I can understand clinically defined phobias. But, it has become fashionable to add “phobia” to any word to dismiss a person or a grp of people by implying that they are ignorant, or, worse, have psychological problems (anxiety disorder) – shall we use behavioral modification & desensitization as treatment or therapy?
Hadn’t heard of “Islamism” or “Islamist” before 2001. Though, a moslem is a *person* who follows Islam.
“Islamists trace their origins to Mohammed”.. To whom should “Islamists” (Moslems) trace their origins? When one wants to convert to Islam, all one has to say aloud in Arabic is: “There is no God but Allah, and Mohammad is his messenger.” – Do even a fraction of Moslems not believe that the Angel Gabriel was the medium through whom Allah revealed the Koran to Mohammad?
“supremacist Islam”, “classical Islam”, “radical Islam”, “fundamentalist Islam”, “extremist Islam”, “political Islam”, etc, etc, etc.. . apparently, undermine the classical rendering of Sharia?! Mr McCarthy forgets to mention that “Sharia” is not just a set of laws, but it is also a code of conduct for moslems.
Islamic doctrine, according to Mohammad too, very clearly claims that Islam "perfects or completes" all other preceding religions. That Islam is the “final religion”, and Mohammad is "the final messenger or prophet of God”. -- That’s, partly, why the Baha’i faith, whose parent religion is Islam, is not recognized in ANY Moslem country. And, the main reason why the Baha’is are considered apostates & persecuted (not just in Iran). – how is that different to *supremacist Islam* ? Are these Moslem countries, “Islamist” countries?
Why do “officials” in Afghanistan, S. Arabia, Islamic Republic of Iran, etc.. need western pressure or outrage to quietly reverse their decisions, or not publicize the practice of stoning, hanging of apostates, flogging, and chopping fingers & hands as punishments? Would they continue should “western outrage” cease ?
I agree that moslems are individuals. Individuals, can pick & choose. They don’t need to be “pro-west” nor labeled as such to do so. But, whether *Islam* permits individualism & choice as they relate to Islamic doctrine is another matter. I know some Moslem Iranians believe it does. But then, those Iranians also confuse their cultural traditions, w/ Zoroastrian roots, w/ Islamic doctrine.
The issue with Andrew McCarthy’s article is that he (his article) is taking a *futuristic* (reformist) view of Islam. He admits it too.
So far, in 1300 plus yrs, Islam has not been ‘reformed’. Until that ‘reform’ happens, is accepted & practiced by mainstream moslems everywhere, we won’t know. And, imo, that reform, to the core tenets of Islam, needs to take place inside moslem countries by moslems themselves, because they want it to be reformed. Not simply by those (moslems incl.) who live in the West, espouse certain western values, or thru 'western outrage'. The former approach is the only way they'll have ownership of it & it'll be sustainable.
Fyi - thought you might be interested in the article & comments.