I’m concerned about the rhetoric that many of my fellow Christians are using to describe Islam. Many have joined the controversial Dutch politician 
Girard fears that we are entering into a new stage of human history where violence is escalating to an apocalyptic extreme. “Violent imitation is the rule of the day … The one who believes he can control violence by setting up defenses is in fact controlled by violence” writes Girard (13 & 17).I fear this is what Wilders is doing to Muslims. He is promoting a dualistic view of Islam and the West, dividing the world into “those” evil Muslims who are out to destroy everything “we” good Westerners stand for. Christians should be able to spot this toxic Manichean heresy a mile away. To claim that “the purist joy in Islam is to kill and be killed” is an accusation of pure evil that is not only false, but that will add mimetic fuel to the fire of Muslim extremists and become a self-fulfilling prophecy that might escalate to apocalyptic proportions.
If we are to avoid Armageddon, we need to start by speaking a different reality to one another.
Reconciliation between Jews, Christians, and Muslims is more important now than ever. Islam contains this vision for reconciliation. That vision needs to be upheld. As with all Holy Scriptures, the Quran contains violent aspects that I don’t want to ignore. Yet we must also not ignore that the Qur’an critiques violence. For example, at the beginning of every chapter the Qur’an emphasizes the essential character of God by stating: “In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy.” There is the often quoted verse from chapter 2 “There is no compulsion in religion” (verse 256). Less known is a beautiful vision of reconciliation with one’s enemies found in chapter 60 verse 7: “God may still bring about affection between you and your present enemies—God is all powerful, most forgiving and merciful.” Instead of the Quran endorsing the slaughter of non-Muslims, it provides practical advice for people of different religions. Chapter 2 verse 148 states: “Each community has its own direction to which it turns: race to do good deeds and wherever you are, God will bring you together.”
Indeed, one can examine Islamic historical events and pull out Qur’anic verses and say, “See! Islam is inherently peaceful!” Or, “Ah ha! Islam is violent!” That kind of historical and scriptural text proofing is a foolish attempt to prove one’s point. The key to understanding the Qur’an (indeed, any sacred text) is to identify the guiding principle that the text itself offers. The most faithful interpretation of Islam must always start where the Qur’an tells us to start: “In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy.”
The world would be much better place if we mediated that reality to one another.
Photo Credit:
Wilders: Wikipedia
Girard: Herlind Koelbl/Munich
