February 25, 2005  
   

Dear Concerned Citizen,
by Dinesh D'Souza
 

After their historic election, the Iraqis are about to pick their prime minister. The leading candidate is Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

His party, the Dawa Party, supports in principle the enforcement of sharia or holy law in Iraq. Once again the American government is nervous, and no doubt some government majors in the state department are rushing to explain to Jaafari the importance of Jefferson’s doctrine of separation of church and state.

Yes, separation of church and state has worked reasonably well in America, but it is not a universal principle. Indeed there are other Western nations, such as Great Britain, which have religious establishment (the Anglican church) and yet have religious toleration. So why can’t Muslim countries make a democratic choice to govern themselves according to Islamic principles, even if those principles include the “holy law”?

True, religious establishment and “holy law” have a perilous history in the West. The Catholics and the Protestants used the power of the state to slaughter many thousands who did not share their particular creed. But the Shia and the Sunni in the Muslim world are not Catholics and Protestants. Their theological differences are, well, nonexistent. The main difference between the Sunni and Shia has to do with two views of legitimate Islamic succession, arguments one may say about the Islamic “family tree.” Islam is not a creedal religion anyway, but rather (like Judaism) a religion of law and practice. Islam has never had religious wars of the type that nearly destroyed Europe, and it is senseless to issue calls (as we sometimes hear in the West) for an “Islamic reformation.”

We in America may not like all the verdicts that Islamic holy law pronounces upon the Iraqi people. The National Organization for Women and the American Civil Liberties Union may be troubled to discover that women inherit less than men, or that husbands can divorce wives more easily than wives can divorce husbands, or that homosexuality will be illegal and thus plans for Gay Pride Week in Baghdad will have to be canceled.

Some Americans may object to such choices, but welcome to democracy! We have asked the Iraqi people to choose, and they cannot always be expected to choose our way.

But what about the rights of women and minorities and non-Muslims? These are things the Iraqis will have to work out. Our best hope is that they will do so within a framework of tolerance and pluralism. There is a precedent for both in Islamic history. Under the great Islamic empires, whether the Abbasid empire or the Mughal empire or the Ottoman empire, Muslims had sharia and yet they allowed Jews and Zoroastrians and Christians to live peacefully and to worship freely. Religious minorities were discriminated against in some ways, and yet they enjoyed tolerance. The Ottoman empire was not a model of pluralism, but it was a pluralist society.

Before America lectures the Iraqis on the virtues of pluralism, which the Iraqis admittedly need, we would do well to reflect on the absence of pluralism in this country. In the past few decades we have seen a radical secularism that has sought to deprive Americans of the rights of self-government and to drive all vestiges of religion—even of morality—from the public square. The right of self-government is paramount in a democracy, and yet on a whole range of issues (abortion, school prayer, homosexual marriage, pornography) the zealots in our culture and our courts seek to thwart Americans from making the rules under which they live.

In an equally radical move, the secularists are trying to remove all references to religion from America’s public domain. These persistent attempts to prevent moral self-government and to empty the public square of all traces of religion are no less intolerant and monolithic than anything the Iraqis are contemplating in their country.

Look at it this way: If it’s wrong for devout Muslims to occupy the public square all by themselves, using law as an instrument of Muslim goals, and pushing everyone else into the background, why isn’t it equally wrong for devout secularists to occupy the public square all by themselves, using law as an instrument of secular goals, and pushing everyone else into the background? (At least the devout Muslims are a majority. On a whole range of issues such as school prayer and gay marriage, the radical secularists often use the courts to trump the will of the American majority.)

If the public square belongs to all citizens, then shouldn’t a commitment to pluralism and tolerance mandate the admission of a wide range of beliefs and perspectives into the public arena? This is no violation of Jeffersonian principles; it only violates the perverted and illiberal understanding of Jefferson that is promoted by the secularists and unfortunately shared by many courts.

Responses to: The Grammys Got Religion

Editors response: Kanye West does not market himself as a "Christian" artist, and tothesource did not profile him in that way. We wonder, based on some of the responses we got, where West is to go when the secularism of the music industry criticizes him for expressing a belief in God in his music and Christians criticize him for where he is in his faith journey. By noting that West challenges the censorship inherent in secularism, tothesource in no way endorsed his body of work, a distinction lost in the following letters to the editor.

