 |
| Islamic protesters in Pakistan, condemn 'Pop' [sic] Benedict XVI Those who live in fear, hate; those who hate, are lost. "Whoever claims to love God, yet hates his brother, is a liar" (1 Jn 4:20) (source: Islamization Watch; original credit unknown) |
For many years, I utterly failed to abide by Our Lord’s commandment:
“Do not be afraid!” (cf Lk 12:32, amongst several other verses!). Even still, I often retreat into despair or anxiety.
These attitudes of gloom belong to my make-up as a person. I will probably have
to struggle with these temptations for the rest of my life. But, it is
vitally important -- imperative, in fact -- for us to ‘take courage’ (cf Acts 23:11, amonsgt many other verses) and avoid fear as Christians,
for our faith leads to hope, a hope grounded in true love. 'The gates of Hell shall not prevail' (Mt 16:18), and nothing created can 'separate us from the love of God' (Rm 8:39).
Until recently, I was one of those who feared that followers
of the Muslim religion would soon outnumber Christians here in the UK. Whilst,
conceding that this prospect is not an irrational one, and seems entirely
possible, I now think my previous fears failed to take some important things
into account. By fretting about statistics, I forgot about the important matter -- my own relationship with Christ. Even in the desert, or on an island of pagans, Christ is Lord of all -- especially in those hearts that seek his face.
From the outside, Islam seems to be growing, or is, at least, experiencing
some kind of resurgence in traditionally Muslim countries. And, although its
seems true to say that political-Islam (or Islamism – which is not always the
same as Islam) is currently flexing its muscles (in the Middle and Far East,
Africa, and the West), it would be wrong to think that the religion of Muhammad
is in a healthy state.
Yesterday, we saw typical scenes of barbarity in a couple of
predominantly Muslim nations. The US Embassies in Egypt and Libya were
attacked, leaving an American Ambassador dead. Why did the people rise up with such
violence and hate? The answer, sadly, is because they were terrified of a poorly made satirical video that poked fun at Muhammad (by
highlighting the bizarre inconsistencies within his life). It is often true that people
hate what they fear – they wish to kill it, remove it, or destroy it. Islam is
terrified – which partly explains the rise in Islamism and Islamic inspired
violence.
In this video (below), a recent convert from the Muslim
religion to Christianity, who also happens to be the son of a former Hamas
leader, speaks about the collapse of Islam. He claims, and rightly I believe,
that although on the outside the religion of Muhammad seems to be going through
a renaissance or resurgence, it is actually facing the abyss. Islam doesn’t
know how to deal with freedom, it cannot face a future in which its adherents
will be educated and able to make up their own minds. It faces threats from
both secularism as well as Christianity.
Although aggressive secularism and moral relativism ultimately fail, they do pose challenges to all religions and to faith in God, or to those things outside the material world. Catholicism is well acquainted with the philosophies behind these socio-political movements – in fact, it is only through the teachings and culture of the Church, which is supremely rational, that free-thinking became so highly valued. Christians tend to be comfortable with criticism and debate. We believe that those who genuinely seek the truth will ultimately find it in God, revealed to us as pure love in Jesus Christ. Although some of us fear secularism and atheism, most of us don’t – and it is good that we don’t. We are the children of the Most High, we are in the world, but not of it, we know that all power, glory, honour and victory belong to our God and to the Lamb (cf Rev 4:11; 5:13).
Secularism, though, seems to be a dangerous threat to the Muslim religion, as
Islam doesn’t really have any answers to the questions raised by reasoned criticism. The fact that even Islamic scholars are
unable or unwilling to think critically about their own religion or scriptures,
points to an epistemological paralysis within most Islamic sects.
Here in London, it has become apparent to me that British Muslims fall into three distinct camps: the wacky fundamentalists (a small minority, often consisting of angry young men), the moderates (often businessmen, older people, or those who have to be realistic about the world to survive in it, yet hold onto their religious traditions), and the ‘bipolar’ (those who dress like pious Muslims on the outside, but who are very secular on the inside). I’d say that the last group is now the majority – people who are definitely culturally Muslim, but who, when challenged, are probably very materialistic or morally liberal. Some probably don’t even believe in God, or the teachings of 'the Prophet'. So, bar the lunatic-fringe, it appears that – and this is common in all Western societies – the Muslim religion is losing out to secularism; it isn’t answering the concerns of its youth.
