June ,2011
Q_ What is the church doing to combat Islamophobia?
A-_There is no single or simple response to the question because the Christian Church is not a monolithic organization. Each branch of the church has a response to the question but these are not coordinated in a single view. The main branches of Christianity fall under either Roman Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant which has many different smaller churches under it. Each denomination may put out an official position which represents its church but individual members need not conform to the church’s official view. Freedom of conscience is permitted. The responses would be as broad as the political spectrum of society.
I am Presbyterian so I can speak a little about some of my church’s response to Islamophobia. Again there is no central office that speaks for all Presbyterians but the denomination will put out opinions that were voted on by elected members at official meetings. The church functions as a representative democracy. But these opinions or views are not binding on individuals; freedom of conscience is always a higher value..
The Presbyterian Church has had a long standing relationship with Muslim Countries and Islam from North Africa to the Middle East to Asia. In he 19th century the church sent missionaries to these countries to tell the Christian message about Jesus but they also engaged in helping people in what ever way was needed; education, orphanages, medical needs with doctors and hospitals, drilling wells for water, …
Since World War 2 the church has become less patronizing and more willing to offer help where the people feel they need it. Bridges to Islam have resulted in mutual understanding and appreciation in many places. Since we, Muslims and Christians, are both people of the Book along with the Jews have a common background from which to build mutual understanding. We are all children of Abraham.
In today’s world Islamophobia is a key issue which Presbyterians are addressing at all levels of the church’s life. On the Internet you can find video dialogues between Muslim leaders and Presbyterian scholars and clergy as well as ideas about how to promote mutual understanding at the congregational level. Most Presbyterians hear a message of God’s inclusive love for all people. Since God cares for all people we are to care for all as well. Social justice and tolerance are high values in our denomination. We are to protect the rights of minorities so they can live freely among us. So although we are taught tolerance and justice other influences can override our faith principles.
Today’s Islamophobia in the USA has mainly been a reaction to the 9/11 experience being attacked by terrorist who claim to be speaking for Islam. Osama ben Laden, the leader, and Alkaieda his organization. are the ones who ignited this struggle.. This attack shocked Americans resulting in anger, hurt, a desire for revenge as well as a challenge. Americans wanted to hurt back and regain our dignity. The frustration of the American people was felt by the Muslim community living in the in the USA in the form of Islamophobia. There are now about 8-10 million Muslims living in the US.
Some churches to counteract the Islamophobia that has been developing, have encouraged their members to check with there Muslim neighbors to make sure they are safe and that they are not experiencing overt attacks or rejection.
The Church as well as Americans are beginning to learn that Islam is not a monolithic institution. Although Muslims I know want to present themselves as a unified community, it’s really as diverse as any world wide organization or as the church. Islam has major internal divisions such as Sunni, Shiite and Sufis. Muslims live in a variety of political structures, not a caliphate; autocratic states, theocratic states, democracies, monarchies, republics, and tribal systems. They come from a wide varieties of countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia speaking many languages. Muslims are divided about living with shiria law, there is a variety of opinion about the role of the clergy and their place in the community. Yes. there are ideas and concepts that unite Muslims; the Mosque, the Hajj, Eid, Quran as well as words that might generate negative feelings such as jihad or fatwa.
It is good for Americans and Christians to realize these differences and to recognize that each Muslim is an individual person whose views are their own. They are not always tied into a collective or monolithic world view, especially the world view of Osama ben Laden. In America the rights of the individual must be respected and protected.
Americans and definitely Christians have no justification for reacting to the present situation with Islamophobia. Individuals can not be blamed or attacked for the actions of a few because they share one thing in common and.in this case a religious belief.
Americans and Christians can be challenged from their own fundamental tenets of life and faith not to engage in Islamophobia
I think there is one thing that I feel the Muslim community and leaders can do to encourage reconciliation between Muslims and other Americans of all religions. After Osama’s ben Laden’s death was announced some young Americans celebrated which seemed very crass. But I noticed no Muslim leaders among the clergy or the political community spoke about how glad they were that Osama was gone. I listened and although I know of individuals who were glad he was gone there was, as far as I know, no public statement by a leader. Did I miss something?
This left me with one of two conclusions ; either the leadership in Islam is afraid to speak this way because Osama’s followers might take revenge and attack them or deep in their hearts they believe there was something right about what Osama did, attacking the USA. Because the USA was too arrogant or did not respect the Muslim world the attack helped Osama regained some dignity for the Muslims world.
If the first option is true, Americans need to know how difficult it is for the Muslim community to escape Osama’s influence. We need to know so we can side with you and support you. What Americans want to know is that we are all on the same side. Not that USA is right. Americans need to be more humble in the world. But if Osama is a secret saint or idol to Muslims then we have very different world views and will not function well together,
Osama was a very self righteous man who played at being god. He decided what was right and wrong and who lived or died. He was not kind or charitable. He was selfish and egotistical. He destroyed many lives. He killed more Muslims that any individual over the past decade. He stole children from their homes and turned them into suicide bombers, he created a false hope with his Jihad. He lived in relative comfort in hiding while his followers sacrificed everything. . The terror he caused ruined lives for generations to come with the bombings. He had no regard for human suffering. He was heartless and a total shame to Islam.
So where does the Islamic community and leadership stand on Osama ben Laden? I can not imagine anyone trying to convince me Adolf Hitler did some good and I think this applies to ben Laden too.
A clear statement on ben Laden would help unite us , Muslims and Christians against tyrants, religious or political. .
Carl Rosenblum
