Scarcely half a millennium ago while Europe was still trying to claw its way out of the so-called "Dark Ages," an Islamic empire stretched from Africa to Asia spanning various cultures, languages, and peoples - an empire celebrated for its unique pluralism and freedom relative to its day but united under the banner of Islam. This empire inherited, translated, and preserved some of the most important treatises of Greek thought. It led the way for centuries in scientific discoveries. It flexed its military might through conquering other peoples, but where the sword failed, the Qu'ran often prevailed. What made this Islamic empire so mighty and admirable is exactly what makes the modern day region destitute and backwards - what was once a thriving plethora of diverse ideas, interpretations, and dialogue has now become a stifling orthodoxy of seventh century fanatical puritanism.
Ironically, as Europe grew more accepting, modern, and diverse, the Islamic world took the opposite path. Perhaps a diversity of opinions is a benefit only afforded to global empires, but it is clear that the majority of today's Muslim world suffers from a stagnant intellectual setting that issues fatwahs at diverging views - the antithesis of what the once virtuous region stood for in the past. Muslims are correct in looking towards their past for hope and instruction, but they fail to identify the preeminent virtue of that past - diversity and acceptance. Instead they go back to the infancy of the religion, invoking the Prophet's sword, while ignoring his wisdom.
"If men were angels, no government would be necessary," is a maxim indicative of the pessimistic realism that helped lay the foundations upon which the US now thrives. Americans have since put their faith in living secular institutions that adapt with the times. The essence of these institutions taken at its highest offers what the Bible never could for the West - peaceful cooptation of many peoples following their own ideas of the good. The founders sacrificed any chance of universality but gained vibrant debate and conflict within prescribed limits. In giving up on one particular static version of the truth, the US set the stage for an impressive panoply of living truths that give and take from one another. Islam can learn from this lesson, a lesson Muslims themselves followed centuries before the US even existed, but a lesson that a once great empire has unfortunately forgotten.
A huge challenge to every religion is adapting itself with changing times, peoples, and ideas while at the same time preserving its inner core and meaning. Muslims' doggedly persistent rejection of change, whether for the better or worse, has raised a bitter generation more complacent to decry the vileness of the West than mend the faults within its own enervated societies. Islam could do well to look to the West, just as the West could have done well to look to Islam many centuries ago.
Islam is not in danger of becoming extinct anytime soon, but its spirit should offer more than bitterness to its largely emasculated following - it should offer hope. That hope will not come from the extermination of Israel; suicidal terrorist missions; or corrupt, despotic regimes that drain their flock of money, optimism, and ultimately faith.
Recently much has been made of the shortcomings of religion in the hands of a fanatical few, but the solution isn't to rid the world of the traditions that have animated mankind for millennia. Islam is a unifying force that drives millions of its adherents, some to evil but many to remarkable lives of kindness and charity. The first step to ridding Islam of that evil is to open the doors to diversity, interpretation, and freedom of thought. The people's faith should be invested in a spirited doctrine that can address the coming challenges of a rapidly developing world in more positive ways than simple dismissal or antipathy.
The golden age of Islam was colored more by acceptance than by the sword. People kept changing, both inside and outside of Islam, but unfortunately the religion somewhere along the line ceased evolving. Now when Islam needs to grow and transcend its current state more than ever before, the direction most publicized seems to be towards fanaticism and an exclusivist outlook. The plunge the US took into pluralism some 225 years ago has led to a great hegemonic empire. It's now time for Islam to have a little faith of its own and take that same blind leap. High-minded exclusivist attitudes jettisoned Islam here. Only pluralism and diversity can usher it into a second golden age.
Justin Race is a sophomore majoring in political science.