Your article on Kayne West left me a little confused. If you equate that chump with my God and Christ in the least, you have no idea who He is. Kayne's lyrics and ATTITUDE do not represent Christ. Nor does his inclusion in the Grammys indicate that the industry is becoming sensitive to Christianity. He is simply raw, vulgar and worldly (even if he mentions God), so they love him. Notice the camera focused on Amy Grant, an openly adulterous and unrepentant "christian" performer. I thought the whole thing reeked of the world of sin. No, I am not a pompous, self-righteous believer. I am a redeemed, regenerated sinner who, by the grace of God, does not live in the chains of sin that He redeemed me from. - J. J.

I would not get too excited about West the person, if I were you. Have you ever heard him interviewed about his beliefs? He does not beleive a good God can "send people to Hell". He does not "beleive in Hell." I am sure everything said at the Grammys was positive, or you would not be relating in. There is reason to rejoice when someone expresses their faith on national television. Just know that West is no Billy Graham. - S. W.

There are actually two versions of the rap. The CD comes in the regular version and the "clean" version. You may not want to publish the words to the "regular" version. - G. P. F.

I'm sure that this may not be welcome, but to credential myself, I want you to understand that both my wife and I are born-again Christians. One more time, the reviews are just the patented, programmed patter. This was just a stupid, silly, one-sided viewpoint without any real discussion. When will Christians really understand that we absolutely must tolerate alterate views and be able to acknowledge them in order to have any credibility? We are so sad to read only the "Republican" style views that seem to equivocate Christianity. It's almost enough to make us give up having a liberal point of view tempered with Jesus' love and perspective. ........sigh........ - R. B.

This was so helpful. You do great work and I continue to learn a great deal from reading your material. Thanks so much! - J. M.

I totally disagree with your comments! When are we going to change the fact that just because someone says the name Jesus that they are making a statement? Even though Kyle West talks about his accident and sings this song Jesus walks. There has not been any life change in him. He is still singing songs about women inappropriately, guns, sex and the gangster life. which is nothing of change or good character. He is literally a prophet for the devil and double minded. Just because He has one song about Jesus on his album and the rest of the album is nothing but garbage. My son who is 13 years old came to me and stated Mom, Kyle West sings about God. Someone gave him the cd because they stated that it was a gospel cd but when I seen the other songs. I thought my God this is nothing but work of the enemy. What about the effects of the other songs? One song about Jesus and the others about talking about the devils life. When is the standard going to brought up? - S. P.

I am an American missionary living in Kenya. I am so glad to hear that people in America are finally taking a stand in the places where it means the most. Young people in Kenya are buying our (American) music on the streets in audio tapes and videos at a tremendous rate eventho most are too poor to buy food. The cyber cafes, the shops, everywhere are playing our religeous music. It goes places we cannot go. They love our music. Give them something worth listening to. Thanks! - M. H.

I think we need to pray for West, along with other artist who think that they can just make a song about Jesus, without a true change of heart. If you listen to his CD every other song contadicts the teachings of scripture. We as True Believers allow big time secular artist to play with Christ, without holding them accountable to their lifestyles, as well as their true walk with Christ. We forget about true Hip Hop artist such as Crossmovement, Coreyred and Precise, J-Silas. TRUTH, Flame, and LeCrae that truly put it down for the cause of Christ from start to finish. They can't even get a video played on BET or MTV, or get airplay on radio stations. We allow West to be the "Holy Hip Hop" standard without asking him about his commitment to Christ. I'm reluctant to say that he is even a born again believer, but I don't know his heart. If he is saved profanity, arrogance, and misrepresentation of the True God has to stop. The Jesus he is speaking of in his song isn't the one that I serve if he thinks that his Jesus can listen to the rest of his CD and say "well done thou good and faithful servent". My motive isn't to judge anyone. - K. K.

