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Deafness Comes for the Archbishop

November 26, 2007   

The Archbishop of Canterbury raised a lot of controversy, not to mention eyebrows, this past week when he attacked American foreign policy as symptomatic of America’s moral decline, thirst for empire, and penchant for violence.

Rowan Williams, who heads up 70 million Anglicans around the globe, compared the growth of American hegemony since the Second World War to the British empire in its heyday.

            At the same time he commended the British as good imperialists because they engaged in nation-building and long-term administration of conquered territories, while Americans tend to believer that “a quick burst of violent action will somehow clear the decks and that you can move on and other people will put it back together.”

Williams has had a leftish tilt to his politics all his life, so the comments in themselves were not surprising.  Even Pope John Paul used to say similar things. 

What drew attention, particularly in America where many Anglican congregations are leaving the worldwide communion of which Williams is primate, was the context in which he made the remarks – in the British Muslim lifestyle magazine Emel.

In the magazine Williams offered only mild and vague criticisms of Islamist policies. Its “political solutions were not the most impressive”, he opined.   

However, Islamism does seem to have something, Williams implied, that the West does not.  After all, we have all known since Spengler is on the decline anyway.   “Our modern western definition of humanity is clearly not working very well. There is something about western modernity which really does eat away at the soul.”  

Williams’ solution, which is far more Western than he would admit, is to open the spigots of foreign aid without preconditions and to refrain from any kind of military intervention.   That would be the “Christian” thing to do, of course, because it would also soothe Muslim rage, which we have all known since 9/11 is mainly natural consequence of entrenched poverty and a past legacy of colonial exploitation.  Right?

Rowan should be reading the work of Philip Jenkins, a distinguished American, whose work on the clash between Islam and Christianity in the developing world has been garnering enormous press attention of late.

Jenkins argues that the kind of self-flagellating deference of mainline Christian leaders in the West toward Islam, who still yearn to unburden themselves from the “white man’s burden”, is becoming increasingly irrelevant to what is really happening in a global context.  

Just as the growing market muscle of countries once exploited by the colonial powers is tipping the global balance of economic power away from America and Europe, so the long-term struggle is not, according to Jenkins, between Islam and the secular West, but between Islam and the soaring Christian populations of the developing world – what Jenkins dubs “the next Christendom.”

            In his book by the same title Jenkins doubts whether Islam and Christianity can co-exist in this dynamic and volatile setting.  “The long-term prognosis for interfaith relations is not good,” he writes. 

Because Western Christians have little confidence not only in themselves, but also in the force of religion in general, they are bound in the coming generations to ignore the deeper trends that are driving world history and politics in the current millennium, remaining overindulged intellectual couch potatoes that languish in a kind of late Enlightenment liberal-minded la-la land.  

One could easily interpret Williams’ musings as an out-of-one’s-league sort of rant on international matters that simply reflects a lack of sophistication about religion and current affairs as well as an historic Brit disdain for American “cowboy” foreign policy.   

But it is even more indicative of the general deafness toward the rising religious clamor in the world that afflicts Western “progressives” and “conservatives” alike.  If the latter gave us the Iraq mess because they didn’t understand the pushback that trying to impose a secular democracy on the Middle East would bring about, the former, if they soon have the chance to govern again, will give us a different kind of mess because they get it even less.  

When it comes to the global politics of the imminent future, it’s no longer just the economy – stupid.  It’s religion, and probably the kind of religion you don’t like – you idiot!

Carl Raschke

Links 

The following links concern the controversy surrounding the archbishop's remarks.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article2937068.ece

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071126/30223_Anglican_Head_Slams_U.S._Foreign_Policy.htm

http://pajamasmedia.com/xpress/rogerkimball/2007/11/25/rowan_williams_public_embarras.php

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article2943516.ece

http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/far-from-madding-crowd-and-fascism-of-function/2007/11/28/1196036982635.html

Other Links

http://www.persecution.org/suffering/ICCnews/newsdetail.php?newscode=6462&title=extremists-in-india-pressure-christians-to-adopt-hindu-culture

            (Nov 21) A Christian family was attacked by a group of Hindu extremists in India recently after not celebrating a Hindu festival. The incident highlights attempts by some Hindus to assert the dominance of their religion as well as pressure in the country to adopt Hindu culture, which Hindu nationalist groups claim is the Indian culture. Extremists in India have long used the non-conformity of Christians to Hindu culture as a pretext to commit attacks.

