Information is free today than is has ever been. A few quick Googles and one can discover the
fishy past of our evolution,
evolution of morality or the history of technological, scientific or economic progress.
Despite how free information is, Islamic regions and Islam within Western societies does seem to resist modern advances very well. One has to look at the Far-East to see how quickly modern values can be adopted and advance their nations or BRIC nations to see whilst even though there is huge corruption, progress is coming their way.
Recent protests in the Arab world have highlighted that change is brewing politically. But let's not forget the influence of Islam today whereby:
- a woman cannot vote, drive or be in a car with a non-relative man in Saudi arabia
- how Sharia Law tries to implement itself in the UK
- how European second generation Muslims struggle to integrate (in very varying degrees - another discussion)
I think there are varying reasons why Islam is still strong in the world. First economical:
- Do you think Saudi would have more progress if the people didn't have oil?
- Do you think moderate Muslim immigrants in Europe would have integrated better like their counterparts in the US if it wasn't for welfare?
But then, what about non-economic reasons? What about places like, say Bangladesh or Pakistan where information does flow somewhat freely? Here I think you genuinely have core religious psychological constructs at play:
- Robert Cialdini's influencing factors of:
Commitment and Consistency, Social Proof, Authority, Liking- False indoctrinations: false-sacredness (of Allah, Mohammed and the Quran), false-fear (of Allah and hell), false-grievances (to other Muslims)
To expand on Cialdini's psychological factors:
Examples of "Commitment and Consistency" i.e. the more you commit, the more you stick with it:
- 5 times a day prayer/brainwashing
- Ramadan fasting
- extra prayers and surahs
- men growing bears, women wearing burkas/scarfs
Examples of "Social Proof" i.e. I'll do it if other people are doing it
- scholars and speakers such as Zakir Naik
- male/female segregation
- mass prayers
- again, men growing bears, women wearing burkas/scarfs
Examples of "Authority"- Scholars/Zakir Naik
- Quran, Hadiths (and the tenets that promote quite a bit of violence and fear ... )
Examples of "Liking"- again, men growing bears, women wearing burkas/scarfs
- a shared hate for Jew's/Israel
- a shared hate for Western values and practices (from relationships to alcohol)
So, all in all, even IF the West can be less dependent on oil or welfare is cut in Europe, unless these psychological factors are challenged, I think Islam will still be a challenge for the Western and Muslims themselves.
Topic: What makes Islam's memeplex so resistant today?