Moulay Idriss

Moulay Idriss is a charming, prosperous-looking town near Volubilis that had two qualities we in the US might find strange: no alcohol permitted and no non-Muslims allowed after dark. The idea of a city being dry because of religious beliefs seems like an antiquated notion; no non-Muslims after dark sounds almost racist (religionist?). Moulay Idriss challenges our belief in the West that science and rationality will eventually triumph over religion and irrationality. I wonder if our belief is true. It certainly isn't hard to find people everywhere--including the US--who reject scientism as a worldview. We all appreciate the benefits of science, but who are happier--people in Moulay Idriss or Winter Park?

- Robert Smither, Psychology