Fantastic piece, Yahia.

I watch little news and live in a neighbourhood with no dominant culture or faith: people from everywhere, practicing religion and not practicing religion, speaking all sorts of languages, people of evolving gender and sexual orientations, and you know what ... we get along. We smile at each other, talk to each other, and eat each other's food. And we are not a small population but one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in the North America. We get along and it's expected we will. Intolerance isn't tolerated well, and so I know a world that gets along is possible.

To the idea that Islam specifically needs to re-evaluate itself. No, I don't think so. The concept of Jihad has been co-opted to serve the political goals of those who want power, but beyond that there is no causation specifically between Islam and violence. Correlation does not equal causation. ANY RELIGION can be used to manipulate people to violence. Religion needs to be re-evaluated. We need to come to understand that religion practiced from a tribalistic standpoint can lead to violence. Tribalism, exacerbated by poverty and inequality, the wrestle for resources, is at the root of large-scale violence. The wrestle for resources is at the root of violence.

It is important to understand that Faith needs no religion. True faith asks nothing of you. Never. It just offers itself to those who are willing to accept its nourishment. Religion is meant to be in the service of faith and not faith in the service of religion. So be wary when a religious leader asks you to sacrifice your faith for the religion ... to defend your faith. Faith needs no defending, but a tribe that has set itself up against another tribe might.

The most attractive conceptualization of Jihad that I had ever encountered is the idea it is the act of spreading faith ... not the faith. I have gotten to the point that I know enlightenment when I see it. I have seen it times enough on Muslim faces to know that Islam can deliver it. It works and is a way to faith and the maintenance of faith. Tribalism is not, even if you call it religion. We need to remove the tribalism from religion if we want it to serve faith.

This comment went on much longer that I thought it would. Thank you for providing a venue for deeper thought:)

Namaste, dear friend:)