General (the author’s view)
We have reached the stage
forecast for decades past, the criticism in the West
is that you cannot reason deeply, even with millions
of Muslims who do practise their religion faithfully
and sincerely. For, under present conditions, most,
surely, cannot become less dogmatic, many can only
become more fundamentalist?
But let us not forget their fundamentalists’
growing criticism of the West, despite its
scientific glories: its gross materialism and crass
commercialism, and its own often dogmatic
fundamentalism.
There are 1.2 billion Muslims and 1.2 billion
Roman Catholics. In the USA, there are believed 4-5
million Muslims and 1,100 mosques and Islamic
centres. There are 750,000 Muslims and 50 (main)
mosques in Italy. France has 4-5 m Muslims, and
1,500 mosques, Holland 1 m Muslims and 400 mosques.
And in Western Europe, unhappy, unfulfilled
Muslim offspring are its citizens in name, but not
culturally or socially. Yet untold more millions of
the religious want Islam and Christianity to
co-exist in harmony and mutual respect. At their
deepest, both share theology that is aware and
contemptuous of greedy materialism and mindless
consumerism.
Let’s take Britain. In a 61.5 million population,
there are only 1.7 million Muslims, mostly young
people and children, and over 500 mosques or Islamic
centres. Britain is a small island. Yet a few
hundred, a thousand minds and hearts, deluded with
deliberately planted falsehoods even hate, can cause
chaos, pain even death for the majority. Though
imperfect, we have a tradition of centuries of
Parliamentary representation and acceptance of
reasonable ‘pressure groups’ to sway minds and
attitudes and achieve objectives. Yet this is no
longer enough. The channels are being by-passed. How
can we go forward into peaceful co-existence?
Truly, “never has there been a greater need for
maturity and wisdom on all sides”, one UK newspaper
said. “If our great religious traditions can not
communicate honestly, openly and without fear, do we
not risk a deepening cycle of intolerance and
distrust?”
Bill Johnson |
