I don’t know if Islam must necessarily go through a Reformation period or if it is a Dark Ages religion. Islam is overtly dogmatic yes, but there are various sects within it namely Shia, Sunni, Wahabi, Sikh etc….Furthermore, Islam is not a monolithic religion, it takes on both secular and messianic properties at the same time. I think what we perceive as “Dark Ages” is the reactionism Islam displays againt Western technology via our industrialized free market capitalist societies. Consumerism is perceived as a hedonistic sin in Islam and this mentality stunts the admission of new technologies and progessive thinking in Islamic nations. However, this is not to say Islam is adverse to science and advancement all together, it’s just that these advancements must not be contradictory to Islamic Law (Sharia). Traditional societies frown upon new things that seem unnatural to their heritage or threatening in some way. Christianity is no different from Islam in this respect, and we have seen Christian nations who rejected Christianity all together for secular humanist philosophies (Revolutionary France and Russia). Similarly, we have seen Islamic nations go secular in Egypt and Jordan but these nations are relatively poor in natural resources and educated civilians which keep them lagging behind in development. As a matter of fact, Islam just happens to be in nations where the natural resources are either short in supply or are the type that leads to over dependence such as oil (very similar to how cotton dominated the South in American history). I could cop out here and say that it was simply the luck of the draw, but I won’t. I mean, Ethiopia was once a Christian empire known as Abyssinia, but it never rose out of what we call the Dark Ages so it remains poor and fractured ethnically to this day. So we see the same things happen to Christian nations as Muslim nations. We have Amish and Mennonite sects who utterly reject modernity so the tradition has a Christian element as well. Fundamentalist Islam jealously guards tradition and heritage. Fundamentalist Christiantity does about the same….with or without a Reformation. I believe most Muslims are aware of Western technology, understand it, see its usefulness, but reject it openly because it promotes materialism, hedonism, declining morals, promiscuity for sensual pleasures, and the devaluation of life. We in the West have failed to export our advanced culture to them because many of our actions have proven their suspicions true….this and the fact that their despotic leaders have over emphasized our failings. It holds true as well that democracy does not have the rich history in the Middle East that it has enjoyed in Europe and America. So this fact heavily contributes to their Dark Ages, but beyond all this, Islam has unified the Arab people and sciences such as Algebra and the abbacus come from them. Avicenna and Averoes, Saladin, Sulyman the Magnificent, the Ottomans, 1001 Arabian Nights, the Quran (as literature) are all great accomplishments not to be belittled by our modern standards. But yet, I will concede that Islam is its own worst enemy…..especially in its modern manifestations.

Nemesis and Joey:

Perhaps the idea that Islam's Reformation has to be as violent and extravagant as the Christian Reformation phase leads to a false premise. Reforms can be gradual and phased or they can be spontaneous and overtly inflammatory. Right now, Islam seems to be unified against the West and its corruptive influences. Islam will not make reform a priority until it no longer feels so threatened by the West. So in a way, we decide when Islam will find the time to turn inward and seek reforms. If this happens in Iraq it would be remarkable, but don't hold your breath. Iran may eventually prove the fertile ground for reforms since it has been the the most stringent enforcer of Islamic Sharia. I would put my money on reforms occurring in Tehran first. But so long as the notion that America is the Great Satan flourishes, Islam will remain stagnant in its hatred for the West and the U.S. in particular. The Protestant Reformation occurred after the Muslim threat was turned back from Europe via the Battle of Granada in Spain and by Ivan Dracul in Transylvania in the late 15th century. With no surprise, the focus shifted to heresies and the theologically deviant groups fostering them. So long as there was war with the Saracens, Moors, and Turks, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Zwingli et al. would have to wait their turn on stage.

Well what you have brought up is a very hot issue in islam some veiw are srong with and some are not but it hard to say 4 me, but we have to look at how the world has changed and whats happened

Now that you brought this thread back up Ken, I would have to say that if Islam does undergo a “reformation” type event, it will be toward the extremists making Islam even more antagonistic and counter-West/Christian.  I don't see Islam moderating anytime soon.  In fact, Islam might eventually come to resemble the Inquisition period of the Church…..so darker times are ahead before any kindler and gentler Islam can emerge.