More religion, better religion

Mike Huckabee, the conservative former Arkansas governor, this weekend said that he is concerned about Islam's role in Egypt's future. As On Faith panelist Reza Aslan this week noted, Huckabee has also called for Americans to "take this nation back for Christ" and, while running for president in 2008, declared that "what we need to do is to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards."

In America and in Egypt, should a majority religion inspire political life? How will Islam play a role in the struggles for democracy happening now in Egypt and other parts of the Muslim world?

Blaming Egyptian political problems on Islam is akin to blaming Confucius for the barbarism of the Chinese communist governments. The thugs and plutocrats looting the economy of Egypt are not notably religious.

If they are the product of anything, these leaders are those who have despoiled pieces of European, Islamic and Egyptian culture and pieced them together in a way that will allow for their own enrichment. They cling to power with the support of the United States because we fear, with some justification, that the alternatives are worse.

Their time has past and the time for the United States to tolerate their rule is over. If it was ever justifiable, the justification has ended. Support for such a regime taints our message about human rights and liberty. It associates Western values with a tyrant and tyranny--however benevolent--is incompatible with our best interests.

Islam conquered Christian Egypt and appropriated much of that glorious heritage. The invaders became part of Egypt and successfully blended Arab ideas with Egyptian ones. Islam is flexible and can adapt to many new ideas if given the chance.

However, poor Muslims driven to extremes by poverty and hopelessness will have little appreciation for subtle ideas. They will end up embracing bastard forms of Islam more indebted to Marx or Hitler than to the Quran. When the middle classes face gnawing hunger, folk become immoderate and revolutionary.

Revolutions generally empower tyrants and despots who are just as capable of using religion as secularism to justify their evils. Iran misuses Islam, North Korea abuses secularism and African despots abuse Christianity.

Tyrants all over the Middle East have spent billions to promote ideologies that would prop up their regimes. The House of Saud has long looted and pillaged Arabia while posturing as defenders of Islam. They placate the masses by funding the worst varieties of the faith, but then jet to the West to indulge in the vices they forbid their own people.

Starved of true education, fed on lies, the people of the Middle East react with disbelief in any "official" idea. They become prey for charlatans and conspiracy theorists. They turn their resentment into hatred of Jews, Christians, or any other minority group and such programs are often secretly encouraged by the corrupt governments as a way to let off steam.

All of this is as far from the philosophy that flourished in Islamic Alexandria, as the men who murdered a gay rights activist in Uganda are from the teachings of Jesus Christ.

The cure for Egypt is true religion: justice for the poor, love of neighbor and submission to the will of God. This cure has been too long delayed and now any move is dangerous, but the greater danger is further delay.

Egypt must find a government that gives people liberty, hope and allows for a decent standard of living. Egypt must protect the rights of all citizens: including the Christians who are an integral part of her historic identity. Egypt must find leaders who are Muslim not-in-name-only, but full of compassion for the poor and who understand the need to appropriate the best of modernity.

The terrifying fact is that these leaders must be found in the midst of grinding poverty and chaos.

As a Christian, I do not think Islam is true, but I know it contains many practical truths with political and social implications. The vast majority of Egyptians embrace Islam and so there is hope that the truth in Islam can help Egypt. Islam encourages compassion and charity to the poor. It preaches justice and excoriates self-serving thieves in power. At present, it would be idiotic to alienate the Islamic majority of Egypt. Instead, American Christians should find areas of agreement with that majority and encourage their implementation.

Egypt was Christian before she was Muslim. She retains a significant Christian population. American Christians, including political candidates like Mike Huckabee, should not endanger those brothers and sisters in Christ through rash statements.

By John Mark Reynolds  |  February 3, 2011; 6:30 PM ET Save & Share:                 
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