The reason they were fairly modern prior to the taliban is precisely because normative Islam, as prescribed in the koran and ahadith was not being followed. Returning to following it, whether voluntary or forced, was precisely what brought them back to 7th century Arabian living standards of perpetual warfare and perpetual ignorance.
We agree that Islam is violent, as prescribed and sanctified in their manual of hatred known as the koran, but my point is that what you refer to as fundamentalist, is really just normative, just as normative Christianity as prescribed is the New Testament is not violent.
To the degree that they are able to separate and remove the Islam from their culture (a nearly impossible task), to that degree they are then able to reconcile their culture with a less violent way of life.
The reason they were fairly modern prior to the taliban is precisely because normative Islam, as prescribed in the koran and ahadith was not being followed. Returning to following it, whether voluntary or forced, was precisely what brought them back to 7th century Arabian living standards of perpetual warfare and perpetual ignorance.
Not gonna argue there. I think fundamentalist Islam is by nature violent as opposed to say fundamentalist Christianity, Judaism, Sikhism, etc.
My point is solely that they -can- reconcile their culture with a more democratic approach.
We agree that Islam is violent, as prescribed and sanctified in their manual of hatred known as the koran, but my point is that what you refer to as fundamentalist, is really just normative, just as normative Christianity as prescribed is the New Testament is not violent.
To the degree that they are able to separate and remove the Islam from their culture (a nearly impossible task), to that degree they are then able to reconcile their culture with a less violent way of life.