Re-thinking secularism

Submitted by Fay Voshell (United States), Jan 16, 2009 at 09:56

Jennifer,

Undergirding the structure of any ghetto, be it within a city, the city itself, a nation or even an empire is the always fatal and futile attempt to create a monolithic and all inclusive belief system to which all must be subjected. It is an attempt to create a template which molds every human being into sameness.

Even though such a goal is ultimately unattainable, given the ineradicable desire of each human being to be free, absolutists never give up trying to suppress the human spirit. They usually name their oppression liberty and freedom in order to deceive the masses they wish to control for their own ends.

The result is always the loss of freedom, the perpetration of violence within in order to enforce conformity to the template, and extension of the violence outwards into ever widening circles. The tyrannical thirst for absolute control of human destiny is never content with anything but absolute violence. That is the way of absolutists, be they "religious" or not.

The capacity of the larger culture to dissolve, absorb or negate the violence depends on the overall health the culture. Alas, Europe is not healthy and the US is catching Europe's disease. There are a number of reasons for this lack of health, but surely among them is the near monolith of secularism and the almost total repudiation of peoples of faith. When monolith meets monolith, an earthquake follows.

But there are things that can be done other than to take measurements of a seismic problem.

If only for survival's sake, European nations need to re-examine their institutionalized hostility to all people of faith. Assuredly the alienation of moderate Muslims is a tragic mistake. [I realize some think there is no such thing as a moderate Muslim, but I disagree.] In tandem with confronting Islamism, there should be a concerted effort on the part of secularized governments to cultivate the growth of moderates. Otherwise extremism will continue to rule, for moderates will not choose to become secularists, nor will they allow their children to be converted to a belief system they consider anathema. Overtly harassing decrees such as demands that Muslim girls not wear head scarves and Christians not wear cross necklaces are but a couple of examples of governmental hostility to religious traditions and are the equivalent of lighting matches to put out a fire. Such actions only encourage the Islamists and leave moderates with no place to go.

I would like to write a lot more, but would wind up posting an article I am writing. I think I should get back to it.

Thanks for your eminently civil response. You actually asked what I thought. I appreciate that.

I wish we could talk in person.

Best,

Fay Voshell

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