I've always said that the greatest threat to the western world and to global security is not Islamic extremism, but religious extremism. I see no fundamental difference between Islamic extremists and Christian extremists. Both are clearly a threat to western values and to global stability. I see no fundamental difference between terrorism and wars of aggression. They are merely different ways of using violence to get what you aren't good or patient or civilized enough to obtain via the art of persuasion.
There's more than enough Islamophobia in the western world that I'm usually hesitant to appear to fan the flames. But some things are so outrageous that they beg for commentary. Condemning radical Muslim extremism doesn't detract from the threat of radical Christian extremism.
Hence, I was disgusted to read the sickening reaction to the British knighthood awarded to author Salman Rushdie. Rushdie outraged many in the Muslim world with his 1989 novel The Satanic Verses.
Pakistan's religious affairs minister Ejaz-ul-Haq told parliament that "If someone commits suicide bombing to protect the honour of the Prophet Mohammad, his act is justified."
He warned that, "If Britain doesn't withdraw the award, all Muslim countries should break off diplomatic relations."
Sayonara!
So we have a cabinet minister from purported ally in the so-called war on terror justifying homicide bombings over a work of fiction published 18 years ago
He whined that the knighthood "hurt Muslim sentiments." If he's so concerned about feelings, how exactly does Minister Warm and Fuzzy think homicide bombings would help the self-esteem of Britons?
The left-wing British daily The Guardian reported that In the eastern city of Multan, hardline Muslim students burned effigies of the Queen and Rushdie, chanting "Kill him! Kill him!"
The cabinet minister sniffed, "The west is accusing Muslims of extremism and terrorism."
Why? It's a mystery.
I spent two years living in a pair of overwhelmingly Muslim countries, just as I've spent all the rest of my life living in overwhelmingly Christian America. I know that most Christians and Muslims are moderate people who only want to decent, peaceful lives for themselves and their families.
But I also know that when very devout people, regardless of religion, get a persecution complex, rational or not, there's a good chance that the resulting siege mentality will result in violence.
If the minister thinks diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Britain should be broken off because of a novel, then maybe he's right. Religious fanaticism is immune to reason.
2 comments:
Brian,
Could you please elaborate on any current threats from Christian extremists? Who or what are Christian extremists?
Connie: Fair questions.
Religious extremists are those who wish to impose their religious and cultural values on others either by the force of law or by the force of arms. This description applies regardless of which religion the extremists claim.
As I said, I view Christian extremists are a threat to western values and to global stability.
I think they are a threat to western values via the war some of them are waging against science; via the opposition many of them have to the equality under the law of all citizens, including gays and Muslims (and for some, women); via the opposition some of them have to the separation of church and state, a fundamental principle of modern western society.
Christian extremists are a threat to global stability because some of them view the present international conflict not as a war against terrorism or a war against authoritarianism or even a war against radical Islam but as a war against all Islam. It was not helped when President Bush infamously called the struggle as a "Crusade," making reference to the early 2nd millenium religious wars between Christendom and the Islamic world. There is a distinct religious fervor that animates many who supported the aggression against Iraq.
In short, Christian extremists are a threat for the same reasons as Muslim extremists are. I am by no means a fan of Al Gore but he rightly described it as a war against reason. Religion and reason need not be opposed. But for many, they are.
Thanks for the query.
Post a Comment