Islamophobia Unveiled: Unsympathetic Reflections on a New Watchword J

ESSAY

ISLAMOPHOBIA UNVEILED: UNSYMPATHETIC REFLECTIONS ON A NEW WATCHWORD J. Daryl Charles

INTRODUCTION Islamic threats against Salman and the Japanese translator of Rushdie back in 1989. Recall The Satanic Verses, was mur- Although persecution of reli- that the Ayatollah Khomeini, dered. About the same time, gious minorities is truly world- at the time the head of Iran’s the novel’s Italian translator, wide, the great majority of these government, issued a fatwa Ettore Caprioli, was stabbed cases issue from two princi- imposing the death sentence and injured. And in late 1993, pal sources: present or former on Rushdie, a British-based failed assassination attempts communist states and Muslim- writer, for the publication of The were made against William 1 majority nations. And while Satanic Verses, which Khomeini Nygaard—publisher of the much has been said about the condemned as blasphemy for Norwegian edition—and trans- militant character of Islamism, its portrayal of Mohammed. lator Kari Risvik. Relatedly, what is notable since roughly 2010 So that “no one else will dare in 1993 about 40 people were is a reticence to criticize Islam to insult the Muslim sanctities,” killed when militant Muslim itself at any level, whether here the Ayatollah insisted it was the fundamentalists set fire to a ho- in the West or around the globe. duty of every “zealous Muslim” tel in central Turkey during riots to kill Rushdie. resulting from the publication of Noting the new reticence, Paul excerpts from Rushdie’s book. Marshall, Senior Fellow at the Rushdie’s unforgivable sin was Hudson Institute’s Center for that his book was deemed in- Rushdie would later reflect Religious Freedom and a con- sulting to Islam; a book, mind on the meaning of the fatwa, tributing editor for Providence, you, written by an author insisting it must not be seen rightly suggests that events of who never claimed to be an as “an isolated act,” but rather the last decade have helped observant Muslim. The fall- as “part of a deliberate, lethal create a climate of intimida- out of Khomeini’s fatwa is programme, whose purpose is tion and fear.2 In turn, these instructive. In 1991, Hitoshi to criminalize, denigrate and recent events would seem to Igarashi, a scholar of Arabic and even to assassinate the Muslim’s owe much of their inspiration to Persian literature and history world’s best, most honourable

46 voices: its voices of dissent.” He generation—those who decade to be reminded that would also implore: “Remember dissent from the opinion, “blasphemy,” “apostasy,” and that those dissidents need your still more than those who “insults” to Islam constitute a support. More than anything, hold it. If the opinion is serious issue in foreign affairs, they need your attention.”3 In right, they are deprived even when they remain unac- his 2002 non-fiction work Step of the opportunity of ex- knowledged specifically as such. Across This Line, Rushdie qual- changing error for truth; Consider: ifies the nature of this attention: if wrong, they lose what is almost as great a bene- • The violence involving The truth is that there is a fit, the clearer perception the film Submission. In great struggle in progress and livelier impression of 2004, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a for the soul of the Muslim truth produced by its col- Somali-born refugee and world, and as the funda- lision with error.5 vocal critic of Islam,6 who mentalists grow in power fled an arranged mar- and ruthlessness, those What might Mill’s understand- riage and ended up in courageous men and ing of human liberty mean in the Netherlands, where women who are willing to our day? If Muslims, Christians, she became a member engage them in a battle of Jews, and atheists are not free of the Dutch Parliament for a season, collabo- ideas and of moral values to pursue truth—wherever it rated on the ten-minute are rapidly becoming as might lead—through dialogue and debate about things that film with Dutch writer important for us to know and film-maker Theo van really matter because disagree- about, to understand, and Gogh. Submission exam- ments might be deemed offen- to support as once the ined the oppression of dissident voices in the old sive, then “freedom” does not women under Islam and Soviet Union used to be.4 exist. And our lives would be sparked extreme contro- lived in a land of totalitarians. versy, resulting in death In this same work, Rushdie con- threats against the two siders the application of John Khomeini’s fatwa had the effect and the eventual murder Stuart Mill’s “On Liberty,” and of inaugurating a worldwide of Van Gogh later that its application to the present: movement to export blasphe- year. my laws already suppressing • The infamous 2005 con- The peculiar evil of si- religious minorities and Muslim troversy over the car- lencing the expression of dissenters in Muslim-majority toons of Mohammed an opinion is that it is rob- countries. One need only re- published in Denmark’s bing the human race, pos- hearse some of the more high- largest newspaper, Jyl- terity as well the existing ly visible episodes of the last lands-Posten. The car-

Coptic Egyptian Christians moments before they are beheaded by ISIS militants in Libya.