Here in London, it has become apparent to me that British Muslims fall into three distinct camps: the wacky fundamentalists (a small minority, often consisting of angry young men), the moderates (often businessmen, older people, or those who have to be realistic about the world to survive in it, yet hold onto their religious traditions), and the ‘bipolar’ (those who dress like pious Muslims on the outside, but who are very secular on the inside). I’d say that the last group is now the majority – people who are definitely culturally Muslim, but who, when challenged, are probably very materialistic or morally liberal. Some probably don’t even believe in God, or the teachings of 'the Prophet'. So, bar the lunatic-fringe, it appears that – and this is common in all Western societies – the Muslim religion is losing out to secularism; it isn’t answering the concerns of its youth.
The same is true in Arab countries and other Muslim nations.
Secularism appears to be overpowering Islam – despite the violent efforts of Islamists
and those who see Muhammad’s religion as a political movement to stem this tide. Currently, most
inhabitants of the Middle East watch American cable-television. They watch all
the shows and films that we have to endure here in the West, they go to the
same cafes, they read the same newspapers (thanks to the internet), they buy
the same clothes, and they are being moulded in the same way.
In a generation or so, many traditionally Islamic countries will probably be ‘Western’, in the sense that they will have bought into the attractive modern American culture (or dream) – which bases itself mainly on the evils of exclusive materialism and turbo-capitalism – that has conquered or is conquering Europe, China and the Far East, and Latin America. Islam is failing to offer any real alternative to this culture of banality; a banality that speaks to the greedy and lustful beast in us all.
In a generation or so, many traditionally Islamic countries will probably be ‘Western’, in the sense that they will have bought into the attractive modern American culture (or dream) – which bases itself mainly on the evils of exclusive materialism and turbo-capitalism – that has conquered or is conquering Europe, China and the Far East, and Latin America. Islam is failing to offer any real alternative to this culture of banality; a banality that speaks to the greedy and lustful beast in us all.
But something else is happening throughout the Middle East,
North Africa, and South-East Asia. Christianity is on the rise!
Faith in Jesus Christ is filling the spiritual vacuum left by the collapse of Islam. Millions of Muslims, Arabs and others, are secretly converting to Christianity (see here for some references) – with many, as we know, facing death or imprisonment for their ‘apostasy’. Able at last to question the origins of their religion, or challenge the myths surrounding Muhammad, or search for real spiritual food, as opposed to the often highly politicised and legalistic religion of ‘the Prophet’, countless numbers are embracing Christ – the one who saves us and loves us. (From my understanding of the Muslim religion, Islam doesn’t really offer any form of redemption from sin, and in fact teaches that Adam was immediately forgiven for the sin that led to the Fall – those conscious of their human weaknesses along with their need to be justified before God, then, will not find many answers in Islam.)
Faith in Jesus Christ is filling the spiritual vacuum left by the collapse of Islam. Millions of Muslims, Arabs and others, are secretly converting to Christianity (see here for some references) – with many, as we know, facing death or imprisonment for their ‘apostasy’. Able at last to question the origins of their religion, or challenge the myths surrounding Muhammad, or search for real spiritual food, as opposed to the often highly politicised and legalistic religion of ‘the Prophet’, countless numbers are embracing Christ – the one who saves us and loves us. (From my understanding of the Muslim religion, Islam doesn’t really offer any form of redemption from sin, and in fact teaches that Adam was immediately forgiven for the sin that led to the Fall – those conscious of their human weaknesses along with their need to be justified before God, then, will not find many answers in Islam.)
