I hoped my recent letter would stir discussion. It did, though Fred Morris’s historical dabble misses the point. He, like Congressman Ellison, ignores current use by a religion so adamantly political it has fostered scores of nation-states that define civil and human rights based on religious practice.
Morris may point to historical Moorish Spain, a diversion evading the present day reality of political Islam. Being political is not a crime. But for a free people the mix of politics with religion is dangerous to the extent the mixture easily turns criminal.
(If Mr. Morris wants to play “history” tag with me I can oblige, but in a separate discussion from this one on current events.)
The Quran does not exhort followers to violence? A nice thing to say, but it doesn’t explain this easily found Koranic statement. “Slay the infidels wherever you find them.” (K9:5) Am I alone thinking that violent? Perhaps Morris would argue the killing could be nonviolent poison, but no less deadly.
Is “slay” a metaphor? No. Slay means kill as described in 8:12 where followers are instructed to make “wide slaughter” among the infidel and “tie fast” their bonds. Can Morris explain nonviolent slaughter? Unlike other religious texts teaching by parable, the Quran gives explicit instructions from Allah. Some Islamic scholars explain that one of Allah’s Angels guides the hand of a follower in commission of an act so they are therefore not only blameless but commendable.
In his theory of non-violence how does he explain calls to commit murder by assorted Islamic clerics? Khomeini told followers to kill Rushdie wherever they could find him. Not violent? Are the hundreds of attacks on artists, writers, illustrators, film makers, translators, etc. killed or injured due to religious incitement not violent? Is firebombing a newspaper or cartoon magazine not violent if an Imam sanctions it?
When’s the last time a Pope sent Swiss Guards to axe someone? Or a Baptist minister issued death warrants?
Unless reading a seed catalog or Thomas Aquinas prompts suicide attackers to call Allahu Akbar it is a safe bet they draw inspiration to “terrorize the enemies of Allah” from another source. A better understanding of political religion today is not found in smoke blown by Morris or others. Free speech and separation of church and state are more important than catering to trumped up sensibilities.
Harry Drabik
Hovland
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