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_92030_ENG_HTM.htm

            (Nov 21) The Episcopal Church sent a delegation to the international Anglican conference, Towards Peace in Korea (TOPIK) this past week. The delegation stated that peace and reconciliation in Korea must include cooperation between North and South Korean governments, religious denominations and social systems. TOPIK has helped focus interest on the reunification of Korea and it has been put high on the agenda of the Anglican Communion.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/455874/sweatshop_crucifixes_pulled_from_churches.html

            (Nov 22) Crucifixes have been pulled from a church’s gift shop shelves after an investigation found they were made in sweatshops in China. The director of the National Labor Committee has stated that he does not believe that the church had prior knowledge of the labor conditions.

http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=1204

            (Nov 22) Officials in Turkmenistan have warned a Baptist minister against continuing to meet and worship with his fellow believers because they have not registered with the state. However, registration has been repeatedly denied because his congregation does not have enough adult citizen members. The warning is part of larger action by the government against unregistered religious activity.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gWAdeTNMOeMfyPaOwrYpODjNAQJA

            (Nov 22) An Egyptian Christian woman has been sentenced to a jail term of three years under charges of fraud. According to officials, claim her father’s brief conversion to Islam, 45 year ago, made her legally a Muslim and her official papers said she was Christian. Three years after converting to Islam, her father moved home and re-converted back to Christianity. The woman stated her religion as Christianity on her marriage certificate, unaware that her father’s conversion to Islam in 1962 made her officially a Muslim.

http://www.app.com.pk/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21572&Itemid=2

            (Nov 22) Pakistan’s President General Musharraf asked the nation to stand with law enforcement agencies against extremists and terrorists. Musharraf said that while the country’s armed forces are fully prepared to protect the country from external threats, the internal threats from extremists and terrorists pose a greater danger.

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/beaten.indian.students.speak.of.privilege.to.suffer.for.christ/14766.htm

            (Nov 22) Two Bible college students in India were beaten by a mob of anti-Christian extremists in early November. After being accused of being anti-nationalistic and forcing people to convert, the two students were beaten and dragged around town for four hours, before police arrived and broke up the mob. The two students have received medical treatment but will be required to attend a trial on charges of performing forced conversions.

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/278848

            (Nov 22) 24,100 poor, devout, and often elderly, Afghan Muslims converged on the Kabul airport this week for special charter flights for the hajj. Some people sell their land, car, or even deny basic needs to be able to take the journey, one of the pillars of Islam. In order to avoid such drastic measures, the Afghan government is considering alternatives, including hajj savings plans, which enable a gradual build-up of resources over a lifetime. Because of current widespread poverty, it takes many Muslims in Afghanistan many decades to get enough money to make the trip.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/11/23/Hillsborough/Vying_for_Hispanic_fa.shtml

            (Nov 23) The Catholic Church in the U.S. is facing increasing competition for gaining adherents of immigrant Hispanics, especially from Pentecostals. According to a 2006 Pew study, two-thirds of Hispanics in the U.S. are Catholics, and demographers expect new immigrants and high Hispanic birth rates to bolster that number. However, a significant number report converting to Pentecostal or evangelical groups.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/stories/112307intsaudiwomen.2a109b6.html

            (Nov 23) Women in Saudi Arabia have been enjoying recent increases in their rights and opportunities, but a recent court decision has forced some to rethink just how much they have really gained. Seven Saudi men have been sentenced to prison terms of one to five years after sexual assaulting a 19-year-old married woman last year. However, the woman was sentenced to receive lashes six months in jail for being in the company of a man, who was not a relative, without a chaperone.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/nation/story/372994.html

            (Nov 22) According to this article, U.S.-registered internet servers have become a refuge for Nazis and other extremists. Hundreds of foreign language websites are using U.S. servers to dodge foreign laws which prohibit denying the Holocaust or racist and anti-Semitic speech. Among ideas on these sites include the America being occupied by Jewish forces, Adolf Hitler as a misunderstood hero, and Judaism as a “dangerous mafia.”

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7009247293

            (Nov 23) A recent research study has found that potential suicide bombers are more often driven by political/territorial conflicts than religion ones. The research team analyzed interviews, government reports, reconstructed biographies and incident examinations dating back to 1980. Ultimately, they concluded that suicide bombings are often triggered by repression, humiliation and anger.

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=40187

            (Nov 23) The destruction of a monastery in Iran this November has once again highlighted the hostile environment of Iran’s religious minorities and non-conformist sects. According to a parliament representative, the incidents began with a kidnapping of young Muslims by Sufis. However, the Sufis claim that events were preceded by years of harassment.

http://www.baptiststandard.com/postnuke/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=7115

            (Nov 23) On the 69^th anniversary of Krystalnacht, leaders from a number of different Christian traditions met to reflect on their responsibility concerning genocide, especially attacks against the Jews in Nazi Germany. Among participating churches were the Armenian, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterians. The groups are attempting to unite to create a future without genocide.

