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Toward A New Paradigm: Recent Developments in Indonesian Islamic Thought

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Current, and evidence of what many continue to miss about Islamic thought, this 1996 publication is about `modern' thinkers most of whom continue to be influential. Eleven essays and a worthy introduction describe, analyze, or represent examples of rethinking Islam. It is strongly recommended for serious readers who sincerely want to understand Islam and deserves readership for more than Indonesian interest. Eventually one hopes we will see "intellectual history" of modern Islam including thinkers from Muhammad Abduh through Anwar Ibrahim and Tariq Ramadan.

Western presumptions about the traditional and medieval characteristics of Islam belie the usefulness of a proper return to roots, especially the time of Prophet Muhammad, for reassessment and revaluation of essential principles as a positive potential. Emphasis on social and economic justice, works over creed, community over extremes of individualism and reinforcement of community practice can be a most positive development not necessarily counterproductive for development or democracy.

Most of the book is not directly about politics but one may reflect on this after reading several; essays - one by a future President of Indonesia. There is even a positive productive place for many minorities which is arguably better than the minorities in democracies who never have sufficient votes to promote their interests - thereby being forced to give up much of their value system to operate in a secularist and individualistic manner. Rights and privileges of dhimmis, today reflected by representation in legislatures like that for Jews in Iran are dismissed to readily by those who know only Western practice. (Consider considerable trampling of many Muslim rights and denial of Constitutional protections in the US.) Despite the foreign image of Indonesia one might also consider that a very small Catholic minority controls much of the Press, for example.

Many essays are about the nature of contemporary "Islamic Discourse"; several are about modernization - in particular "Capitalism". Others consider the role of more traditional scholarship today; one considers the rhetoric and activity of discontent and violence.

Some have written further books since this one was published, like Robert Hefner on Islamic Civil Society.

In some ways the most interesting chapters are 1-4 by (the last a `conversation with') Indonesian Muslim thinkers themselves. (One suspects that today the US has further curtailed productive discourse with Muslims that is here represented by some who studied in the United States in the 90's. The shameful exclusion at the last minute of Tariq Ramadan represented a closed mindedness of the Administration that makes Catholic Notre Dame University seem so much more open minded.)

If the "instant experts" and "know-it-all" Islam phobic writers read this and books like "Faithlines" as well as others available the quality of discourse, level of understanding, and sad "empathy deficit" might all be much improved.