In an otherwise cogent BBC article on the Islamic State, I found this nugget:
"In contrast to the first two waves, IS actually stresses violent action over theology and theory, and has produced no repertoire of ideas to sustain and nourish its social base. It is a killing machine powered by blood and iron."
Translation: The self-proclaimed "Islamic" State has nothing whatsoever to do with "Islam". It is just a successful killing machine which has no theology or theory.
While there are no doubt many kinds of Islam - some more radical and some less so, some more peaceful and some less so, the chutzpah to stand on the side and decide that "there is nothing to see here" in terms of theology or theory, is flabbergasting. It seems to matter not that the Islamic State spokesmen have publicly announced that they see their actions (whether beheadings or the establishment of a Caliphate) to be entirely consistent with their strict/literalist interpretation of Islam. To deny this fact is patronising, privileging of the outsider (i.e. etic), and just plain dumb. It reminds me of all those true believers who, even after 70 plus years of failed Communist regimes in all the corners of the world, saying that the "real" Communism had not yet been tried out. Yeah, right!
To read the entire article click HERE.
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