Hello Steve,

>LL>An interesting read.  Makes some valid points, but all a rehash of
>LL>what has gone on before.  What the author fails to mention is every
>LL>ideology depends on a leader for that ideology to succeed. Nazi
>LL>Germany was a personality cult, centered around Adolf Hitler.
>LL>Fascist Italy was more of an ideology rather than a personality
>LL>cult, as Fascist Italy would have continued regardless of who its
>LL>leader was.  Communism was never really an ideology at all, but
>LL>rather a series of successive personality cults - Vladimir Lenin,
>LL>Josef Stalin, etc.  One could say Stalinism was more apt a
>LL>description.  Or Maoism in regards to Communist China.

>LL>When it comes to Islam, what we are seeing today is the same as has
>LL>occurred in centuries past.  The danger is if a leader emerges in
>LL>the Islamic world.  A leader who unites the Islamic world to act as
>LL>one.

SA>There is an expectation that such a leader will soon strut the world stage,
SA>- the 12th Imam or Mahdi. There are differing muslim views as to the Mahdi,
SA>this is one of them:

SA>http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/intro/islam-ithna-ashari.htm

SA>Twelvers / Ithna Ashari Islam

SA>The Twelvers are by far the largest group of Shiite
SA>Muslims, because the Iranians are Twelvers. Perhaps eighty

The concept of the Mahdi is from Shiite Muslims.
Sunni Muslims do not share the same concept.
However, both Shiite and Sunni believe all Muslims
will be united at the end of days to fight the
forces of evil.

To put things in proper perspective, look at Shiite Muslims
as being akin to Catholics, and Sunni Muslims akin to Protestants.
Shiites are more conservative and try to maintain a purity of faith
in regards to the Quran and Islam, while Sunni are more liberal and
open to some changes or differences in interpretation.

SA>percent of the Shiis are Twelvers. Twelvers constitute
SA>ninety percent of the modern population of Iran and fifty-
SA>five to sixty percent of the population of Iraq. Twelver
SA>Shiites
SA>are the majority in Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan and also have substantial
SA>populations in Turkey, Pakistan, Lebanon, Syria, India, Afghanistan and
SA>Bahrain.

Overall in the Arab world, as well as worldwide, Sunni outnumber
Shiite.  And there are smaller sects, Islam not being limited to Shiite
and Sunni.  However, all Muslims share a common faith, and also a common
belief that all will be united at the end of days.

In addition to the belief that all Muslims will be united, Muslims
believe that Muslims, Christians and Jews will be united at the end
of days to fight the forces of evil.

What Muslims mean by unity is not necessarily the same thing as what
most Christians think is meant.  But that is for another post.  :)

--Lee


 * SLMR 2.1a * "Men willingly believe what they wish." - Julius Caesar

--- Maximus 3.01