The 9/11 Report

In a daring break with tradition, I bumped a non-LDS book up to the flagship "Book O' Month" spot at the upper-left corner--the 9/11 Report seems so topical and surprisingly informative. The whole "what's up with Islam" theme has been evident to me from the New Books shelf at the library and at bookstores. "Fundamentalist religion," whatever else it is, is religious belief that motivates people to actually do things, often rather ambitious things: pioneer new settlements in the desert (Jewish fundamentalists in Israel), picket abortion clinics or even blow them up (Christian fundamentalists in the US), and become soldiers of Allah in local wars or terrorist cells (Islamic fundamentalists). The secular bureaucrats in Washington have never really grasped that religion moves people--they were simply stunned by Iran in 1979, where religious zealots displaced a "modernizing" ruler. They never understood the Moral Majority. Now they're struggling to grasp the meaning of al Queda.

I think they'd do well to take a drive down the Beltway to the LDS temple in Washington, DC. They should just stare at it for a few minutes, telling themselves, "People did this for religion, not profit." They need to be thinking of how to support a kinder, gentler strain of Islam in the world to win this battle in the long run, I think. Support your local (peaceful) mullah.

Comments

[sinister minister]

There is no question that religion can and has motivated people to do great things. Heck, it got the worshippers of Molech to cast their little children into the fire.

However, I question your assertion that the 'moral majority' is a religious movement, although it might have religious trappings. Back about twenty or more years ago, I was having a conversation with a black minister from Alabama (who was one of the wisest men I have met). Somehow, the subject of the moral majority came up, and he told me, 'same old segregationists, new packaging.' He knew from a lifetime of experience how to recognize the wolf.

I don't doubt the sincerity of many evangelical Christians, but the fact is that the whole 'moral majority' started pretty much when it became socially unacceptable to be a segregationist. They still discourage (although don't by letter of the law ban) black people from going to many of their congregations.

You are right about almost everything you say in your post, but don't claim that not everyone understands the 'moral majority'. There are some, especially black people in the South, who understand it only too well.

And to them, it is an ancient evil.