The Thinking Youth Is Politics REALLY a part of Islam? With Imam Tom Facchine
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Nov 5, 2025 
Imam Tom Facchine, an Islamic scholar and imam, dives into the intricate relationship between Islam and politics. He challenges the notion that secularism is neutral, arguing it shapes religious identity and often enforces a harmful narrative about faith. The discussion reveals how colonialism impacted Islamic institutions and how current pressures affect young Muslims' identities. Facchine emphasizes that Islam encompasses governance and justice, advocating for a holistic understanding of faith in public life.
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Religion Was Redefined To Be Apolitical
- The modern definition of "religion" as an apolitical category is only a few hundred years old and arose to enable the nation-state.
- William Cavanaugh's The Myth of Religious Violence explains how secularization redefined religion to exclude politics.
Secularism Invented Separation Of Religion And Politics
- Secularism invented the idea that religion and politics can be separated, a concept impossible in pre-modern societies.
- This redefinition was exported through colonialism to neutralize Islam's societal and political authority.
The Narrow 'Four Walls' View Of Islam Is Recent
- The "Islam of four walls and five pillars" limits Islam to private worship and excludes civilizational or political dimensions.
- That limited framing is a recent product of secularizing discourses imposed on Muslim societies.
