According to a Hugh Hewitt interview with a priest friend of Pope Benedict XVI, the Pope is not hopeful that Islam can adapt to "modern" ideas as embodied in the fundamental tenets of Western Civilization; especially insofar as they have been derived from Christian faith, thought and tradition. The Pope's premise, that the Koran is, for Muslims, an unalterable expression of the eternal will of Allah, is well articulated and can be found at the end of Hugh's posting on the interview.
The history of Islam, however, presents a more hopeful and less predictable prognosis (and I am, on this subject at least, an avowed pessimist!). From the time of Mohammed himself, there has been a historical ebb and flow between progressive and regressive Islam. Today, radical regressive Islam seems to be in the ascendancy . . . a movement emerging by means of a well-planned and well-funded program of world-wide terror and havoc spread by means of grassroots education and indoctrination.
Many Muslims see a hope of mystical liberation and a vindication of Islam in this movement. Most do not. As time passes, the inherently self-destructive path of this theocratic malignancy will become more obvious even to many of the conservative and traditional practitioners of Islam.
History shows that repressive regimes of any and all sort sooner or later collapse under their own intellectual, moral and functional bankruptcy. In order to survive, such regimes must, over time, either become more repressive in order to suppress dissent, or else open a few windows to vent the steam of pent up cultural and economic frustration and restlessness. This later tactic is, like the USSR's glasnost, no less than an admission of defeat and convincing evidence of impending implosion. Iran is, at the moment, following the first of these options; China has been cautiously experimenting with the latter.
In any case, we can be confident that the ascendancy of radical Islamism, driven by a vision of a world-wide caliphate, will sooner or later come to a dismal end. When the end comes, however, it will come from within Islam itself and not from without. Until that day arrives, those of us who are not Muslim must do all we can to ensure the survival of Christian faith and values along with all that is good and worth saving in so-called Western Civilization.
We must also recognize and remember that there is much in our Western culture that is worthy of the scorn and repudiation of Islam. There are (it should not be surprising to say) many moral values held in common between Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Our differences primarily lie in how we believe these values should be instilled and enforced in society.
Article comments
1 - Silas Kain
There are (it should not be surprising to say) many moral values held in common between Islam, Judaism and Christianity.
Well, the 'moral values' seem to consistently get us in trouble. The imposition of 'moral values' in the name of any religion is front line opression -- period. The Islamic terrorist utilizes a violent method to impose its brand of oppression. Rev. Pat Robertson uses his bully pulpit to achieve essentially the same thing. There's no difference in the ultimate goal of Pat Robertson or Ossama bin Laden -- just a difference of religious label.
2 - Andy Marsh
Silas - Are you serious? I mean, I'll give you the fact that Robertson's an idiot...but has he ever sent people to another country to kill it's citizens??? He's suggested that someone go do it, but he hasn't financed it!
3 - Silas Kain
Yes, I am VERY serious. The bottom line is that both men are interested in one thing -- the advancement of their respective religions to the point of world domination. We're such a self-righteous people. It's easy to assign the word oppression to Muslims but Robertson's brand of evangelization would also cause basic freedoms to be destroyed. He talks a good game about respecting the Jews. But he doesn't. He needs the Jews to assist him in this crazy idea that they are a necessary ingredient in the advent of the Rapture. Fundamentalist control of our society is as dangerous as the Mullah control of Iran. Wake up and smell the coffee, dude. Religion by any other name is the destruction of God's most precious gift: free will.
4 - Andy Marsh
I'm awake...I live less than a mile from Regents University and Robertson and he's never had ANY affect on my life. except maybe that traffic light on Indian River Rd....
I've had more interaction with the local LDS than anyone from Robertson camp!
As far as religion goes...I like Jesse the Gov's take on it...probably said by someone before him...but I heard him say it...organized religion is a sham...
I just don't see Robertson being anywhere near as bad as Osama...but that's just me...
5 - Baronius
Heck of an article. I'm not sure I agree with it all, but you present your case well. Except:
Our differences primarily lie in how we believe these values should be instilled and enforced in society.
Christianity, Judaism, and Islam don't necessarily disagree about the relationship between society and religion. They have all had witch-hunters, zealots, and assassins; they've all had wimps. I think the question is, is there something inherent in Islam which makes it more confrontational? I think there is, and that makes it more resistant to its moderates.
6 - Bird of Paradise
Baronius, Thank you for your kind comment. Ironically, I believe that what is "inherent in Islam that makes it more confrontational...and...more resistant to its moderates" is in how Islam "believes these values should be instilled and enforced in society."
7 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
BoP,
Interesting article. I'll mke the following observations.
Both Islam and Christianity have had time to figure out how to implement social policy and have arrived at differing solutions.
Judaism has not really had a shot at dominance until 58 years ago and still seems caught in modes of repwonse that were and are more appropriate to a homeless exile than to a sovereign existence in a national home.
The question of whether this should be a secular or religious society is still an open one, though it is moving to a decision, very possibly a violent one.