I disagree

Submitted by Abijah (United States), Feb 1, 2007 at 22:22

I have a deep respect for Mr. Pipes but fundamentally disagree with his analysis of radicalized Islam. I suspect the disagreement stems from his perspective as a Roman Catholic classical liberal and mine as a generic Evangelical Christian. I am not Catholic bashing; i love in truth my brethern in the Roman Church, although disagree in many points of doctrine.

The esteemed Mr. Pipes, typical of a liberal rationalist, effectively dismisses the spiritual and sees the conflict in terms of ideas or ideology. However, it is the spirit that animates the body and is the driver of its ideas and actions. Someone may read the Qur'an or the Bible and remain impassive to the respective messages. Human words, by themselves, are just soundwaves or chemicals on paper and are impotent with out incarnation in the mind and soul of a living person. It is the spirit of a man that is persuaded or seduced by the spirit within words that brings the ideas to life and changes the world. This is why Jesus Christ says to Nicodemas, "I tell you the truth, you must be born again (to enter into the Kingdom of God). That which is born of flesh is flesh, that which is born by the Spirit of God (belongs to the Kingdom or family of God) is Spirit. You must be born again."

Jesus is saying intellectual assent or ideological agreement is not enough to save. "The demons believe (give intellectual assent) and tremble." What am i saying? I am asserting the problem with Islam or indeed with Western Civilization or indeed with me or you is not the ideas we hold but the spirit within that gives life to the ideas. The problem is spiritual.

Western Civilization was sufficiently Christian to hold Islam in check for 500 years. But today Europe's faith is in a socialist, non-Christian humanism of which France is prototypical. America's Christian Faith is enfeebled by a falling away from Christianity and a "slouching toward Gomorrah", the godless religion of self-indulgence, sexual sensation, and material pursuit which typifies atheist humanism.

Therefore, in absolute terms what the world is experiencing is a battle of spiritual dimension. Victory in the deadly contest can only be won first on the spiritual plane, everything else is secondary or tercerary. Throw all the money and human life available at the problem and it will do little or nothing to resolve it because it is spiritual.

How can victory over the evil spirit that animates Islam's barbarism be achieved? There is One in Heaven who is seated at the right hand of the Father, the only One annointed to Save, Jesus Christ---appeal sincerely, earnestly, and humbly to Him and He will save in the here and now of the 21st Century and for Eternity. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".