How will America respond to militant Islam? Responses from Asia Times Online readers to my contention that radical Islam yet may defeat the West (Why radical Islam might defeat the West) of July 8 ranged from accusations of anti-Islamic bigotry to the claim that the West, if need arise, simply will kill a billion Muslims. Neo-conservative circles in Washington think neither of accommodating the claims of radical Islam nor of a war against Islam, but rather of an “Islamic Reformation”. [Asia Times]

An interesting article that outlines two scenarios that counterbalance the threat of militant Islam. Both scenarios are dependent on an increase in the textual criticism of the Koran and the personal search for a divine truth. The theological foundation for Protestantism and the Reformation came from scholars who went back to the original Jewish documents. According to this article Jewish translations and commentary provided much of the impetus to the Reformation. Modern day Islam and Catholicism at the time of the Reformation seem to have a similar weaknesses to textual criticism and an intolerance to opposing interpretations. The conflicts between modern society and Islam have forced many Muslims in America into a personal search for the divine truth about Islam. They are not happy with what they have found and have started to criticize the Middle Eastern interpretation of the Koran. Muslims in the United States and Europe tend to be more moderate and are having real problems with trying to be a Muslim in a modern society. The solutions from the Middle East are unacceptable. A schism has formed and it may require a reformation to make Islam palatable to Muslims in America. If Islam does make a better connection with their American Muslims, then evangelical Protestants will connect with Muslims and fill their spiritual needs. I go to a church that is growing by bringing in people from the streets and other churchs. They suceed by being modern, relevant, tolerant, and very spiritual.

The disputes are part of a national debate over how entangled religion and government can be. [Christian Science Monitor]

In contrast, in mid-July a federal judge in La Crosse, Wis., ordered the city to remove a Ten Commandments monument from a city park because, she said, it made some community members “feel they were not welcome, that they did not belong in La Crosse unless they followed Judeo-Christian traditions.” The monument had been there since 1965.

“The First Amendment guarantees persons of all faiths that the government will treat them with equal concern and respect,” wrote US District Judge Barbara Crabb.

I am fascinated who those community members are. It appears that these community members are more comfortable with murder and robbery than a Ten Commandments monument that they can ignore.  I can see where these people would be uncomfortable with religion being pushed down their throats but I do not see how a Ten Commandments monument pushes religion. They are not going to get follow up phone calls from a monument.  The Ten Commandments are some of the moral foundations our legal system are built upon. That is not going to change. Many faiths share these same values. The primary purpose of Ten Commandment monuments is to focus our attention on the concept of right and wrong. That is why you see these monuments and displays primarily at courthouses and schools. If a monument stops just one person from committing a crime, it is worth it!

Months Before Debut, Movie on Death of Jesus Causes Stir. With his movie, “The Passion,” under attack as anti-Semitic, Mel Gibson is trying to build a defense before it is released. By Laurie Goodstein. [New York Times: NYT HomePage]

From what I read this movie is the most realisitic depiction of the events leading up to the death of Jesus. There lies the rub. What looks like realism to some Christians looks like anti-Semitism to Jews.