“Secularizing” Islam
Nov 29, 2004
"There are a lot of things which got stuck in the memory, for example of the Muslim communities -- even the memory of the Crusades is still very much alive," Cardinal Danneels said.
(IslamOnline.net, November 26 2004) Cairo - A leading European cardinal claimed that Islam could not integrate into Europe unless it makes a clear break between religion and state as Roman Catholicism went through after the French revolution.
Danneels said in an interview with Reuters that Muslims should be ready to show more flexibility to interpret the Noble Qur’an.
"I think, I hope that it is possible to create a European Islam which has gone through its own French Revolution. It can already be found here or there," he said in the interview, published by the Express India newspaper.
Danneels argued though that Muslim communities in Europe should see the contradiction between following tenets of Islam and integration into western societies.
"I think Islam should do that. Christianity did it, especially under the influence of the French Revolution. Apart from its negative aspects, there were also good things, like the separation of church and state," he said.
Danneels, the archbishop for the Brussels-Mechelen region, also called on Muslims to adopt what he termed a "moderate" Islam that does not cover all social and economic aspects of life.
"This is fundamental. It is very difficult to talk to a monolithic Islam, because that comes down to 'take it or leave it' and the accomplishments of European history, culture and social order are not really integrated in that," he said.
He claimed that Islam should allow more flexible interpretation of its scriptures.
"That is fundamental, the willingness of Islam to interpret its texts, the Qur’an in particular," Danneels said.
The prominent European archbishop suggested both Muslims and westerners overcome their past differences and thrash out new ideas on furthering understanding between both sides.
"There are a lot of things which got stuck in the memory, for example of the Muslim communities -- even the memory of the Crusades is still very much alive," Danneels said.
He warned against confusing religion and fundamentalism, which he called "a pathology of religion".
"Whoever commits violence in the name of God... actually commits violence against God," he said.
"Whoever hates in the name of God, actually hates God himself."
“Secularizing” Islam