47 toons, and the media terized the bulk of inter- state of contemporary academic attention that they gar- national response. More discourse.8 nered, led to protests and significantly, Wilders was an international boycott temporarily denied entry Benedict recalls his experience around the globe that ex- into the UK for several in the professoriate with deep tended into early 2006. months, following an in- satisfaction, much of which, Some of these escalated vitation to show his film he notes, was rooted in the im- into violence, resulting in in the House of Lords. portant role of the university’s over 200 deaths, attacks These are only the more high- on Danish and other Eu- theological faculty. As he puts ly-publicized incidents involving ropean diplomatic mis- it: “by inquiring about the rea- sions, and threats and at- Muslim intolerance in recent sonableness of faith, they too tacks on Christians. years. The daily harassment of carried out a work which is nec- Christians around the world— essarily part of the ‘whole’ of the • In January of 2015, two largely (though not solely) gunmen stormed the universitas scientiarum.” Even confined to Muslim-majority Paris office of the French if “not everyone could share the satirical magazine Char- nations—goes virtually unno- faith which theologians seek lie Hebdo, which had ticed. Based on empirical evi- to correlate with reason as a published humorous de- dence, the much-reported “Arab whole,” Benedict continues, “It pictions of the prophet Spring,” at least for non-Isla- remained necessary,” particu- Mohammed. Twelve peo- mists, has become a verita- larly given the dominant social ple were killed and elev- ble “Islamic Winter.” Douglas and political currents of the day, en injured in the attack. Murray’s “After Regensburg, In 2006, the magazine “to raise the question of God the Silence Is Deafening,” in through the use of reason, and had sparked controver- the September 2011 Catholic sy among Muslims for to do so in the context of the tra- Herald, puts it this way: 9 republishing cartoons dition of the Christian faith.” of Mohammad which had first appeared in the [I]ntimidation, thug- Of course, since Benedict (then Danish newspaper Jyl- gery and violence have Joseph Ratzinger) taught at lands-Posten. In Novem- succeeded in silencing Bonn, several interlocking fac- ber of 2011 the magazine’s criticism not only of Islam tors have emerged to complicate offices were fire-bombed but of violence commit- the task of teaching the recon- after it published a spoof ted in the name of Islam ciliation of faith and reason in issue that was “guest ed- against Christians. This contemporary Western culture ited” by the Prophet Mo- now amounts to one of hammad. in general and in the European the great moral failings context in particular. Two spe- • The fallout over Pope of our time…Not a week, cifically merit our attention. Benedict XVI’s Regens- in fact not a day, goes by burg address (more be- when Christians are not low). One factor is Europe’s advanced somewhere in the world secularization and the atten- • The 2008 internet film the victims of Islamist dant hostility toward its own Fitna by Dutch film-mak- violence. religious-cultural history. (In er and parliamentarian Geert Wilders, which de- this regard, one need only recall picted Islam’s tendency BENEDICT XVI AT the fierce debate some years to foment violence. As if REGENSBURG ago over whether to include to underline the premise, any religious references in the Al-Qaeda issued a fat- Few will forget the uproar European Union’s constitution.) wa against Wilders and among Muslims worldwide pre- This element is compounded by the Dutch video sharing cipitated in September 2006 by the large numbers of Muslims website LiveLeak. Citing Pope Benedict XVI’s address at immigrating to Europe. In con- serious threats to its staff, the University of Regensburg.7 trast to their new European the website removed the Entitled “Faith, Reason, and neighbors, these immigrants film from its servers one the University: Memories and day after initially releas- are vigorously pressing their ing it. General condem- Reflections,” the address com- own faith claims. nation, viewing and sales bines Benedict’s reflections bans, demonstrations, on teaching theology at the It is important to bear both and bans against other University of Bonn decades ear- factors in mind, for they as- Dutch products charac- lier with his assessment of the sist us in understanding the

