Cambridge, UK
Assuming that philosophy of ethics has not changed, and therefore definitions of virtue and vice have remained the same, it is possible to imagine the following:
In regards to the first question, it will be always that a vice action will divide the two. It just happened that the current issues which divide the two are of politico-economical nature. The battle of accumulating the dearest natural resources, such as oil, gas, gold, iron and so on, by force, or transactions based on interest!
Secondly, it is the virtuous actions that will always bring the two closer or even together. All actions of worship, such as: praying, working towards equality of race, justice, safety and so on.
Finally, it is very unfortunate that the people of both cultures, especially the Westerners, are going through the process of changing their cultural values. For instance, in the last few years the wearing fashion in the West has dramatically changed, and therefore became unsuitable for Islamic culture and its values.
Assuming that philosophy of ethics has not changed, and therefore definitions of virtue and vice have remained the same, it is possible to imagine the following:
In regards to the first question, it will be always that a vice action will divide the two. It just happened that the current issues that divide the two are of politico-economical nature. The battle of accumulating the dearest natural resources, such as oil, gas, gold, iron and so on, by force, or transactions based on interest!
Secondly, it is the virtuous actions that will always bring the two closer or even together. All actions of worship, such as: praying, working towards equality of race, justice, safety and so on.
Finally, it is very unfortunate that the people of both cultures, especially the Westerners, are going through the process of changing their cultural values. For instance, in the last few years the wearing fashion in the West has dramatically changed, and therefore became unsuitable for Islamic culture and its values.
One may conclude that if this process continues from either side it will be a question of whether there will be any cultures, for much longer?
Sejad Mekic, BA, Islamic Studies, Ph.D., Theology and Religious Studies
Imam and Khatib (Orator), Cambridge Muslim Welfare Society,
Cambridge, U. K.