How to Stop the Spread of Radical Islam Without Firing a Shot

Osama bin Laden and his followers subscribe to a deviant, radical form of Islam that threatens not only America, but also much of the Western world. The goal of radical Islam is world domination through global jihad. This jihad operates on many levels: financially, culturally, and through acts of terrorism, like 9/11.

The majority of the worldýs 1-billion Muslims adhere to more peaceful forms of Islam. Islam, the religion, deals with piety, ethics, and beliefs, and can be compatible with secular liberal democracy and basic civil liberties right along with the basic tenets in Christianity and the Eastern religions, as well as Judaism.

Islamists, however, believe Islam is the only basis for the legal and political system that governs the world's economic, social, and judicial mechanisms. Islamic law, or sharia, must shape all aspects of human society, from politics and education to history, science, the arts, and more.

These radicals have grossly misinterpreted Mohammedýs directive to ýkill the infidel among you.ý His intended message was for each individual to look inward and remove the non-loving aspects of themselves, not kill others.

Islamism is diametrically opposed to liberal democracy. These radicals argue that foreign and secular influences are distorting and poisoning todayýs Muslim societies. The Islamist worldview is fundamentally alien to the Western way of life; they see the West as the root of all evil that must be eradicated.

In reality, these extremists are themselves the personification of evil. While cloaked under the guise of religion, followers spread a message of hate and prey upon societyýs most vulnerable to sway them into their ranks.

All across the world there are growing pockets of Islamists subscribing to an extremely long-term, well-crafted strategy to achieve their goal of obliterating Western culture and freedoms. These hate-mongers see the very existence of liberal democracy as a threat.

Scary? You bet. This radical ideology is poison. But how do we stop it? You canýt stop Islamism with force because you canýt tell who the bad guys are. This hateful energy comes from darkness, and the only way to fight it is with LIGHT.

Is it a coincidence that as the world comes face to face with the primal issue of good versus bad, more and more people are looking for the answer to ýwhy am I here?ý and ýwhat is the true meaning of life?ý I donýt think so.

I believe the inability to find answers to the basic questions is evident in the choices millions of people make on a daily basis; chasing money, obsession over superficial things, living in survival mode, looking out for oneself and only oneself. The way the world has been going, itýs clear that weýre frustrated, confused and unable to see whatýs really important. I believe a major component regarding this life on Earth has been overlooked-ýor forgotten.

I suggest that a fundamental shift is building in the collective consciousness of humanity. It is this confluence of ideas and mindsets that makes a large awakening of society not only possible, itýs imminent. I believe the culmination of all these forces coming together is now being displayed in the ongoing show of conflicts between the power of light and the forces of darkness; between true beauty and utter ugliness.

How do we ensure that the Light wins, you ask? Embrace the good and beauty in all of life. Move consciously and purposely toward the light and allow it to illuminate your daily activities and your attitude.

Weýve forgotten our power-ýthe power of each person to remember and become the change we wish to see in the world. Weýve forgotten the simplest of all truths--that love truly does conquer all-ýevery time, everywhere.

And for those whoýve been asking-ýthis is why you are here-ýnow.

Randall Shelton is the author of ýLife on Earth the Game -ý A Manual for Those Who Didnýt Bring Theirs.ý Available only at http://www.earththegame.com