48 Arab at Prayer, by Charles Théodore Frère, circa 1860. Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Source: Walters Art Museum. agitated response that followed of threatening a person with cultures and religions so urgent- Benedict’s Regensburg address. death.” “The decisive statement” ly needed today.” Wishing to illustrate the sym- in this argument against force- biotic relationship between ful conversion, Benedict con- In the end, to some in the faith and reason, the Pope cludes, is this: “not to act in Regensburg audience and to compares the “structures of accordance with reason is con- Muslim representatives around faith” as taught in Christianity trary to God’s nature.” the world, a nerve had been with those taught in the Qur’an. struck. Following his address, Acknowledging, by way of his- Benedict’s address, it must be not a few Muslim leaders de- torical example,10 the differ- remembered, was intended manded an apology from ing attitudes toward faith and to address the relationship of Benedict. One month after the reason in the two religions, he faith and reason in the univer- address, a group of 38 Muslim stresses that compulsion “is sity context and to emphasize leaders wrote the Pope an open incompatible with the nature of how crucial honest dialogue letter that attempted to correct God and the nature of the soul.” between philosophical and re- perceived errors in his repre- This would prove consequential. ligious viewpoints is. Its thrust sentation of Islam while call- was not Islam, despite Benedict ing for greater mutual under- Part of Benedict’s rationale was finding within historic Islam a standing between Muslims and to remind his audience of the supremely relevant illustration. Christians. biblical witness, which, he observes, is marked by the fact For Benedict, acting unrea- Precisely one year after that faith is “born of the soul, sonably is contrary to the very Regensburg, in October of 2007 not the body.” Therefore, “who- nature and character of God. at the end of Ramadan, a sec- ever would lead someone to Benedict concludes: “It is to ond open letter, signed by 138 faith needs the ability to speak this…breadth of reason…that Muslims representing diverse well and to reason properly, we invite our partners in the di- theological traditions and titled without violence and threats.” alogue of cultures. To rediscover “A Common Word Between Us Hence, to convince a reason- it constantly is the great task of and You,” was addressed—and able soul, “one does not need the university.” “Only thus,” he hand-delivered—to the Pope, a strong arm, or weapons of observes, “do we become capa- as well as to 26 other “Leaders any kind, or any other means ble of that genuine dialogue of of Christian Churches.”11 This

49 particular document, pro- become the dominant voices. reflect, ask questions, and, duced at the initiative of the Muslim leaders need to be seen where necessary, push back Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic seeking to protect persecuted hard. Nowadays, any term end- Thought, which seeks to repre- Christians and other religious ing in our suspect suffix is, in sent Islamic interests to govern- minorities in Muslim lands, all probability, really a conver- ments and international bodies, and courageously criticizing the sation-killing demand to imbibe called for dialogue on the basis violence and death promulgated uncritically even that which of theological “common ground” by Islamists. appears to defy right reason between the two faiths. “The and moral reality. Real intoler- future of the world,” the sig- ance against Muslims exists, no natories stress, “depends on TOLERATING THE question. But the term “islam- peace between Muslims and INTOLERABLE: AN ANATOMY ophobia” is too often deployed Christians.” Moreover, “the ba- OF “ISLAMOPHOBIA” to inhibit rather than encourage sis for this peace and under- dialogue about honest ques- standing already exists” and is But it must not be thought that tions, concerns, or grievances. “part of the very foundational it is only Muslim reactionaries principles of both faiths.” And who deem honest dialogue of- Consider the term’s varied ca- what, according to the open fensive. Throughout the West, reer. Numerous volumes have letter, is said to be the basis a notable intolerance has arisen been published since 2010 bear- for “peace and understanding” in our