http://www.minivannews.com/news/news.php?id=3867

            (Nov 23) A Recent Pew Forum study has found the tension felt by Muslim communities in Europe is generally not experienced by those in the United States. Muslims in American say their communities are excellent or good places to live, while Muslims in Europe are frustrated by economic opportunities and feel socially isolated. 63% of Muslims in America report no conflict between religious devotion and living in modern society.

http://www.thewip.net/contributors/2007/11/daughters_of_wisdom_tibetan_nu.html

            (Nov 24) Three hundred Tibetan Buddhist nuns living in an isolated monastic community have successfully broken through patriarchic social norms. Men who devote their lives to religion in Tibet are seen as a source of pride, but the same it not true for women. However, those who choose to do so are able to gain an education and find release from many sources of suffering.

http://newsblaze.com/story/20071124071939tsop.nb/newsblaze/TOPSTORY/Top-Stories.html

            (Nov 24) The United States Post Office will be releasing a stamp that honors the Muslim religion will be released at the end of December. The stamp comes as a result of a bill signed by President Bush.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20071124.A07&irec=6

            (Nov 24) The “prophet” Ahmad Moshaddeq, the al-Qiyadah al-Islamiyah sect leader, has publicly admitted that he is a phony prophet who propagated heretical teachings. Moshaddeq had followers numbering up to 41,000, and will likely have to spend some time in jail on charges of disrespecting religion and stirring public unrest.

http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/318821.html

            (Nov 24) In Iraq last month, the Kurdish Regional Government’s Ministry of Religious Affairs began requiring its 19 campuses, from grade school to college, to include courses on comparative religion in an order to broaden the curriculum and expose students to thought from other religions. However, there continues to be concern about teaching about other religions in the Muslim area.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2007/11/25/4/0301000000AEN20071125000800315F.HTML

            (Nov 24) Israel’s military’s top military chaplain has recently emphasized how religious programs constitute a significant component of the military training. The spiritual component is an essential component in helping soldiers understand why they fight.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article2902699.ece

            (Nov 19) The Church of England is going to re-examine its approach to teaching after a recent poll by the Opinion Research Business that reports many people in England believe that church schools promote narrow religious teaching. More than one third of respondents who believe church and state schools are different believe church schools force their own opinions on children rather than giving a balanced view of other religions or ideas. Additionally, more than half of the same group said they feel church schools discourage open discussion on important social and political topics.

http://www.russiatoday.ru/news/news/17229

            (Nov 19) More than 30 people, including children, who belong to a “doomsday cult” have barricaded and threatened to kill themselves in a barricade in Russia, fueling debate about religious education. President Putin has issued his statement that the study of religious subjects in municipal schools must be voluntary. Russia’s clergy continues to argue that the absence of religious education leads to the spread of immorality.

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/6299

            (Nov 19) A new program has been launched to help church congregations combat poverty and social injustice in Britain. The “Just Church” initiative calls Christians to counter the growing gap between the richest and poorest in Britain. The program has been created and supported by a wide range of churches.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200711190469.html

            (Nov 19) Catholics and evangelical churches in Kenya have joined forces and denounced the use of religion as a platform for ascent to political power. The statement comes in response to a memorandum of understanding between a leading presidential candidate and some Muslim leaders in the country. According to the religious leaders who denounced the action, Kenya is and should remain a secular state, without promised that favor a specific religious group.

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19037102&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=480247&rfi=6

            (Nov 19) A professor at Pennsylvania State University believes that countries in the Middle East are becoming more civilized and that Americans are learning more about their people through enhanced communication. In addition, he claims that we think of the region as a trouble spot because many outsiders make trouble there, not because of the local populations, and that “people don’t feel safe there and, thus are willing to put up with high authoritarian governments and dictatorships.”

http://english.dvb.no/news.php?id=690

            (Nov 19) The All-Burmese Monks’ Alliance has released a statement indicating their intention to continue to boycott the junta and urging the public to join them. The monks continue to refuse to accept alms from government officials and supporters, which is seen as a huge religious dishonor. The alliance also welcomed the formation of the new International Burmese Monks Organization, which was set up in the United States last month.

http://www.twocircles.net/2007nov18/education_our_tool_empowerment_says_muslim_womens_group.html

            (Nov 19) About 350 women from the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) were in New Delhi last week for their first annual convention. The group has formed together seeking greater educational opportunities and the empowerment education can bring. According to one woman, “no matter what happens, it’s the women who always suffer. And to top that, they are not even literate. They have no power to voice their thoughts.”

http://www.inspiremagazine.org.uk/news.aspx?action=view&id=1853

            (Nov 19) The Islamic group promoting the mega-mosque in Britain has received praise from opposition after acting quickly to remove a YouTube death threat video. According to one expert, the video used quotes from the Qur’an, so it was likely not simply a sick joke. The group has issued a statement saying the video was totally inappropriate and could never be condoned.

http://www.isaintel.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=102&Itemid=1

            (Nov 19) Tensions between the Israeli government and the nation’s Druze population continue to rise after increasing violence, Jewish settlement activities, land confiscations and protests. The Druze claim that any previous trust has been damaged by bad treatment from the government and authorities.

