Okay, not being a scholar of the Islam scriptures, I was assuming that there would be no reason to change the Koran, but only the modern interpretation of it. It would seem that the extremist might object to both the changes or a new interpretation. If an ecumenical council was rejected by the extremists, what would be the path to follow for the moderates? Do the moderates have the power to excommicate the dissidents of Islam?
"The broadcast of an immediate fatwah would no doubt help to quieten those who would condemn moderate Islam."
"No, it doesn't work that way. Fatwahs are "obeyed" by the followers of the cleric who made the fatwah. If a radical fundamentalist cleric doesn't make a fatwah condemning terrorism, it won't be obeyed by radical fundamentalists . . . "
But nevertheless, do moderate clerics have the right to make a fatwah, at least to send a message to the non-Islamic world that the moderates are dis-owning and dis-associating with the bandit terrorists and extremists? Wouldn't that help keep the moderates out of 'harm's way' by dis-allowing the terrorists to hide behind the moderates?
" . . . (or the people condemning moderate Islam as you put it). . .
Well, the people condemning moderate Islam are non-Islams who are pursuaded that moderates and extremists are the right and left hand of Islam -- the 'carrot and stick' of the Islamic movement around the world. How else can the non-Islamic world view Islam as a whole, if the moderates will not dis-associate and publicly excommunicate the extremists?