The Muslim reaction to the September 12 comments by the Pope in his speech at Regensburg continues about as you might suspect. CNN is reporting this morning that Muslims, outraged by the what they perceive as Benedict XVI's characterization of Islam as a fundamentally violent religion, are reacting with - surprise! - violence. A nun has been murdered in Somalia in an attack said to be related to the Pope's speech, while in the West Bank, five churches have been attacked with molotov cocktails, as has a sixth church in Gaza.

Now, I don't pretend to be the smartest fellow on the planet, but it occurs to me that if you wish to convince others that you are non-violent, burning down churches and murdering nuns is probably not the best way to make your point. And this doesn't even mention the savage butchery of Shi'a Muslims by Sunni Muslims, and vice versa, in Iraq. On the basis of the evidence, I believe any thinking person would find it difficult to accept characterization of Islam as a religion of peace.

When are Muslims going to wake up and understand that not everyone has chosen to worship God according to Islam?

When are Muslims going to speak out, clearly and decisively, against the violence and intolerance exhibited by many of their coreligionists, instead of rioting and thundering and demanding apologies over the least perception of insult...or even criticism...of their religion?

When will Muslims accept that Christians and Jews object to being referred to as "infidels," "apes," "pigs," or worse, every bit as much as Muslims object to any hint of criticism, however mild?

I believe the answer to the above questions is, "never," for several reasons (all of which I have addressed in earlier posts).

First, as I wrote in yesterday's post, Islam is the ultimate fundamentalist religion. Muslims believe that the Koran (in Arabic) is the absolute word of God, perfect in every detail, and that anyone who does not accept this is fit only to be a slave to right-thinking Muslims.

Second (actually, an outgrowth of the first), Islam does not recognize freedom of religious belief in the Western tradition. In Saudi Arabia, it is a crime to worship in any way other than Islam. Other Islamic countries may not be quite as intolerant, but in no such country are adherents of religions other than Islam permitted the full range of rights of worship granted to Muslims.

Third, there is no tradition of independent thought or critical thinking in Islam. I have yet to hear any Muslim seriously discussing the dichotomy in depicting Islam as a religion of peace at the same time that Muslim mobs burn churches over perceived insult, or murder each other over their differing interpretations of their religion.

And finally, unlike Christianity, Islam has no single supreme authority who can speak authoritatively to all Muslims. While Christians recognize the Pope as God's supreme representative on earth, understood to speak infallibly when discussing matters of faith and morals, Muslims have no such authority. The mullahs or imams who preach peace and tolerance are shouted down by those who advocate intolerance and violence, and there is no higher authority who can step in to enforce adherence to a common standard of appropriate religious behavior.

I'm not a theologian. I'm not even particularly religious in most senses understood in the current debate. But I believe it is important that people of good will and common sense agree that the worship of God - whatever "God" is understood to be - is more important than the form in which that worship is carried out. Unfortunately, people who believe absolutely that only one form of worship is correct or appropriate will be difficult, if not impossible, to convince to behave in a peaceful and mutually respectful manner toward adherents of other religions.

And that's a very dangerous pity.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo