"How should one put the balance right?" - recent Nigerian terrorist
I think this is the key point - the conflict muslims feel between the western lifestyle and the islamic lifestyle. This conflict is not just between cultures. Even in muslim lands, some muslims feel a conflict between the earthly life and the life after death. I suppose most muslims deal with this conflict in a healthy way. But my experience as a muslim in the west, is that there are many more who struggle with this. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that Islam does not provide a central theological authority (like the pope) to address these issues.
Muslims are left to their own soul-searching/research or the local imams. The local imams are either not trained to address such issues or offer solutions that dont work in real life.
One institution that is trying to address this problem is Zaytuna College (http://www.zaytunacollege.org/). It is the first American Muslim college. They are trying to create Muslim imams that are trained in both the islamic laws but also in the broader western philosophies and ideas. Presumably, this training will enable them to address such spiritual conflicts.
I think this is the key point - the conflict muslims feel between the western lifestyle and the islamic lifestyle. This conflict is not just between cultures. Even in muslim lands, some muslims feel a conflict between the earthly life and the life after death. I suppose most muslims deal with this conflict in a healthy way. But my experience as a muslim in the west, is that there are many more who struggle with this. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that Islam does not provide a central theological authority (like the pope) to address these issues.
Muslims are left to their own soul-searching/research or the local imams. The local imams are either not trained to address such issues or offer solutions that dont work in real life.
One institution that is trying to address this problem is Zaytuna College (http://www.zaytunacollege.org/). It is the first American Muslim college. They are trying to create Muslim imams that are trained in both the islamic laws but also in the broader western philosophies and ideas. Presumably, this training will enable them to address such spiritual conflicts.