A good Rand plan (no, not from Ayn)
People at RAND think that we'd make a safer world if we can find a way to promote the sufi approach among Muslims rather than grim, frowning fundamentalism.
Sufism is the fascinating, mystical tradition of Islam, which focuses on love and harmony and oneness. It has quite a following in Pakistan and the Indus Valley civilization; it infuses popular music and culture; and it chafes under the yoke of hardcore fundie types. By the same token, fundies always view mystical traditions as a bit heretical.
The question is whether one culture promoting anything within another culture will backfire. The key is encouraging indigenous people to help others let out their inner sufi a little more each day.
Speaking of Ayn Rand, she had a very healthy attitude when it came to religion. Just before she died, she was interviewed on the "Tomorrow Show" by Tom Snyder and when asked her opinion of religion she came back with a cryptic answer that covered it all when she said, "Rubbish". For the record, I read everything she ever wrote when I was sixteen and by the time I was seventeen, I realized that outside of her 'on the mark' comment about religion, everything else she said was rubbish.