12/24/2015 WhatthePopesDontSayAboutIslamEthikaPolitika

Sections
Editorials
ThisWeek
RecommendedReading
TheWholeStory
ThePapalWindow
Interviews
Letters
Everything
Editorial

SearchEP

WhatthePopesDontSayAboutIslam

ByDavidMills|December23,2015

EthikaPolitikaneeds$25,000tocontinuepublishingthroughthefirsthalfof2016.Pleasemakeataxdeductibledonationtoday.
ThepoliticianwhodeclaresIslamareligionofpeacealmostcertainlyhasnoideawhathestalkingabout.Hemakestheclaimassumingthatsome
AmericansawaittheexcusetoreleasetheirinnerIslamophobe,whichthoughtruedoesntsettlethevexingquestionofwhatIslamisandwhereitsbeliefs

https://ethikapolitika.org/2015/12/23/whatthepopesdontsayaboutislam/ 1/6
12/24/2015 WhatthePopesDontSayAboutIslamEthikaPolitika

lead.Thepopeshavenotbeenashelpfulinansweringthequestionastheymighthavebeen.

GenuineReligions

Mostwesternersassumethatallreligionsarebasicallyalike,notjustinbeingorientedtothedivinebutinwhattheythinkthatdivinerequires.(Seehere
formoreonthis.)WetakeChristianity,andtoagreatextentJudaism,asthetemplate.AsPopeBenedicttoldMuslimsinCameroonin2009,genuine
religion

widensthehorizonofhumanunderstandingandstandsatthebaseofanyauthenticallyhumanculture.Itrejectsallformsofviolenceand
totalitarianism:notonlyonprinciplesoffaith,butalsoofrightreason.Indeed,religionandreasonmutuallyreinforceoneanothersince
religionispurifiedandstructuredbyreason,andreasonsfullpotentialisunleashedbyrevelationandfaith.

ThisdescribesChristianity,thereligionweknow,butwhetheritdescribesotherreligionsisaquestion.Webelieveinthisideaofgenuinereligionbecause
webelievethatGodhastolduscertaintruthsthroughhisScripturesandhisChurch.Thosewhobelievehehassaidotherthingsthroughothersources
Muhammadwouldbeonemaywindupwithverydifferentbeliefs.Theymayrejecttheideathatreasonpurifiesandstructuresreligion,forexample.
OnelegitimateresponsetoBenedictsdefinitionisthatifthisisgenuinereligion,Islamisnotagenuinereligion.

Areligionmightassertdogmasthatleadtoviolence,oppression,hatred,oranunjustsocialorder.Areligionmaybeacrazyreligion.ThatIslamisa
religiondoesnotmeanthatitisafaithandlifethatrecognizeshumandignityandleadstohumanflourishing.Itmaydosoimperfectly,partly,ornotat
all.Ifitdoesso,itmaydosoforsomebutnoteveryone,fortheinsidersbutnottheoutsiders.

TheSecondVaticanCouncilgaveusinNostraAetateanoptimisticdescriptionofIslamthatdoesnotanswerconcretelythequestionofwhatitbelieves
andwherethosebeliefsgo.IndeedthatsectionofthedeclarationbeginsTheChurchregardswithesteemalsotheMoslems,notIslam.Theyadorethe
oneGod,livingandsubsistinginHimself,itsays,butsomeonemightadoretheoneGodandmishearmostofwhathessaid.

IslamandtheChristianTemplate

HereIdontsaythishappilytheprudentialjudgmentsofrecentpopesseemtomeoveroptimisticallytoreflecttheassumptionthatIslamisareligion
fittingtheChristiantemplate.Thatis,atleast,thenaturalreading.IwilltakeBenedictasmyexamplebecauseheobservedmoreofrecenthistorythanSt.
JohnPaulIIandislesscontroversial(tosome)thanFrancis,andbecausehehasamindofastonishingpenetrationandsubtlety.

Hereareafewexamples,taken(aswasthequoteabove)fromtheUSCCBshelpfulcollectionofstatementsonIslam.

SincetheSecondVaticanCouncil,BenedicttoldthePontificalCouncilforInterreligiousDialoguein2008,attentionhasbeenfocusedonthespiritual
elementswhichdifferentreligioustraditionshaveincommon.Inmanyways,thishashelpedtobuildbridgesofunderstandingacrossreligious
boundaries.HesaidthatworkingtogetherletsthedifferentreligionsincludingIslamexpresstheirhighestideals,mentioninghelpingthesick,
bringingrelieftothevictimsofnaturaldisastersorviolence,[and]caringfortheagedandthepoor.

BenedictuseshighestintheChristiansense.WhatifforIslamthesearenotitshighestidealsorareonlyamongitshighestideals?Whatifitshighest
idealsincludethespreadofIslamthroughouttheworld,ifnecessarythroughforcibleconversionandtheoppressionorkillingofinfidelsandapostates?
SupposeitshighestidealsincludethekindofsexuallysegregatedsocietyweseeinSaudiArabia?

