[Nicholas Conradin]

What's his point?

Thank you all very much for your comments about this article. To elicit responses such as these were my reason for posting it.

[Steve_Seattle]

I am (or perhaps WAS) a member of an Islamic/Sufi discussion group on the Internet, focusing primarily onthe Bektashi Sufi Order, of which Schwartz is apparently a member. Most of the ethnic Sufis in that group seem to be gentlemen, even if I don't always share their perspective. But Schwartz ia a true Pharisee, pompous, arrogant, who wields his knowledge like a bullwhip against those whom he regards as his inferiors, which is just about everyone. He has the self-righteous zeal often seen in new converts, and does seem to take the position that only Muslims can criticize Muslims, whereas Muslims are free to criticize anyone, anywhere.

His ideal of pursuing religion in the quietude of the lodge (tekke, in Albanian Sufism) indicates that - as another poster indicated - he is out of touch with the Muslim street.