Watching the World: The debate over the existence or possibility of moderate Islam

Everyone probably understands by now that most Muslims are not extremists and are interested in living out their lives in peace. A debate continues, though, over whether there is enough flexibility in the core theology and politics of Islam itself to create (or sustain, depending on your point of view) a "moderate" form,  "a version of Islam that does not teach that believers must make war against unbelievers and subjugate them under the rule of Islamic law." This piece by Robert Spencer is a useful addition to that debate. Spencer is answering critic John Guardiano. Actually, I don’t think that Guardiano’s critique is that interesting, but taken together with Spencer’s reply and the references to Daniel Pipes and others, there is enough here to introduce you to the debate in an informed way.

Does moderate Islam exist? A reply to John Guardiano (March 2010)