BenedictsCall

InamessagetoMuslimsatthebeginningofRamadanin2006,thepopecalledthemtodefendandpromotethedignityofthehumanpersonandofthe
rightsensuingfromthatdignity....[B]yrecognizingthecentralcharacterofthehumanpersonandbyworkingwithperseverancetoseethathumanlife
isalwaysrespected,ChristiansandMuslimsmanifesttheirobediencetotheCreator,whowishesallpeopletoliveinthedignitythathehasbestowed
uponthem.

InanotheraddresstoMuslims,hesaidthatinpluralisticsocieties,caremustbetakentoguaranteethattheotherisalwaystreatedwithrespect.This
respect

growsonlyonthebasisofagreementoncertaininalienablevaluesthatarepropertohumannature,inparticulartheinviolabledignityof
everysinglepersonascreatedbyGod.Suchagreementdoesnotlimittheexpressionofindividualreligionsonthecontrary,itallowseach
persontobearwitnessexplicitlytowhathebelieves,notavoidingcomparisonwithother

WhatifIslamdoesntrecognizewhatasaCatholicBenedictseesasthecentralcharacterofthehumanpersonandtheinviolabledignityofevery
singleperson?ThewayBenedictputsthissuggeststhatheisnotsuretheydo,buttheaveragereaderwilltakethewordsasastatementthattheybelieve
this,justlikeChristiansandJews.

Benedictsotherremarksareofthesamesortwiththesameapparentmeaning.HedoesntdefineIslamandmuchofwhathesaysconsistsofappealsto
MuslimstoactlikeChristianswithoutactuallysayingso.TheeffectistopresentIslamasareligionunderstoodthroughtheChristiantemplate,andnotto
considerwhetheritsbeliefsdirectittopeaceortowar,tofreedomortoslavery,toequalityortooppression.

WhatIslamIs

Islamisthereligionweneedtounderstandatthemoment.SomeMuslimskillinnocentpeopleandagreaternumberwishinnocentpeopletobekilled.
Theyrealsothereligiousgroupmostlikelytosufferharassmentandabuseandtofindthemselvesthetargetsoflouts,fools,anddemagogues(and
demagogueswhoarealsoloutsandfools).

IsIslamcapableofgrowthintoamodernuniversalisticreligionlikeChristianitythatrespectsthedignityandfreedomofeveryhumanpersonina
pluralisticsociety?Orisntit?Orissubstnatiallyshapedbythesocietyinwhichitfindsitself?AreIslamistterroriststheMuslimequivalentofthe
Christianinquisitorsofthepast,somethingthereligionwilloutgrow,oraretheysomethingthereligionitselfcreates?Aretheyareaperversionora
productofthereligion?AretheyinitsDNAoraretheyamutationthatcantlongsurvive?Canitdevelop?Willitbeuniversalizedbymodernityor
directedbythenaturallaw?

Idontknowtheanswertothesequestions.Idonthaveevenenoughknowledgetoventureaveryamateuropinion,andpeopleItrustdisagreeonthe

https://ethikapolitika.org/2015/12/23/whatthepopesdontsayaboutislam/ 2/6
12/24/2015 WhatthePopesDontSayAboutIslamEthikaPolitika

matter.Imnotevensurehowauthoritativeiswhatseemstomethepapalassumption,sinceasfarasIcanfindwehavenoMagisterialstatementonthe
natureofIslam.Butitsaquestionthatmustbeasked,difficultthoughtheanswermaybe.

FurtherReading:

TheSecondVaticanCouncilsNostraAetate

BenedictXVIsFaith,Reason,andtheUniversity(hisRegensburgLecture)

TheUSCCBsVaticanCouncilandPapalStatementsonIslam

DavidMillsOneReligionsAsBadAsAnother

PaterEdmundWaldsteinsFiction,ortheFutureofFrance?

JohnM.OwenIVandJ.JuddOwensTheTruthAboutanIslamicEnlightenment

ElizabethStokerBruenigsChristians,Campaigns,andCollateralDamage

RobertP.GeorgesMuslims,OurNaturalAllies

Readersareinvitedtodiscussessaysinargumentativeandfraternalcharity,andareaskedtohelpbuildupthecommunity
ofthoughtandpursuitoftruththatEthikaPolitikastrivestoaccomplish,whichincludescorrectionwhennecessary.The
editorsreservetherighttoremovecommentsthatdonotmeetthesecriteriaand/ordonotpertaintothesubjectofthe
essay.

6Comments EthikaPolitika
1 Login

Recommend Share SortbyBest

Startthediscussion

ThomasStorck 4hoursago
David,

Iappreciateyourthoughtoutarticle.It'snicetoreadsomethingbyaCatholiconthissubjectwhichisneitheruncriticallylaudatorynor
fearmongering.

Afewcommentsofmyown,ifImay.

