As a Christian minister, I am a public leader. Like it or not, it comes with the territory. I know the following will resonate with some and disturb others. I write the following after much study, reflection, and prayer. I write also knowing that a blog is a tenuous place to talk about the things that really matter.
I’ve been reading the Pulitzer-Prize winner The Good Soldiers this week and paying attention to the debate raging across the media landscape regarding the mosque that could potentially be built near the sight of the Twin Towers (a.k.a Ground Zero). Good Soldiers is a painful account of how absolutely dark war can be, the complexity of Nation-State and religions in bed with each other, the perspectives of the soldier (often ignored by both parties in the U.S.) and the sheer difficulty of measuring what is “good” and “redemptive” in a war-time era. The book also masterfully depicts the complexity of the collision between America’s Christianity and Iraq’s Islam (not to mention the fact that there are Muslims in the U.S. and Christians in Iraq).
I sympathize with those who are opposed to a mosque being built near Ground Zero. It is a “slap in the face”, in this perspective, to put one of the major symbols of Islam (a mosque, more appropriately titled, masjid–mosque is the French translation of the Arabic) in the shadow of the deadliest attack from an outside group on American soil. Over three thousand people, innocent people lost their lives. It was a day of sheer evil and horror. A day that has forever changed the narrative of good and evil in America.
I understand that many U.S. citizens are afraid of Islam, or detest Islam because of certain actions of a small minority (it’s a religion of 1.2 billion people–the second largest religion in the world behind Christianity which has just over 2 billion adherents). But, the fear/rage is also the result of the lack of leadership on behalf of other Islamic leaders speaking out against the terrorist expression of jihad. The world needs more Islamic leaders to step to center stage and speak out against the insidious violence we see almost every week–just as we needed Christian leaders to speak out against the genocide of Native Americans, the atomic bombs dropped in Japan, the Holocaust in Europe, the murder of 800k in Rwanda, the slaughter in Sudan, the list goes on and on. SIDE NOTE: The majority of Muslims in the world do not live in the Middle East. The majority live outside: For instance, I believe Indonesia has more Muslims than any other single country.
When I asked a Muslim leader at the al-Farooq mosque in Atlanta why more Muslim leaders don’t speak out, he apologized, agreed and also noted that “Christians have gone silent during some of the great injustices of human history.” Whether one believes Jesus to be the true revelation of God (which I do), his point is well taken.
Perhaps there are a few more things to consider on this public matter. First, I’ m appalled at the inconsistency of some in their reading of the 1st Amendment (many don’t know what the 1st Amendment actually says). That is, conservatives become “intent of the law” (i.e. “The Founding Fathers meant Christianity when they wrote ‘religion.’”) interpreters and liberals become strict constructionists (i.e. “It says ‘freedom of religion’). We are all selective interpreters and selective fundamentalists. Until we begin to admit this, we can’t cover the ground needed to move forward. We tend to be “selective” when it’s in our best interest or fits our particular belief system.
Second, the actual location is two blocks from Ground Zero. Manhattan is a big place. If I understand the facts accurately, there’s another mosque even closer that’s been there for several decades.
Third, Since the Immigration Act of 1965 (see blog post here), the ethnic, and thereby religious, landscape of America will never be the same. America can choose to eliminate all Muslims from our society, isolate and imprison, or seek to build authentic relationships for understanding and mutual transformation. What other options are there? I choose the latter because I think the future depends upon it.
Fusing the world of Jesus with the contemporary is a remarkably difficult task. It takes wisdom, discernment, and historical perspective. I personally would not want to treat a minority group in a way, that if the roles were reversed, would silence my religious beliefs. If the leaders of Iran ask me if they should allow a church to be built, I would enthusiastically hope for this happen. If you object, saying, “That will never happen in Iran.” Perhaps, but if we believe it should, perhaps our duty in America is to show that such mutual respect and mutual commitment for one’s deepest convictions should compel all of us to exemplify the best of our traditions, not the worst.
May God grant us the courage to change the things we can, the humility to accept the things we cannot change and the wisdom to know the difference.
This is a very wise and well-balanced piece. I think you’ve articulated well the feelings of both sides while making your point.
I wish more Christians would see the increasing number of Muslims and/or others immigrating to the US as a missional opportunity rather than just as a reason to become fearful (what does fear have to do with faith?). I also wonder if many Christians opposed to a Mosque have considered the precedent such prohibition may have…if the government tells the Muslim community where they can and cannot build a meeting place today, it may be the government dictating that same rule to Christians tomorrow.
Grace and peace,
Rex
by K. Rex Butts (Aug 18 2010, 7:44 am)