Is Islam compatible with modernity

Answer 1

This is the kind of question that usually leads to fierce debate, so this answer can only be one opinion on the subject. Islam in itself does not prohibit compatibility with modern society and thinking. One look at pictures from urban life in cities like Bagdad and Cairo in the Sixties shows practically everyone - including women - walking around in 'western' clothes with not a chador in sight; and Islam religion in many places was of a distinctly moderate variety at the time, hardly ever vilifying any Muslim for his thoughts or personal convictions - at least, as long as these didn't lead to active opposition to the local Government.

But today shows a throwback to orthodox and even fundamentalist Islam where compatibility with modernism is seemingly mostly shown by the advanced weaponry that fundamentalist Muslims are carrying. Many historians hold that Islamic science and culture reached its high point around the 16th century when its religion still allowed and even stimulated independent and innovative thinking, but has been lagging behind ever since. Muslim faith and certain forms of modernity still can operate together - just look at the high-tech nature of the economy of today's Gulf States. But modernity in other forms requires inquisitive and critical thinking and that is not something much stimulated in today's Islamic teachings.