day, particularly in the ing “Islamophobia” in their ti- and “common ground” between academy but also in the me- tle. A survey of such works is Muslims and Christians? The dia and among cultural gate- revealing. In America Is Not answer, we are told, is “the keepers, that refuses to abide Post-Racial: Xenophobia, Unity of God, the necessity of any form of criticism of Islam. Islamophobia, Racism, and love for Him, and the necessity Meanwhile, anything associat- the 44th President, the au- of love of the neighbor.”12 ed with Christian faith appears thor identifies “the 25 million to be fair game for criticism, Americans” who are “angry exclusion, and aggressive op- This is a remarkable claim. The 15 and afraid of Barack Obama assertion that a proper distil- position. While it is true that as president” and whose politi- lation of Islam is summarized departments of Islamic Studies cal views are “so extreme” that by “love for God” and “love for in our universities play a role “they make average Tea Party one’s neighbor” does not easily in culture-wide attempts to si- supporters look like moder- square with history and the lence any criticism of Islam, ates.”17 In chapter one we learn present context, particularly in non-Muslim academics, not to that these “Obama haters” are, those cultures where Islam is mention members of the me- simply, “conservatives.” An es- the dominant influence. While dia, politicians, and diplomats, sentially companion volume Muslims are free to practice have been all too glad to jump telegraphs a similar argument their religion virtually every- on the do-not-criticize-Islam in its title: The Islamophobia where in the Western world, bandwagon. Industry: How the Right one is hard-pressed to identify a Manufactures Fear of Muslims.18 single Muslim-majority country Enter the term “Islamophobia,” Chris Allen’s Islamophobia between northwestern Africa which I stumble across in my spins a twofold narrative com- and Kazakhstan and Indonesia research with remarkable fre- mon to virtually all of the books in which Christians and other quency. In what follows, my in this genre. It combines the focus is less on the character minorities are free to worship 16 twin notions of Western colo- without some form of regular of Islamism itself than on the nialism and Western fear (or impediment.13 putative claims, emanating dislike) of Muslims. Allen in- from both Islamists and their sists: “It is necessary…to con- If the assertions of the Muslim non-Muslim collaborators in sider the context and events leaders behind “A Common our universities, that criticism that linked colonialism to the Word” are to be taken serious- of Islam—any criticism—is by contemporary emergence of ly, they need to address this definition “Islamophobic.” today’s Islamophobia.”19 The pattern not of neighbor love, but problem is not with Islamists, Let me propose a new first of neighbor assault.14 What is in spite of 9/11; it is with the principle of reason: Any term needed is for moderate Muslim West. Allen is adamant that we ending with the suffix “-pho- voices, decrying the radicalism must get “beyond Huntington,” bic” should cause us to stop, of Islamic fundamentalism, to since writers such as Samuel

50 Huntington (who argued that and local community There is no sense whatsoever very real cultural differenc- members.20 that more Americans have been es lead to a “clash of civiliza- killed by violently radicalized tions”) stoke the “Islamophobic” Without qualification, it is mor- Muslim believers than have mentality. ally abhorrent when unexam- Muslim believers been harmed ined prejudice against an entire by American Islamophobes. What is present in each of these religion without any regard for works is the idea that actions or the individual behaviors and be- A summary of the aims of beliefs that are deemed—rightly liefs of individual followers fes- “Islamophobia” apologists or wrongly—offensive to Islam ters into violence or vandalism would appear to be to: or Muslim believers are the aimed at members of that faith. product, apparently whole cloth, But Islamophobia is too often • deny or rebuff (through of bigotry and xenophobia in the deployed to encompass much obfuscation) Islam’s vio- conservative West. What is ap- more than this. While leaving lent history and any link parently absent is any willing- the term essentially undefined, to terrorism; ness, both within and outside “Dismantling Islamophobia” • deny