MAHATHIR MOHAMAD UPDATE: A reader writes:

Perhaps Mahathir Mohamad is channeling Jamal al-Din al-Afghani?

“If it is true that the Muslim religion is an obstacle to the development of sciences, can one affirm that this obstacle will not disappear someday? How does the Muslim religion differ on this point from other religions? All religions are intolerant, each one in its way. The Christian religion, I mean the society that follows its inspirations and its teachings and is formed in its image, has emerged from the first period to which I have just alluded; thenceforth free and independent, it seems to advance rapidly on the road of progress and science, whereas Muslim society has not yet freed itself from the tutelage of religion. Realizing, however, that the Christian religion preceded the Muslim religion in the world by many centuries, I cannot keep from hoping that Muhammadan society will succeed someday in breaking its bonds and marching resolutely in the path of civilization after the manner of Western society. No I cannot admit that this hope be denied to Islam.” (“Answer of Jamal al-Din to Renan Journal des Debats, May 18, 1883 in N. R. Keddie, An Islamic Response to Imperialism, p. 183)

Could be. I’m not a historian of Islam, but I know that Muslims have been saying stuff like this for centuries. The depressing thing is, they’ve been saying stuff like this for centuries. Of course, if they’re really 600 years behind what used to be called Christendom, it’s about time for the Renaissance. I’d like that to be true.