The war of ideas

Two recent articles bely the idea that the ideological or philosophical challenge from Islamism represents a clash of civilizations. Rather, one author argues that the real debate must occur between Christians (or Jews) in the West; the other that Muslims must find a way to modernize Islamic law.

David Rusin, in The American Thinker, summarizes the debate between two high Church of England prelates, Archibishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and Bishop of Rochester Michael Nazir-Ali. They "have emerged as central combatants in the dispute between two fundamentally opposed models of social organization: multiculturalism and universalism. The former bestows equal standing upon different cultures in the public square. The latter bestows equal standing upon individuals who wield a common set of rights and responsibilities. Which system prevails will ultimately determine the level of danger that homegrown Islamists pose to Britain, Europe, and the broader West." For the full text of Rusin's piece, click here (thanks to Islamist Watch).

Nazir-Ali focuses, among other problems, on the traditional Muslim penalty for apostasy (leaving the Muslim faith), which is death. So did Zuhdi Jasser, a practising American Muslim who finally succeeded in drawing an Islamist spokesman, Imam Mohammed Al-Darsani, into a public debate. That event occurred in Fort Myers, Florida last April; here is Jasser's summary of some key points.

In Jasser's view, the "real battle lines in this global conflict are within the Islamic community and over the boundaries and clarity of morality." In the debate, he put Al-Darsani on the spot regarding the treatment of apostates. Al-Darsani said, "We think once you are a Muslim you are part of a community, and when you leave the community you have committed treason." Al-Darsani is from the Islamic Center for Peace in Fort Myers; it's not hard to figure out what "peace" really means.