the fact that its academia, to consider whether links to yet another proj- theocratic core assump- Huntington’s thesis and similar ect, the “Bridge Initiative,” tions together undermine critiques might legitimately be which is based in Georgetown a genuine democratic descriptive of the religio-politi- University’s Prince Alwaleed pluralism as understood cal problem. This pattern seems bin Talal Center for Muslim- by a proper construal of to continue if we consider other Christian Understanding. “separation of church and state” (which, for Isla- initiatives housed at respected Happily, the Bridge assures mists, is blasphemous); institutions. us that Islamophobia does not include “rational criticism of • attack and vilify all who The “Dismantling Islamo- Islam or Muslims based on fac- take seriously the protec- phobia” project, for instance, tual evidence.”21 Unfortunately, tion of the common good and who would adopt being offered by the Harvard any reassurance falls away on deeper exploration. Because realistic policies aimed Graduate School of Education, at countering the violent “reliable information is hard to reflects on islamophobia this tendencies of Islamism; way: come by, especially about Islam, Muslims, and Islamophobia,” • prevent insults—which includes critique—of Is- Islamophobia in the the Bridge provides “fact- lam; and United States has be- sheets” on “a range of issues, come rampant. Reports individuals, and organizations • silence critics of Islam— have shown that acts that relate to…Islamophobia.”22 especially Muslim reformers—in both Islamic and threats of violence Looking through their fact- and vandalism against sheets reveals that examples and Western nations. Muslims from March 2015 of Islamophobia apparently in- to March 2016 were at the clude folks like Ayaan Hirsi Ali, CONCLUDING highest levels in 15 years… Maajid Nawaz, and the entire REFLECTIONS But combatting this ha- community at The National rassment in schools—and Review. Following the trend, In 2006, the organization by extension, working the Bridge shows little regard Al-Munasirun le Rasul al to end broader acts of for those making nuanced ra- Allah (“Supporters of God’s Islamophobia—requires tional critiques based on Islamic Messenger”) released a list of an approach that’s dif- theology or on distinctions be- prominent, moderate Muslims— ferent from other an- tween Islam and Islamism. Just individuals we would consider ti-bullying initiatives. as absurdly, when listing the religious and political reform- Educators should un- causes behind Islamophobic ers—and condemned them to derstand Islamophobia acts and rhetoric, the Bridge death if they failed to renounce 23 as both a type of bullying cites factors such as the election their views. These reformers and a consequence of bias of President Trump and fears were accused of having “de- and of misinformation regarding the Syrian refugee parted from Islam,” of having that is perpetuated by crisis but does not list a sin- “publicly supported leaders the media, public figures, gle act of Islamist violence as of unbelief, the worshipers of a possible contributing factor. the cross, the Christians” and

51 The House of Wisdom, artist unknown, date unknown. Source: Wikimedia Commons. The House of Wisdom was an intellectual center in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age. Founded by Caliph Harun al-Rashid (reigned 786–809), the center drew together Muslim, Jewish, and Christian scholars to explore diverse fields. of fraternizing and cooperat- the human race, posterity as commitment to speak and do ing with “the sons of pigs and well the existing generation.” the truth, though unpopular monkeys [i.e., Jews].” For these This applies both to “those who and incurring the wrath of crimes, they were given three dissent from the opinion” and many in and outside our cul- days to “announce their repen- “those who hold it.” Mill was ture, must be greater than our tance” and to publicly “disavow correct: to silence an opinion or fear of offending others. And if their writings in denial of the dissent is itself an evil. Without this is not the case, then civil traditions of our prophet.” the freedom to permit the clash- society collapses, evil triumphs, ing of truth and error, we are and we commit cultural suicide. We have to ask the basic ques- condemned to live in the land tions: Who speaks for Allah? of totalitarians. In spite of the In the end, we