In response to the growth of Christianity in Muslim majority lands, the Islamic and Islamist authorities appear to be engaging in a
campaign of brutality and oppression – threatening to kill converts, or
appearing on Arabic television to condemn, without logical argument, the real
teachings of Christ (as opposed the erroneous version of his life written down by Muhammad’s
devotees). But the persecution of Christians is backfiring on the Muslim
clerics and their collaborators. The more they hound the disciples of Jesus,
the more converts are gained for him.
The blood of the martyrs really is the seed of the Church,
as Tertullian famously said. When regimes try and suppress a movement, it makes it
attractive to those who are fed up with the old guard. When good Muslims see
how Christians are willing to die for Christ, they want to know more –
especially when they also know that many of their co-religionists kill and despise in the
name of Muhammad. “Love thy enemy” (Mt 5:44) is a powerful message of peace, especially
for a people brought up on a diet of revenge and the sword.
It seems that Communist China – which isn’t really ‘communist’
at all! – is also in a similar position. The authorities in that politically oppressive,
state-worshipping country fear Christianity and are similarly paralysed in
their attempts to hinder the Gospel. The Chinese people are sick to death of
the culturally Marxist, dehumanising, and sterile environment that has been
created for them over the past 50 years. They are searching
for spirituality, for truth, for freedom – all of which ultimately belong to
Jesus Christ! This is why Christianity is spreading like wildfire through the
great land of the Dragon, despite (yet, again) threats of imprisonment and torture.
It is true to say that Evangelical Protestants have been
very successful in transmitting the Christian message in places like Egypt,
Pakistan, and China. The Catholic Church is also active in these places, of
course -- and has been present for longer (which may explain why she is in less of a rush to proselytise, as she already has quite a few souls to look after). But often, it seems that the emotional aspect of Evangelicalism
speaks more directly to the human heart than does that sometimes overly intellectual brand of Catholicism, which some seem to be particularly attached to.
Sadly, of course, fundamentalist Protestants are on the relativist
spectrum – meaning that they might be preaching Bible-based Christianity one
day, but will soon shift to liberal, secular forms of theology. A house built on sand will only stand if it is moved onto the rock (cf Mt 16:18; Mt 7:24-27).
It is doubtful that men like Luther, Calvin, or the Wesleys,
would be pleased with the way their religious sects panned out. Devoid of
authority and proper (full) communion with the (Catholic) Church founded by
Christ, Protestant sects usually end up splitting and dying. Some end up becoming ‘exclusive’
sects, the type that get stuck in a time-warp and idolise externals. Others will
merely become ‘secular’ or ‘impotent’ Christian groups – like the liberal wing of the
collapsing Church of England. Thankfully, wise members of these movements eventually come home to the Catholic Church.
Yes, Evangelicals can attract those who seek
emotional fulfilment alone, but when the serious questions begin to arise, and
the intellect has to be engaged, the Catholic Church is the place to be. I do not mean to imply that Catholicism doesn't engage with human emotion – in fact,
I would argue that it is far abler than any other type of religion or philosophy to communicate with people on every
level, from the sensual to the rational. But it can sometimes seem as if the Church is too
clever for her own good; especially when it comes to transmitting the simple
message that God loves each and every one of us so much that Christ’s most sacred heart
let out on the Cross with an eternal desire for our souls, and he now wants us to know him and live in a deep intimacy with him forever!
Thomism might have its uses, but in spreading the Gospel
amongst the poor and uneducated, or those with little knowledge of philosophy
or theology, nothing speaks louder than the simple Gospel message: “God so
loved the world…” (Jn 3:16). Having said all that, I thank God that in the Catholic
Church we do not only find a faith that is supremely rational and beautiful,
but we also find the real presence of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes
away the sins of the world. The Church has all the answers, and the fullness of
truth… Our hope is that all men and women will belong to her fully; from those
already members by their baptism, to those who are yet to hear the name which
is above all others: Jesus Christ!
As for preaching or presenting Christ to newcomers; I think Julian of Norwich's four word sermon on Our Lord is all we need: "Love was his meaning!"
As for preaching or presenting Christ to newcomers; I think Julian of Norwich's four word sermon on Our Lord is all we need: "Love was his meaning!"
No comments:
Post a Comment