1.IfonereadstheRegensburgaddressofPopeBenedict,hewillfindsomeveryaptremarksnotjustonIslambutonProtestantismaswell.
Forit'snotthecasethatwecansayeitherofIslamorofeveryformofProtestantChristianitythatitrests"notonlyonprinciplesoffaith,but
alsoofrightreason.Indeed,religionandreasonmutuallyreinforceone
anothersincereligionispurifiedandstructuredbyreason,and
reasonsfullpotentialisunleashedbyrevelationandfaith."BothIslamandmanyformsofProtestantismdefinitelylackthatcommitmentto
reasonandarationalfaith.

2.However,IregarditasabsurdtoclaimthatMuslimsdonotworshiptheonetrueGod.Certainlytheymisunderstandaspectsofhis
nature,butifsomeoneclaimstoworshiptheinfinite,ineffable,almightyCreatoroftheuniverse,asMuslimsdowhoisthatexceptGod?
ThedoctrineoftheTrinityisarevealedtruth,andonecanhardlyexpectthosewhodonotaccepttheauthorityoftheChurchto
acknowledgethattruth.Afterall,doesanyoneclaimthatorthodoxJewsdonotworshipGod,althoughofcoursetheydonotacknowledge
theTrinity?

3.AfewyearsagoIreadtheKorantwiceintwodifferenttranslationsaswellassomesecondaryworksonIslam,anditseemstomethat
althoughsomeofthepassagescommonlycitedassanctioningviolencetowardnonMuslimsaretakenoutofcontext,neverthelessthereis
anelementofviolencethatissanctionedandevenadvocatedintheKoranthatcannotbeeliminatedbyanyamountofreinterpretation.For
example,Muhammadseemstohavetakenitforgrantedthatmilitaryconquestwouldbeoneofthechiefmeansofspreadinghisreligion.

Again,thankyouforactuallyengaginginthinkingaboutthistopic.
Reply Share

NDaniels>ThomasStorck 2hoursago
Thomas,TheCatholicChurchhasalwaysprofessedthatGod,TheFather,TheSon,andTheHolySpiritIs,InEssence,A
CommunionofLove,andthatTheEucharistIsTheSourceandSummitofourCatholicFaith.

https://ethikapolitika.org/2015/12/23/whatthepopesdontsayaboutislam/ 3/6
12/24/2015 WhatthePopesDontSayAboutIslamEthikaPolitika

CommunionofLove,andthatTheEucharistIsTheSourceandSummitofourCatholicFaith.
Reply Share

NDaniels 5hoursago
WhatNostraAetatedoesnotsayisthatifyouarenotworshippingTheOrdered,CommunionofPerfectLove,TheHolyofHolies,TheMost
HolyAndUndividedBlessedTrinity,youarenotworshippingTheTrueGod.
Withoutafinalauthority,therecanbenocohesivenessofbelief,withoutacohesivenessofbelief,onecannotknowforcertainwhata
ReligiousFaithGroup,inessence,believesinregardstothetenetsoftheirFaith.
Reply Share

BillMazzella 9hoursago
Thecommentsarenotthoughtful.Theyaredemagogicandinflammatory.TakesnonoteofthemanygoodMuslimsandshowsno
knowledgeofIslamichistory.Atotallyrepugnantarticle.Irresponsiblealso.Trumpindisguise.
Reply Share

GlennWillard 11hoursago
Thoughtfulcomments,David,withanemphasison"almost"withrespecttoyourfirstsentence.Regardingyourpenultimatesentence,do
yourecallthis?:"Facedwithdisconcertingepisodesofviolentfundamentalism,ourrespectfortruefollowersofIslamshouldleadustoavoid
hatefulgeneralizations,forauthenticIslamandtheproperreadingoftheKoranareopposedtoeveryformofviolence."EvangeliiGaudium,
253.
Reply Share

DavidMills>GlennWillard 5hoursago
Thankyou.I'vereadthatencyclicalseveraltimesandcompletelyforgottenthatline.
Reply Share

Subscribe d AddDisqustoyoursiteAddDisqusAdd Privacy

https://ethikapolitika.org/2015/12/23/whatthepopesdontsayaboutislam/ 4/6
12/24/2015 WhatthePopesDontSayAboutIslamEthikaPolitika

//Trendingnow

SustainingOurUniqueEnterprise|December14,2015

TheirHeartsDesire:AReviewofNancyCarpentierBrownsTheWomanWhoWasChesterton|December10,2015

HowtoEvangelizelikeaHobbit,NotLikeSauron(PartThree)|December10,2015

Youlooklikeyouenjoygoodwriting.
ReadEthikaPolitikaeachmorningfromyourinbox.

Email

Subscribe

https://ethikapolitika.org/2015/12/23/whatthepopesdontsayaboutislam/ 5/6
12/24/2015 WhatthePopesDontSayAboutIslamEthikaPolitika

Copyright2014CenterforMoralityinPublicLife.AllRightsReserved.
Forreprintinformationandaccesstootherresources,pleasecontacttheeditorshere.

Developedby

https://ethikapolitika.org/2015/12/23/whatthepopesdontsayaboutislam/ 6/6