“An appeaser is a person who feeds the crocodile in hopes of being eaten last.” – Winston Churchill
Like many of you, I am feeling shock and anger at last Friday’s attacks in Paris. I have spent time in and around Paris and have friends there, so this is not purely academic for me. Despite the stereotypes that we and the French have of each other, they are wonderful people and they are suffering the loss of their culture and their country.
The displays of support for France and its people are appropriate, and we should not forget to pray for our friends and allies. There is, however, one specific aspect of the public reaction that I want to address.
Paris, je t’aime
Misreading the lessons
We have all seen scores of articles on the internet and multiple comments on social media, but the reaction by Charlie Hebdo cartoonist Joann Sfar stands out for its breathtaking wrong-headedness. In an Instagram post, he wrote, “friends from the whole world, thank you for #prayforparis, but we don’t need more religion! Our faith goes to Music! Kisses! Life! Champagne and joy!” In saying this, he equates praying for Paris with the death-cult that spawned the attack.
By now, I’m sort of used to the tired arguments of atheists Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens who claim, among other things, that religion — any religion and all religions — are alike in that they make everything worse. However, I would expect more incisive reasoning from a professional satirist, and even more from a satirist whose colleagues were assassinated by Islamist terrorists. As the late Chuck Colson used to say, “Worldviews have consequences.”
Statistics
The most important statistic is that as of this writing 129 people have died and 352 more suffered wounds at the hands of Islamist terrorists. Let’s state this plainly: the terrorists butchered French civilians simply because they weren’t Muslim. Mr. Sfar asserts that all religions are at worst harmful and at best unnecessary. Let’s put that to the test.
Critics of Christianity invariably cite the Crusades and the Inquisition as deliberate killing done in the name of Christ. Duly noted; however, it is critically important to note that both events occurred over 1,000 years ago, and also that no one defends the Inquisition or its methods. Total deaths attributable to the Crusades — including mortal wounds, disease and starvation on both sides — total approximately one million dead. I’m willing to consider other entries, if you have any, but let’s agree that these are the most prominent efforts credited with killing in the name of Christianity.
As bad as this was, we must now consider the deaths attributable to anti-religious ideologies. The deaths attributable to Nazism under Hitler and Communism under Stalin account for a staggering 66 million deaths.
The number of people killed in the name of their killers’ faith (or of a secular ideology) is not uniformly distributed. Therefore, it is incorrect to say “religion” is responsible for bloodshed. Perhaps this is the stuff of secularist fairy tales, but note that the ideologies that say there is no god seem to be the most willing to kill their neighbors. And when they do, they promise the establishment/return of some gilded age once the “wrong people” depart. This is the essence of totalitarianism.
What God hath wrought?
Just in case you’ve been too busy lately clamoring for the ouster of a university chancellor, I’m going to take some of our time here to point out just a few achievements of western civilization, and especially those motivated by devotion to Christ. Consider the multiple cultural contributions of Christianity in
Art – consider the great masterpieces depicting the lives of the saints or stories from the Bible. The church was the primary patron of visual artists, making it possible for creatives to make a living practicing their gifts. Contrast this with the DAESH crew destroying works of art and historic antiquities. Anyone who thinks these are the same is mis-educated.
Music – For just one example, look at the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, who inscribed each of his scored with the initials S.D.G. — abbreviating the Latin phrase “Soli Deo Gloria” — to the glory of God alone.
Literature – The entire market for authors developed as a result of literacy among the populace. This resulted from John Wycliffe’s translation of the Bible into the language of the people. Compare this to the Taliban’s destruction of schools or the actions of Boko Haram, whose name literally means “Western learning forbidden.”
Politics and law – The entire notion of natural law came from the biblical belief in an orderly universe presided over by an infinite personal God. Our democratic republic and the idea of natural rights derived from the Creator is an idea directly traceable to the Bible. The Ten Commandments spell out the bedrock of our civil law — particularly in the ream of property rights and individual liberty.
Education – I know it seems impossible, but the first American universities were founded by Christians for the furtherance of the good news of Jesus. I am speaking specifically but not exclusively about those dens of progressivism/leftism Harvard and Yale. You could look it up.
Social reforms – Christians led the way in the abolition of slavery and child labor. The first century church upset the established order by valuing women and children — the foundation of the human rights movement.
There’s more I could say regarding Christianity’s gifts to the world in the realms of science, medicine, and generosity, but I hope these few examples will illustrate that religions are not the same in their beliefs nor in their effects.
Whodunnit — and why?
Let’s dispense with all the sentimental hanky-wringing and cut to the truth. Neither poverty, alienation or climate change had anything to do with the terror attacks in Lebanon or Paris. How do I know?
