The State: A Jealous God
From the desk of The Brussels Journal on Mon, 2007-06-11 14:36
A quote from Mustafa Akyol at Turkish Daily News, 9 June 2007
[T]ake the term, “secular state.” For an American, this term implies a state that not just refrains from imposing religion, but also respects its role in society. But in Turkey the term “secularism” is used by most of its staunch defenders as “a way of life” that needs to be imposed on the citizens, and a warrant to suppress religious communities and movements. […] And here lies I think, the mother of many problems in Turkey. The state is just too powerful, dominant and vigilant. It is, to recall an ancient text of wisdom, like a “jealous god,” which wants to see no other identities and ideologies before him. […] If there is a “State ideology,” it is only natural that believers try to redefine it according to their value system.
This means that the much-feared “political Islam” in Turkey, which is already in decline for various other reasons, will be even weaker if the state becomes smaller and liberal. If we minimize our secular Leviathan, then there won’t be much demand for an Islamic version either.
@ Amsterdamsky
Submitted by logicalman on Tue, 2007-06-12 09:59.
The real problem is not "a religious group gets a foothold..." but that particular religious group is only religious by their own claim and profession but in reality a group of religious hypocrites operating under the convenient banner of their religion as a political group.
The muslims for all their faults and lies at least can quote the Quran to justify their action. Their problem is blindly following a wicked doctrine invented by one of the most wicked persons on earth, in deeds and in words.
What happened to the sense of decency and of conscience?
"If we minimize our secular
Submitted by Amsterdamsky on Mon, 2007-06-11 15:18.
"If we minimize our secular Leviathan, then there won’t be much demand for an Islamic version either."
The Economist pretty much said just that in the last issue. I am not sure I agree. I think anywhere a religious group gets a foothold civil liberties start to erode rapidly. The Catholic Church in Scotland is threatening to excommunicate Scottish Cathlolic politicans that vote against the political policies of the Vatican.
"If we minimize our secular
Submitted by Mystery Meat on Mon, 2007-06-11 15:10.
"If we minimize our secular Leviathan, then there won’t be much demand for an Islamic version either."
Does he mean like in Iraq, Iran, Gaza, West Bank, Pakistan, etc. etc.?