Posted by
Jack Fisher on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 4:21:34 PM
In wake of the September 11th attacks, many questions have arisen about the religion of Islam. It's no secret that every hijacker was young devout Muslim. It has lead many to ask whether or not Islam is a religion of peace or violence. There is a long answer and a short answer to this question. The short answer, put in simplest terms: it is both.
It's no secret even to moderates. There are many instance of intolerance, cruelty, and injustice in Islam. Just as there are in many religions, there are parts of it that many would deem immoral and prejudice by modern standards. In the Quran, Islam's holy book, there are passages such as:
Allah loveth not the disbelievers--3:32
They who disbelieve and deny Our revelations, such are rightful owners of hell.--5:11
When ye meet those who disbelieve in battle, turn not your backs to them. Whoso on that day turneth his back to them ... hath incurred wrath from Allah, and his habitation will be hell.--8:15-16
Beyond the Quran, the religion of Islam does have violent and intolerant traditions. In the early days of the faith Islam was spread by the sword. Armies from Saudi Arabia fought and conqured vast territory from India to Africa and to parts of southern Europe. Islam would not have been possible were it not for war. The Prophet Muhammad did indeed rally his followers to battle in reconquering Mecca. And some of those war-like traditions have continued to the modern age.
But regardless of these aspects, the vast majority of Muslims are peaceful, law-biding citizens. The radical wing of Islam, which gets far more media attention than the moderates, highlight only those who take it to the extreme. Yet it often seems like extremeism in Islam is mroe prevalant than it is in other religions. There are few Christian, Jewish, or Buddist suicide bombers in the news. And there many countries of conflict are classified as Islamic countries. But is the religion the source?
The long answer is more complicated. Radical Islam in its current incarnation was not prevalant until the 20th century. It's no coincidence that the areas where radical Islam has emerged are also areas that have been heavily impovered and have a history of authoritarian rule. Africa, Iraq, and Iran, all of which are historical hotbeds of radicalism, are largely products of the colonization period. The modern boundaries of many countries were not determined by the people living there, they were more or less dictated by the dominant European powers. On top of that, unfavorable trade policies helped spread poverty through large segments of the population. And poverty, more than any other force, helps the cause of radicals.
It happened in Russia in the early 20th century. The impoverished masses turned towards the communists to save them. The same thing happened in the Middle East. Western powers dominated and devastated many communities so they turned to religion to save them. Even after the colonists left, the effects remained and continued to propogate as authoritarian regimes came and went, subjecting people to more poverty and making them more prone to radicalism.
This is also apparent in Muslim communities in Western Europe, where a large proportion of Islamic communities live below the poverty line and are easily swayed by radicals. That is why Europe deals with more extreme Muslims. In the United States, Muslims are much more affluent and endure far less poverty than in other countries. Compared to other minorities like Hispanics and African Americans, Muslims are one of the most successful immigrant groups. There are still extremists, but they do not have the willing populace that communities in Europe have.
The United States became a target by becoming what the European colonial powers were in cenuries past. By supporting tyrannical regimes like the Shah of Iran and the royal family in Saudi Arabia, radicals have a lot to work with in propogating hate and intolerance. It's easy to push the more violent aspects of a religion when the people see themselves as victims. And nothing fosters more religious radicalism than victimhood.
Throughout history, there have been many religions considered violent. The common denominator for all of them usually include poverty, tyranny, and war-like culture. Muslims will find just as many justifications for violence as Christians or Jewish faiths if the conditions are right. It's easy to quote mine the Bible and the Quran. But in this context religion is not an instigator of violence, it is a reinforcing factor. It does not cause the problem, but it sure doesn't help it and it can make it worse.
Religion is a sensitive and personal issue. There's a lot people can do affect it. But when confronted with basic questions such as whether or not a religion like Islam is one of peace or violence, it is important to consider all sides. Human beings and even cultures of all kinds are capable of reprehensible behavior. Religion can either hurt or help. When it comes to violence, it can do both.