The following is an excerpt of the statement released by DAESH following Friday night’s attacks in Paris:
In a blessed battle whose causes of success were enabled by Allah, a group of believers from the soldiers of the Caliphate (may Allah strengthen and support it) set out targeting the capital of prostitution and vice, the lead carrier of the cross in Europe — Paris. This group of believers were youth who divorced the worldly life and advanced towards their enemy hoping to be killed for Allah’s sake, doing so in support of His religion, His Prophet (blessing and peace be upon him), and His allies. They did so in spite of His enemies. Thus, they were truthful with Allah — we consider them so — and Allah granted victory upon their hands and cast terror into the hearts of the crusaders in their very own homeland.
And so eight brothers equipped with explosive belts and assault rifles attacked precisely chosen targets in the center of the capital of France. These targets included the Stade de France stadium during a soccer match — between the teams of Germany and France, both of which are crusader nations — attended by the imbecile of France (Francois Hollande). The targets included the Bataclan theatre for exhibitions, where hundreds of pagans gathered for a concert of prostitution and vice. There were also simultaneous attacks on other targets in the tenth, eleventh, and eighteenth districts, and elsewhere. Paris was thereby shaken beneath the crusaders’ feet, who were constricted by its streets. The result of the attacks was the deaths of no less than two hundred crusaders and the wounding of even more. All praise, grace, and favor belong to Allah.
Allah blessed our brothers and granted them what they desired. They detonated their explosive belts in the masses of the disbelievers after finishing all their ammunition. We ask Allah to accept them amongst the martyrs and to allow us to follow them.
Let France and all nations following its path know that they will continue to be at the top of the target list for the Islamic State and that the scent of death will not leave their nostrils as long as they partake in the crusader campaign, as long as they dare to curse our Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him), and as long as they boast about their war against Islam in France and their strikes against Muslims in the lands of the Caliphate with their jets, which were of no avail to them in the filthy streets and alleys of Paris. Indeed, this is just the beginning. It is also a warning for any who wish to take heed.”
Notice how the terrorists refer to France and Germany “bearer of the cross” and “crusader nations”. Notice also that although France is among the most secular nations of Western Europe, DAESH refers to France as a Christian nation, as well as a den of vice and prostitution. So to you who wish to tar all religions with a broad brush, which is it? Is France secular or a nation of Christian crusaders? Nobody said the terrorists were masters of logic. I’m pointing this out for your benefit, as I will explain.
You can’t fight something with nothing
Those who want to persist in the notion that all religions are the same, and that all religions are evil, must take responsibility for answering the following question and for living with the consequences of their answer. Here is the question: Faced with Islamist terror, with what will you oppose it?
Do you understand that they have a plan to destroy the West, to destroy Europe, and to destroy the US? Will your absence of religion make you seem pure in their eyes, or will that simply make you more deserving of death or easier to conquer? Do not forget that while Christianity gave up forced conversions over 500 years ago, they are still part of the toolkit in the Dar al Islam.
There is no negotiating with the Islamists. If, as they assert they will, they conquer the West, your choices will be:
1) convert
2) pay the jizya — an exorbitant tax — and live as a dhimmi, a virtual slave
3) die
4) leave — but if the West falls, where you will you go?
Choose
So unless you think Sharia law is just great with you, you must decide to resist Islamism. There are plenty of examples already of what happens to the vanquished men (beheadings on a Libyan beach) and the captured women (enslaved, sold, and gang raped) to steel your spine. The question is, are you willing to face your error in asserting that there is no difference between Christianity and Islamism, this misbegotten belief that “religion” is the source of everything wrong?
Mark Steyn has observed that the only thing that can hold off the advance of militant Islamism is a robust Christianity. Think about it. And for the sake of those you love, make up your mind.
Disclaimer: I have Muslim business associates, and I consider them friends, so note that I differentiate between Muslims and Islamists. I have also seen over the weekend something I did not see following the attacks on September 11, 2001 — Local Muslim clerics denouncing the terrorist violence in Paris. Good for them.
One last thought
In the eyes of the Islamists seeking establishment of the Caliphate, any westerner who isn’t a Muslim or a Jew, is regarded as a Christian. Since you’re already lumped in with us, you might want to consider living among us as one of us. We won’t cut off your head with a rusty knife. We won’t enslave your sister. We will ensure your liberty and affirm your dignity as a child of God. And through His death and resurrection, Jesus will give you hope that transcends this life. If you’re afraid, that may be a sign that you need to come home.
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic. Bring your best manners, please.