If the struggle of our lifetime, as some Muslim scholars have argued, is best defined as one between religious totalitarianism and religious pluralism rather than the Islamic World versus the West, then one must ask, what fundamental change can offer an alternative course?
Simply stated, the Muslim community may very well benefit from a Reformation, a Wittenberg moment of sorts in order to subjugate the impetus of the current transnational movement of militant Muslim totalitarianism. September 11th, 2001, provided an opportunity for the Martin Luthers within the Muslim community to rise up and post the grievances on the doors.
Surely, some argue that the reformation already commenced and what we are seeing on behalf of the militants is a counter reformation. For certain, change in the Muslim community will not come from Western intervention, prompting or coercion. Change in the Muslim community will come from within via a viable and sustainable reformation. A reformation that embraces pluralism and rejects totalitarianism.
At the end of day, Reformation stems from pluralism. Pluralism gives birth to tolerance, tolerance breeds respect and respect invites collaboration.
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