cannot avoid tak- Who represents Islam? The “post-everything” Zeitgeist that ing responsibility for wise social 138 who called for mutuality dominates the cultural climate and foreign policy—policy which between the word’s believers of the West, we have reached along the way inter alia will based on love of God and neigh- a moment of truth. The ability discriminate between Muslim bor, or the monsters who threat- to debate, disagree, reject, and moderates and Islamists.24 The en death to dissenters? yes, criticize is essential to a tragic global situation, in which healthy society and to religious egregious human rights and re- As the aspirations of the 138 freedom. In truth, the great ad- ligious freedom violations are suggest, the threat before us widespread, is only worsened is not a Muslim threat, per se, vances through the ages, wheth- by the inaction and indifference but an Islamist one. Indeed, our er cultural or theological, have Muslim brothers and sisters of been the results of “believers” of our own nation’s leaders in goodwill are just as imperiled and “unbelievers” disagreeing. promoting what is humanity’s as anyone else, if not more, by greatest gift: religious freedom, those who coerce, kill, rape, The essence of Benedict’s mas- rooted in the sacred rights of maim, plunder, and destroy in terful address in Regensburg conscience. It is surely true, as the name of Islam. Those who was that we in the West con- Thomas Farr, the first director too easily cry “Islamophobia!” front a crisis of the will. We of the U.S. State Department’s and silence dissent or critique must not fear offending others, Office of International Religious only run interference—however for to fear what others think— Freedom and a contributing inadvertently—for the violent. be they Muslims or secularists, editor for Providence, has ar- democrats or dictators—is to be gued, that American social and Recall Mill: “The peculiar evil paralyzed, and in the end, un- foreign policy has been ill-pre- of silencing the expression of able to speak and do the truth. pared to address matters of an opinion is that it is robbing Expressed in the reverse, our religion, religion and the public

52 square, and religious freedom.25 (Grand Rapids and Cambridge, UK: secretariat_state/card-bertone/2007/ Eerdmans, 2012) documents/rc_seg-st_20071119_muslim- The very premises and habits leaders_en.html. of thought in our general ori- 2 Paul Marshall, “Why Religious Freedom Must Be a Top Priority,” Cardus 15 As I write, I read that the BBC has entation toward international (November 24, 2011), cardus.ca. taken umbrage at Carol Monaghan, a Parliamentarian, practicing Catholic, affairs prove this true. Political 3 Cited in Daniel O’Gorman, and member of the Scottish National realism has been loath to make “Rushdie’s Non-Fiction,” in Robert Party, for coming to work on Ash Eaglestone and Martin McQuillan, eds., moral judgments based on reli- Wednesday with a cross on her forehead Salman Rushdie (London and New York: to commemorate the beginning of Lent. gious conviction. But we need Bloomsbury, 2013), 102-3. some facility in discerning the On its “Politics” Facebook page, the BBC 4 Rushdie, Step Across This Line, 238. has a picture of Monaghan accompanied manner in which religious views by the question “Was it appropriate for 5 Ibid., citing Mill. See John Stuart this MP to go to work with a cross on inform political expression. Will Mill, On Liberty, ann. Steven M. Cahn her forehead?” It would be inconceivable those views build or destroy the (Lanham and Oxford: Rowman & Littlefield, 2004), 42. that a Muslim Parliamentarian would be common good? Do they em- questioned or mocked for having observed body justice, or do they produce 6 Her books include The Caged Virgin: Ramadan. inhumanity? An Emancipation Proclamation for Women and Islam (2006), Infidel (2007), Nomad: 16 Here I am distinguishing between From Islam to America: A Personal Islam and Islamism. The problem is When religion and politics are Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations with the latter, which inspires most of the human rights and religious freedom intertwined, honest debate is (2010), and Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now (2015). violations around the world. essential, and such is acutely the 17 Algernon Austin, America Is Not case particularly as it informs 7 See: J. Daryl Charles, “Regensburg Post-Racial: Xenophobia, Islamophobia, issues such as “blasphemy” and Left Behind,” Touchstone (September/ Racism, and the 44th President (Santa “insulting” Islam.26 Where there October 2009), touchstonemag.com. Barbara: Praeger, 2015), vii. is no debate and critique, there 8 Benedict’s Regensburg address can be 18 Nathan Lean, The Islamophobia found at the Vatican website: vatican.va. Industry: How the Right Manufactures Fear is no politics. And where there of Muslims (London: Pluto Press, 2012). is no politics, society collapses. 