Islamicist?

fewwillfindit · Post by **fewwillfindit** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 8:40 pm

I am a news junkie, and lately I've been hearing a term that I don't recall hearing much before: Islamicist. It seems that this term appeared on the scene a few months ago, across multiple networks, and it seems that it refers to Muslims who believe in implementing Sharia Law and/or advocate a Caliphate and/or resort to violence in the name of their religion.

Is this a new politically correct term that the news networks all decided to use to replace "Muslim Extremist," or am I losing my marbles and this term has been in use for a long time?

Grumpy · Post by **Grumpy** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 10:01 pm

fewwillfindit

Make a list of those using the phrase, I think it will be obvious where this is coming from.

Grumpy

fewwillfindit · Post by **fewwillfindit** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 3:25 am

Grumpy wrote:fewwillfindit

Make a list of those using the phrase, I think it will be obvious where this is coming from.

Grumpy

I'll do that. I wasn't thinking that it was pejoative, but instead a way to be more polite than saying, "Muslim Extremist." But you could be right. I'll start paying closer attention.

Lux · Post by **Lux** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 10:58 am

The actual meaning of Islamicist is a person who specializes in the study of Islam and Islamic culture. I haven't seen the USA news lately, so I don't know if the reporters have decided to give it a new meaning. I wouldn't be surprised, since they were the ones who started using the term Jihadist as a synonym for terrorist.

fewwillfindit · Post by **fewwillfindit** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 2:21 pm

Lux wrote:The actual meaning of Islamicist is a person who specializes in the study of Islam and Islamic culture. I haven't seen the USA news lately, so I don't know if the reporters have decided to give it a new meaning. I wouldn't be surprised, since they were the ones who started using the term Jihadist as a synonym for terrorist.

You know, I think I was mistaken. I think the "new" word I've been hearing is "Islamist."

Board · Post by **Board** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 2:55 pm

I would be wary of any labeling... I read this opinion article the other day:

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/2 ... s-muslims/

Is the direction we are headed towards another "Red scare" scenario? I really wish the media would choose their words more carefully as it does not take very much to ignite the spark of discrimination. And when I say media I mean all sides... not just the left or right.

Slopeshoulder · Post by **Slopeshoulder** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 11:40 pm

I think an Islamist refers in a non-judgmental way to someone who wants an Islamic state or theocracy. They may or may not be terrorists, jihadists (whatever that means) or extremists. Although as far as I know, being fundamentalist theocrats, they tend to extremists in thought if not action. I don't like 'em one little bit.
Just like Christianists.

Seriously, we have them too.

fewwillfindit · Post by **fewwillfindit** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 3:40 am

Board wrote:I would be wary of any labeling... I read this opinion article the other day:

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/2 ... s-muslims/

Is the direction we are headed towards another "Red scare" scenario? I really wish the media would choose their words more carefully as it does not take very much to ignite the spark of discrimination. And when I say media I mean all sides... not just the left or right.

I read the blog article, and I understand what you are saying. It's just that I get the feeling that the word "Islamist" in the media is an attempt to tone down the rhetoric. It seems to have replaced "Muslim Extremist," which could be viewed as incendiary, and which has become a bit of a household name this last decade or so.

If anyone hears the term "Muslim Extremist" in the mainstream media, let me know. It seems to have disappeared. I don't have an opinion on it one way or another, it just always catches my attention when the language/rhetoric changes across multiple networks and I failed to get the memo.

fewwillfindit · Post by **fewwillfindit** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 3:43 am

Slopeshoulder wrote:I think an Islamist refers in a non-judgmental way to someone who wants an Islamic state or theocracy. They may or may not be terrorists, jihadists (whatever that means) or extremists. Although as far as I know, being fundamentalist theocrats, they tend to extremists in thought if not action. I don't like 'em one little bit.
Just like Christianists. Seriously, we have them too.

Right. I think the term encompasses that definition. Now if the term "Muslim extremist" is still being used, then I will agree. Have you noticed "Islamist" being used more lately, or is it just me?

Slopeshoulder · Post by **Slopeshoulder** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 7:43 am

fewwillfindit wrote:
Slopeshoulder wrote:I think an Islamist refers in a non-judgmental way to someone who wants an Islamic state or theocracy. They may or may not be terrorists, jihadists (whatever that means) or extremists. Although as far as I know, being fundamentalist theocrats, they tend to extremists in thought if not action. I don't like 'em one little bit.
Just like Christianists. Seriously, we have them too.
Right. I think the term encompasses that definition. Now if the term "Muslim extremist" is still being used, then I will agree. Have you noticed "Islamist" being used more lately, or is it just me?

Honestly, I haven't been paying close enough attention to say either way. On the one hand, I do think that if any muslim advocates or commits violence or tries to impose unevolved premodern thinking on the world, then they should be labelled and extremist.
On the other hand, as I look at the future of the middle east in light of recent events, I predict that they will probably eventually align behind a model that splits the difference between Turkey (secular-western) and Iran (violent theocracy). In this way, a thoughtful, moderate Islamic society/state may be best for them and could be called Islamist. Or perhaps they will function like the religious right in this country: non-violent (usually), working within the law (usually), and part of a diverse democratic tapestry even while they push their agenda. We could live with that, as they work Islamic values and traditions into the laws. There are many damn smart and good Muslims out there, and an wise and centrist Islamist alternative to wahhabism and talibanism would be welcome. We shoudl encourage that. So turning down the rhetoric might be a good thing, especially if a large chunk of our population thinks all non-christians are going to hell and tend to equate Islam with terrorism. A moderate and modernizied Islamist scholar-politician class could be a very good thing, charting a course between an unworkable secularism and extremism/fundamentalism.
Just a thought.

Funny: I just went to click "Submit" and it felt like a very Muslim act (Islam means submit).