Sure they found religion, but what kind of religion is it? What kind of God does Kanye serve? I saw the Grammys and I on was pretty skeptical when they interviewed Kanye on the red carpet and he looked like he was high on crack. He couldn't focus, took off his coat, then put it back on...completely wacked! I have a problem making too much of this guy who has an "explicit lyrics" warning on his cd. Sure, he "needs Jesus", but what kind of Jesus does he need? Sure, the grammys found religion, but a false religion (or watered down religion) is worse than no religion at all. If we are not careful to define what Kanye is preaching, the church will embrace him because he is "religious" and uses "Jesus'" name and will become even more mediocre than it currently is. This is not the sort of thing that will glorify God. - E. H.

So now that the music industry has seen the light, we can expect a diminuation of violence/sex rap, and the current tsunami of harmonic sleeze and self-centeredness? Or should we settle for the one-song cookie thrown at the Grammy's? Or will it now all be added together in a counter-intutive blend, "religion" getting it's fair share? Will the "music industry" embrace faith, values and Biblical truth the same way the "movie community" embraced and lionized Mel Gibson after "The Passion"? - P. H.

Please do NOT send religious garbage any more! Non religious articles are VERY welcome though. I have nothing against religion but like 95% of the world I feel that American style "in your face" religion should remain in America amongst its practitioners! - M. V. B.

Thanks so much for the February 16th report from the Grammy's and the information about this combating aetheistic secularism. This fits right in with what our Chi Alpha, America's 3rd largest campus ministry, has chosen for a theme for this year's National Student conference - "It's Not About Me." - S. T.

Thanks for this message. I am so frustrated with the churches apathy (Gulliver position). We proved our buying power in the media with "The Passion" film. We have a, potentially, very strong voice and yet we lay there, a giant asleep, with the evil secular movie industry dwarfs running all over us. This is true in politics also. If the body would come together, we could change the face of our culture in this generation! - B. H.

Great Grammy Testimony! :-) - A. C.

The best rap song of the year was about Jesus!! That’s the “passion of Christ” – to save the lost. Jesus said, “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” Mark 2:17. I think the music industry (and all of us) could use more of that as your article recognized. Thanks for your wonderful articles. They are edifying, illuminating and inspiring so many times. I keep most and pass on many to friends and family. May God be praised and you be blessed - D. H. R.

May Jesus be glorified in our culture against all expectations, may He be known by all who walk and talk in this nation and by all those who live and breathe. May all those who are confounded by this phenomenon have their spiritual eyes opened and they will need to make a choice to be for Christ or against Christ. May you be blessed for writing this article. - B. F.

Thanks for this article. I don't believe we need any part of Hollywood to get the word of God to the public. What we need is a firey burden to see souls saved. every soul that we come in contact with sould be witnessed to of the love of God and,The beautiful plan of salvation (Acts 2:38) Untill A hunger takes place. There can only be useless words. - S. H.

In the article you sent me today, you mention that "These same producers must have noticed that Christian music is one of the fastest growing segments in contemporary music. Christian concerts are packed. What’s more, Christian kids tend not to pirate music off the net, so Christian labels make money. ". I take issue with that from a statistical standpoint. I don't know about concert ticket sales, but in terms of record sales, Christian Music has been declining in total dollars and units sold for at least the past couple years, according to the GMA. And to say that Christian kids are more honest is a ludicrous claim unless you back it up. Thanks for your sentiments, but you need to have some data, and I don't think you've got it... - P. H.

Editors response: Our comments were based on statistics from the Nielson SoundScan reports that indicated a 7% increase in sales of Christian albums in 2004 as compared to 2003. This combined with reports by the same groups of a doubling of the number of paid digital downloads of Christian songs in that same time period. We considerend an additional factor reported in a Christianity Today interview with Mark Joseph, president of MJM Entertainment Group, who reports that there is an increase in the number of Chrstian artists who have choosen to record with mainstream rather than labels that would drive the numbers up even higher. The Barna Group did poll a slight difference in the rate of piracy between Christian and other teens, a rate of 77% by Christians and 81% by all other teens.

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• That Other Church - Let's face it: Secularism is a religion. Let's treat it as such.
 
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  Dinesh D'Souza
Dinesh D'Souza, the Rishwain Research Scholar at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, served as senior domestic policy analyst in the White House in 1987-1988. He is the best-selling author of Illiberal Education, The End of Racism, Ronald Reagan, The Virtue of Prosperity, and What's So Great About America. He is the designated expert on current American culture for tothesource.
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