9 Emphasis added. 19 Chris Allen, Islamophobia (London Thus, people of goodwill and 10 Benedict is here citing the 14th- and New York: Routledge, 2016 moral fiber will need to decide century emperor Manuel II, in debate [originally published by Ashgate, 2010]), with an educated Persian interlocutor, on 35. whether the fear of offending the importance of a reasoned faith. His others or the fear of denying the source is Karl Förstel, ed., “Manuel II. 20 Leah Shafer, “Dismantling Islamophobia: Anti-Muslim bullying truth is ultimate. Our future de- Palaiologus, Dialoge mit einem Muslim,” in Corpus Islamico-Christianum—Vol. 1 is different from other types of pends on that determination. (Series Graeca, ed. A. T. Khoury and R. harassment. Here’s how schools can Glei; 3 vols.; Würzburg-Altenberge: Echter work against it,” Usable Knowledge J. Daryl Charles is a 2018 Verlag, 1993-1996), 142-143 and 240-241. In (November 23, 2106), gse.harvard.edu. an endnote to his text, Benedict writes: “In 21 bridge.georgetown.edu/about/. Affiliated Scholar of the Acton quoting the text of the Emperor Manuel II, Institute, a contributing editor I intended solely to draw out the essential 22 Ibid. to Providence and the journal relationship between faith and reason. On 23 I am relying on the website of this point I am in agreement with Manuel Touchstone, and an affiliated the Center for Islamic Pluralism II, but without endorsing his polemic.” (islamicpluralism.org/501/islamists- scholar of the John Jay Institute. 11 These leaders included Bartholomew demand-killing-of-two-canadians). He has authored, co-authored, I, the Orthodox Church’s Patriarch of The CIP includes the entire text of or edited fifteen books, including Constantinople, and the then Archbishop the actual death threat, the list of 30- of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. plus reformers who are the subject of most recently (with Mark David the threat, as well as various Arabic- Hall) America’s Wars: A Just War 12 acommonword.com/the-acw language websites on which the death -document/. Perspective (University of Notre threat appeared. Also included on 13 Few have pressed this tragic the hit list were several non-Muslim Dame Press, forthcoming) and reality more forcefully than Shortt, intellectuals. (with Mark Larson and Timothy Christianophobia (see n. 1), esp. ix-xxii. 24 Moderate Muslims, if they are J. Demy) The Reformers on 14 And they should be taken seriously, permitted to exist, alone represent the War, Peace, and Justice (Wipf which means engaged in honest answer to the Islamist plague. & Stock, forthcoming). dialogue. In “Regensburg Left Behind” 25 See, for example, his essay “Religious (see n. 9), I offer a theological critique Freedom and National Security,” in Paul Endnotes of the vacuous “Christian response” A. Marshall, ed., Religious Freedom in offered by Christian signatories to “A the World (Lanham and Plymouth, UK: 1 See, among others, Paul Marshall, Common Word.” The response, drafted Rowman & Littlefield, 2008), 17-22; see Lela Gilbert and Nina Shea, Persecuted: by the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, also Thomas F. Farr, World of Faith and The Global Assault on Christians would have done better to follow the Freedom: Why Religious Freedom Is Vital (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2013); lead of the Vatican, whose own official to American National Security in the 21st John L. Allen, Jr., The Global War on response to “A Common Word” was more Century (New York: Oxford University Christians: Dispatches from the Front critically discerning and theologically Press, 2008). Lines of Anti-Christian Persecution (New nuanced, yet without closing doors York: Image, 2013); and Rupert Shortt, to dialogue. The Vatican response can 26 Marshall, “Why Religious Freedom Christianophobia: A Faith under Attack be accessed at vatican.va/roman_curia/ Must Be a Top Priority” (see n. 2).