The structure of Islam is a major problem.
First, there are two books, the Quran and the Hadith. When Islam is accused of doing bad things, appologists always say, "That's not in the Quran" - and indeed it is not - it's in the Hadith. The Quran is theory, the Hadith is practice.
Knowing of the Jewish Talmud, which allows the interpretation of the religion to be adapted to changing times, the founders of Islam specifically forbade any such thing on penalty of death. So, they're stuck with it as it is. The Quran is so set in stone translating it to a language other than Arabic is forbidden, under the usual death penalty.
The Turks think the Hadith has been edited and they are trying to refine it to an original version - but it doesn't matter. To most of Islam the Turks are just Pagans with enough Islam slathered over to pass. The Turks will be ignored no matter what they come up with, whether it is better or worse than what they have now anyway.
There is no central authority. Anyone can go to a Madras, than set himself up as a local mullah and command his followers in the way he sees fit. This is a real attraction to the the most violent and power hungry. Islam, which means "submission", demands absolute obedience to Allah, and the mullah speaks for Allah in this world.
Jihad is built into the foundation of the religion - so when violent people claim to be Jihadists, mainstream Muslims are reluctant to criticize them, because that would be criticism of Islam.
There are peaceful Islamic sects, such as the Sufis, but they're mostly in Turkey, and it's very difficult for an outsider to become a Sufi - you have to study with a master. Most of Islam wants to kill the Sufis as heretics anyway.
Islam was once much more liberal and cultured than it is now - but it has been taken over by by the most extreme sects, and there seems no way to reverse that. The lands of Islam tend to be primitive and desolate regions - but those regions once hosted substantial civilizations. I suspect Islam is why they are primitive and desolate.
Perhaps a New Islam can be created and can spread and make converts - but it will have to be done in North America, the only region where the mullahs can't enforce the death penalty for such heresy.
Knowing of the Jewish Talmud, which allows the interpretation of the religion to be adapted to changing times, the founders of Islam specifically forbade any such thing on penalty of death. So, they're stuck with it as it is. The Quran is so set in stone translating it to a language other than Arabic is forbidden, under the usual death penalty.
The Turks think the Hadith has been edited and they are trying to refine it to an original version - but it doesn't matter. To most of Islam the Turks are just Pagans with enough Islam slathered over to pass. The Turks will be ignored no matter what they come up with, whether it is better or worse than what they have now anyway.
There is no central authority. Anyone can go to a Madras, than set himself up as a local mullah and command his followers in the way he sees fit. This is a real attraction to the the most violent and power hungry. Islam, which means "submission", demands absolute obedience to Allah, and the mullah speaks for Allah in this world.
Jihad is built into the foundation of the religion - so when violent people claim to be Jihadists, mainstream Muslims are reluctant to criticize them, because that would be criticism of Islam.
There are peaceful Islamic sects, such as the Sufis, but they're mostly in Turkey, and it's very difficult for an outsider to become a Sufi - you have to study with a master. Most of Islam wants to kill the Sufis as heretics anyway.
Islam was once much more liberal and cultured than it is now - but it has been taken over by by the most extreme sects, and there seems no way to reverse that. The lands of Islam tend to be primitive and desolate regions - but those regions once hosted substantial civilizations. I suspect Islam is why they are primitive and desolate.
Perhaps a New Islam can be created and can spread and make converts - but it will have to be done in North America, the only region where the mullahs can't enforce the death penalty for such heresy.