1. Stephen K says:

    It could well be, David, and the implication of what you appear to be saying is that both the printing press and facebook will have been instrumental in bringing about a timely liberation and beneficial revolution to a religion that had in part lost its way.

  2. David Kennedy says:

    Islam doesn’t need a Reformation. It’s already had one; it’s called Wahhabism.

    What it needs is something like a Renaissance, though I wonder if it would survive it.

    • Schütz says:

      Or perhaps an “Enlightenment”. There were nasties in the “Enlightenment” basket, but the Holy Father encourages us to recognise that there were benefits as well.

      There are some Muslims who follow a kind of “Protestant” Islam – a very tiny group I came across which are “Koran alone” Muslims, rejecting the Hadith and other traditions that have grown up since. Not a popular position!

    • David Kennedy says:

      Yes, but I’m a Communio type who is suspicious of the Enlightenment – apart from the Christian bits. Come to think of it, I’m not a huge fan of the Renaissance, which is over-rated IMHO. Let’s just say that something good needs to happen to Islam. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!

  3. David,
    I posted on this recently, at least as related to Egpyt. While Facebook and the Internet (inc. Wikileaks) are certainly playing their part as disseminators of information, Muslim TV evangelists promoting a moderate form of Islam have been the key to mobilising young people there. One thing they urged, apparently, was for young Muslims and Christians to protest together, and to eschew an Islamist goal for the revolution. Let’s hope it stays that way.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *