Rise of Fundamentalism

You are all fundamentalists with a top dressing of science. That is why you are the stupidest of conservatives and reactionists in politics and the most bigoted of obstructionists in science itself. When it comes to getting a move on you are all of the same opinion: stop it, flog it, hang it, dynamite it, stamp it out. George Bernard Shaw	Rise of Fundamentalism by Shah N. Khan The word fundamentalism is a misnomer and now it means a sort of fanatical point of view characterized by rigid adherence to the old religious ways. Fundamentalism was actualy a conservative Protestant movement in the United States, beginning in the late 19th century. It emphasized the following beliefs as basic to Christianity: the infallibility of the Bible, the virgin birth and divinity of Jesus Christ, the sacrifice of Christ on the cross as atonement for the sins of all people, the physical resurrection and second coming of Christ, and the bodily resurrection of believers.
The so called Jihadi Muslims are fanatics who have obscured traditions and take liberty in interpreting things to suit their political aims and militancy. Equally prepostrous is to say that these terrorists are following the teachings of Islam. All attempts to demonize Islam must be condemned.	Fundamentalism as an organized, conservative movement developed in US out of a series of Bible conferences in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The conferences were called by members of various denominations who strongly objected to the following: the historical-literary study of the Bible, known as higher criticism (see Biblical Scholarship); attempts to reconcile traditional Christian beliefs and doctrines with contemporary experience and knowledge; and acceptance of a scientific view of the world, particularly the theory of evolution. After the emergence of orthodox Islamic organizations in Egypt and certain other Arab countries in the middle of the last century, they were called as fundamentalists by the Western media. The movement to revert to Khilafat and Arab unity failed to get any appreciable support in the Arab world. Genuine Dawa organization who wanted to preach Islam just like Christian missioneries do were painted by the Zionist media as the militants who want to rule the world through Khilafa movement.
	The enemies of Islam even set up fake Islamic organizations to preach for conquest of the world by Khilafa movement and by spreading literature of hate and extremism and create political instability in Egypt, Algeria etc. The ulterior motive is to alienate the Muslims from form US and the Western world. How far they succeeded is evident from the following quote: "We know that this mad dog of the Middle East has a goal of a world revolution, Muslim fundamentalist revolution, which is targeted on many of his own Arab compatriots and where we figure in that I don't know." Ronald Reagan (b. 1911), Former U.S. President The emergence of MMA and other Jihadi organizations in Pakistan is being viewed by the Western Media as rise of fundamentalism. There is no slide towards fundamentalism in Pakistan in the real sense of the word. Even MMA which is a shaky alliance of several Islamic political parties are committed to democracy and the rule of law and the constituition. They have been able to seize power only in NWFP mainly becuase the people were disillusioned by the misrule and bad performance of PPP and PML (Nawaz) Government and like most other Muslims in other parts of the world they resent pro-Israeli policies of the Western countries specially after annexation of Jerusalem as capitol of Israel. The bid of MMA Government to enforce certain despotic laws has raised eye brows in all segment of population as the over-whelming majority wants to see Pakistan as a modern, progressive Islamic welfare state. On the other hand Hindu fundamentalism is on rise in India and it is more dangerous than Christian or Islamic fundamentalism as in a recent rally in India VHP leaders declared that it is the Holy duty of Hindus to to kill and finish off the Muslims scattered across India. They said that Muslims breed like rabbits and their population would soon overtake that of the Hindus. Until now, we Hindus had been moderate in our demands but now we will be demanding all the 30,000 masjids. Acharya Dharmendra said: 'Muslims can continue to live here only provided they all become Hindus' In this land of Shivaji, we should all follow Shivaji's example and finish off all the descendants of Afzal Khan just as Shivaji did.'
	After September 11th tragedy, anti-Islamic feelings have been brewing in the United States and have been fanned by the old enemies of Islam. In view of multi-fold increase in racial attacks the US Congress has recently condemned the attacks on Muslims and people of Middle East and Asian origins who live and work there and many are US citizens. America is the most developed country not only in industrial and technological fields but also in education, art and literature. The importance that is attached in their own country on justice, multiculturalism, freedom of speech etc. are admirable. Despite over 90% literacy rate the development of petty and unrealistic prejudices in some segments of population in supposedly most liberal and and most developed secular societies is not surprising because of inherent weaknesses in human nature. Moreover the American Politician including George Bush have been telling lies to their Own people to justify their imperious and unrealistic policies that serve the interests of big corporations whose business thrives on American engagement in or preparedness for war or in controlling world's oil resources. They have telling their people that the Muslim fundamentalists hate America for its values for freedom, democracy and its progress. The fact is that before 1950 America used to be the most popular country in the Muslim world. But after 1950 anger and frustration has been developing due to imperious foreign policies ignoring the principles of democracy and justice just to serve the selfish ends of Zionists and the big corporations. US has often undermined the role of UN specially in Middle East conflict and the principles of justice and democracy have been flouted. American Diplomacy has come to mean all the wicked devices of the unprincipled politics, spheres of influence, balances of power, secret treaties, triple alliances, and, installing puppets overthrowing legitmate democratic governments and appeasement of Fascism and dictatorship.. Many American intellectuals have been critical of such unrealistic Foreign policies but their voice does not reach the American masses in the din of rhetoric of selfish politicians. For instance Noam Chomsky, U.S. linguist, political analyst has plainly ascribed the terrorist attacks on US as the reaction to imperious foreign policy. "U.S. international and security policy … has as its primary goal the preservation of what we might call "the Fifth Freedom," understood crudely but with a fair degree of accuracy as the freedom to rob, to exploit and to dominate, to undertake any course of action to ensure that existing privilege is protected and advanced."