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Is Amr Khaled and other evengelists the start of a modernisation of Islam? Maybe, at least I hope so.

"Amr Khaled's unique brand of Muslim preaching has made him one of the most popular preachers in the world.

Such is his appeal, he was recently named the 13th most influential person in the world by Time Magazine.

In Cairo, his DVDs stand on the top shelves reserved for best sellers in the Virgin record store, next to Bruce Willis and Charlie Chaplin.

His controversial style, comparable to the almost rock star approach of some of America's Christian evangelists, has drawn criticism from the religious establishment and he has moved away from his native Egypt.

Ironically, thanks to the proliferation of satellite channels, he is now able to reach far greater numbers than he could have ever done had his message remained within the confines of a mosque or a lecture hall....."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8414422.stm

charles wrote:Is Amr Khaled and other evengelists the start of a modernisation of Islam? Maybe, at least I hope so.

"Amr Khaled's unique brand of Muslim preaching has made him one of the most popular preachers in the world.

Such is his appeal, he was recently named the 13th most influential person in the world by Time Magazine.

In Cairo, his DVDs stand on the top shelves reserved for best sellers in the Virgin record store, next to Bruce Willis and Charlie Chaplin.

His controversial style, comparable to the almost rock star approach of some of America's Christian evangelists, has drawn criticism from the religious establishment and he has moved away from his native Egypt.

Ironically, thanks to the proliferation of satellite channels, he is now able to reach far greater numbers than he could have ever done had his message remained within the confines of a mosque or a lecture hall....."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8414422.stm

No doubt it would be better if his relaxed style became adopted by the majority of Muslims, and if that can be done by satellite channels, so much the better. It is interesting to think that Khomeini's 'Islamic revolution' in the reverse direction was originally spread by cassette recorder (from France, where he had asylum).

Ejnar Fjerdingstad wrote:

charles wrote:Is Amr Khaled and other evengelists the start of a modernisation of Islam? Maybe, at least I hope so.

"Amr Khaled's unique brand of Muslim preaching has made him one of the most popular preachers in the world.

Such is his appeal, he was recently named the 13th most influential person in the world by Time Magazine.

In Cairo, his DVDs stand on the top shelves reserved for best sellers in the Virgin record store, next to Bruce Willis and Charlie Chaplin.

His controversial style, comparable to the almost rock star approach of some of America's Christian evangelists, has drawn criticism from the religious establishment and he has moved away from his native Egypt.

Ironically, thanks to the proliferation of satellite channels, he is now able to reach far greater numbers than he could have ever done had his message remained within the confines of a mosque or a lecture hall....."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8414422.stm

No doubt it would be better if his relaxed style became adopted by the majority of Muslims, and if that can be done by satellite channels, so much the better. It is interesting to think that Khomeini's 'Islamic revolution' in the reverse direction was originally spread by cassette recorder (from France, where he had asylum).

Indeed - it could also be a tool for the worse of course. Mikes comment about Martin Luther is also rather apt. One thing that Luther pressed for was the doing away with Latin and preaching and publishing the Bible in German - maybe what this chap is doing too by using a more modern form of Arabic.