Do you feel any uneasiness when you hear the question, “Why don’t Muslims speak out against terrorism?” A pastor and a reporter had a feisty exchange on this question backstage at the recent Republican Midterm Convention.
On the one hand, if someone does something terrible in the name of Islam, I guess I’d like to hear some Muslims say, “That was a terrible thing and it does not represent Islam.” If a big-time pastor gets busted for embezzlement, I guess I’m inclined to at least think, “That’s wrong and not the way of Jesus nor most pastors.”
But, honestly, I don’t hear many Muslims quoted in the media streams that hit my eyes commenting about anything. After a terrible event, we are often shown what’s purported to be Muslims celebrating the atrocity. I only know a few Arabic words and can’t tell if maybe they’re cheering their favorite football team.
I read an article today that pushed my thinking on this. It might bug you, but personally I found it worth considering. Author and scholar Dr. Todd Green was interviewed about a book he wrote called “Presumed Guilty: Why We Shouldn’t Ask Muslims to Condemn Terrorism.” In it he expounds on three key reasons why we shouldn’t ask Muslims to condemn terrorism.
“The first reason. . . is that the question itself assumes that Islam is the catalyst for terrorism or the cause of terrorism.” Green argues that religion is never the single cause for terrorism, but exists in the context of political, social, cultural and individual factors.
“The second reason, which is the one I was the least happy about writing–but I had to do it–was that Muslims condemn terrorism all the time. I mean, Muslim condemnations of terrorism are just ubiquitous.” Dubious? Here’s a list I just stumbled upon listing over 6000 instances, with links!
“The third reason. . . why we shouldn’t ask Muslims to condemn terrorism [because it distracts] us from that very conversation about our own violent past and our ongoing complicity in a violent world order.”(This is the ouchy part!) Green posits a contemporary example of Jesus’s instruction to consider the log in our eye, not just fret and fuss over the speck in another’s. For me, it’s easier to rail against Muslim terrorism than it is to seriously consider the implications of my tax dollars buying bombs that kill Muslim kids.
It’s a tough world and way complicated. Jesus, have mercy.
I’d love to hear your feedback on this. If you’re going to write back, can I ask that you read the Green article first? It’s quite possible I’ve unintentionally misrepresented him or muddied his otherwise cogent thoughts. Thanks.