OVERCOMING STEREOTYPES (FACTORS WHICH PROVOKE ISLAMOPHOBIA)

Abstract

In the modern world Islamophobia is one of the most dangerous types of negative stereotypes that give rise to prejudices, discrimination and even aggression. Laypeople and politicians, scholars and theologians bear responsibility for multiplication and distribution of stereotyping in media. The journalists too often are not capable to distinguish religion from its believers. Islam and Muslims are not synonyms: in fact, we are talking about behavioral paradigms of the believers, not about their sacred teaching. Evaluation of Islam as radical, fanatic, intolerant, terrorist, etc., is unjustifi ed and inconsistent. The article argues inadmissibility of using the most common polar adjectives like “radical” and “traditional” for defi ning Islam. It is proposed to carry out the fundamental distinction between the actors at the political front and the participants of ideological and theological polemics. In the fi rst case, it would be appropriate to name «the radicals» as the militant fanatics, while «the traditionalists» as the tolerant Muslims. In the second case, it might be more precise to name one side as the Muslim orthodoxy, while the opposite side — renewal movement or religious reconstruction. The need to free debates involving both the reputable theologians and the ordinary Muslims is urgent. This kind of discussion might help both scholars and media representatives to free themselves from stereotypes that instigate Islamophobia.