Islamic Extremism Has A Long History in Indonesia
I am reading a book on the volcanic island explosion of Krakatau or Krakatoa in 1883 and was surprised to read that there were documented incidents of Islamic Extremist violence even in that era. The book documents several incidents where Colonial Dutch soldiers and Dutch shopkeepers were killed by religious fanatics.
Indonesia then and still now is a huge center for Islam in that part of the world. Most devotees are direct descendants from converts to the faith in the early 1800's. Islam has a long history in that region. The book states that due to the cultural inclusion of some Hindu cultural practices that the type of Islam practiced in Indonesia is not as fundamental as the faith practiced in the majority of the Middle East.
What was surprising to me was that there was Islamic Extremist violence at all during this era. We so often think that the violence that we see coming from some in the Muslim community is a modern day issue, but that is clearly not the case. Even in 1883 we see Islamic religious fanatical violence. Clearly Islam as some know it can simply not live at peace with a secular society either in 1883 or in 2006.
Indonesia then and still now is a huge center for Islam in that part of the world. Most devotees are direct descendants from converts to the faith in the early 1800's. Islam has a long history in that region. The book states that due to the cultural inclusion of some Hindu cultural practices that the type of Islam practiced in Indonesia is not as fundamental as the faith practiced in the majority of the Middle East.
What was surprising to me was that there was Islamic Extremist violence at all during this era. We so often think that the violence that we see coming from some in the Muslim community is a modern day issue, but that is clearly not the case. Even in 1883 we see Islamic religious fanatical violence. Clearly Islam as some know it can simply not live at peace with a secular society either in 1883 or in 2006.