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071119/30142_Church_of_Norway_Votes_in_Favor_of_Homosexual_Ordination.htm

            (Nov 19) During last week’s General Synod, the Lutheran Church of Norway voted in favor of allowing members of same-sex partnerships to serve in ordained ministry.  However, the ultimate decision on whether or not to appoint homosexuals to positions in the clergy has been left up to individual bishops. The Church of Norway remains deeply divided over the issue.

http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/105433.html

            (Nov 20) According to a recent survey by InterfaithFamily.com, within heterosexual Christian-Jewish marriages, a wife’s religion is the key to the family’s religious behavior. The organization reports that when a wife is Christian, the family participates in more Christian activities than when she is Jewish. On the other hand, the wife’s religion apparently has no effect on whether a family celebrates Chanukah.

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/6306202.html

            (Nov 20) The vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference met with a delegation from the Korean Conference on Religion and Peace this past week. The two groups have a history of cooperation and bilateral exchanges.

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/6317

            (Nov 20) The British think tank Ekklesia has called for the government to repeal on the country’s blasphemy law. Currently, blasphemous libel claims can be brought against the publication of “any matter that insults, offends, or vilifies Christ or the Chriatian (principally Anglican) religion.” The issue brings to mind recent campaigns against blasphemy laws against offending Muslims, particularly in the Middle East.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071120/NEWS02/711200304/1007/NEWS05

            (Nov 20) Corrections facilities in Vermont have revised their religious restrictions and will now allow inmates to attend any religious service they choose, so long as they sign up in advance, as well as wear religious head coverings anywhere in the prison. The original proposal would have required inmates to designate a religious preference, with a one-year waiting period for changing that choice.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=09c88aac-9dcf-4651-9d7d-f313cc04d1b0&&Headline='Islam+should+not+be+blamed+for+terrorism'

            (Nov 20) A UN counter-terrorism conference has announced that the international community should step up efforts to counter the spread of Islamophobia. They note how misinformation and misperceptions about Islam, as well as the actions of misguided fanatic groups, but communities across the world can effectively counter the misinformation and misperceptions.

http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2007d/112307/112307f.htm

            (Nov 20) Reform synagogues in the United States now have the option of using a new prayer book.  The new book is the first in more than 30 years and boasts a combination of traditional and contemporary elements, as well as a new design that opens right to left like a Hebrew book. Although congregations are not required to adopt the new book, the first printing of 150,000 copies has already sold out.

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=157515

            (Nov 21) The chief rabbi of the Orthodox Anti-Zionist Society of Austria and his family just spent two months in Iran. Upon return, he stated that he believes Iran has the best model for human rights for children. During the visit, Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad welcomed them and said he would join them in prayers and celebrations in Jerusalem after it is liberated from Zionism and the Zionist regime. According to the rabbi, there is no place in the world where Jews have so much freedom to practice their religion.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ggHwmgatsAcukFqyFvfnIyvVhOAA

            (Nov 21) Going against tradition, the Dalai Lama has said he is open to having his successor named before he dies, in order to ensure that China does not interfere. Among the options he is considering are electing a successor democratically from among high-ranking monks and naming the successor himself. If a successor is not names, China could step in and select their own successor.

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2007/11/20/tibetan_nomad/

            (Nov 20) Chinese officials have arrested a Tibetan nomad and sentenced him to an eight-year prison sentence after he publicly called for the return of the Dalai Lama. Three other Tibetans were jailed on similar charges. Among the charges were attempts to split the country and subvert state power.

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071120/30160_Eritrea_Denies_Expelling_Missionaries.htm

            (Nov 20) Eritrea has denied claims that it had Catholic priests, nuns and lay missionaries expelled form the country. The government has stated that the residence permits the thirteen missionaries expired and were not renewed, so the group had two weeks to leave the country.

http://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/597687/jewish/Macys-to-Celebrate-Chanukah-Miracle-on-34th-Street.htm

            (Nov 20) Macy’s 34^th Street department store in Manhattan will celebrate Chanukah this year, with a “Chanukah Wonderland,” including a real wood and cast iron olive press and a person dressed as Judah the Maccabee, on their kids floor. The celebration is part of a cooperative effort with the Jewish Children’s Museum in Brooklyn, NY.

http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2007d/112307/112307m.htm

            (Nov 22) Despite Pope Benedict XVI’s previous attempts to suppress liberation theology, the synthesis of Catholic social doctrine and progressive political action is showing surprising recent signs of life.

Richard Bishop