Multi-Faith and Radicalization

In 1983 a young Muslim student from Pakistan traveled to the United States to begin his college education. He attended a small, two year Evangelical college in North Carolina. While there he was studious and received good grades. He also connected with a large number of other Muslim students. They would gather together, share a meal and pray during the Call to Prayer. As was customary for their Middle Eastern heritage, they would take their shoes off at the door and leave them outside while they gathered inside the dorm room. Unfortunately there was a group of students on campus who liked to give the Muslim students a difficult time. They would occasionally confiscate the Muslim student’s shoes, and throw them in the lake on campus. On other occasions they would fill a 55 gallon drum with water, and lean it into the dorm room door, knock on the door and run away. When the Muslim students would open the door, the drum would fall into the doorway, flooding the room. In addition to that, they gave the group of Muslim students a derogatory nickname, which seemed to single them out and mock their heritage. In spite of all of this, many of the students would go on to finish school and would end up still appreciating America. But that was not true for the one Pakistani student. He would transfer out of the small Evangelical school after one semester, finish up at a state school, and ultimately would return to the Middle East, increasingly radicalized. This student’s name was Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. If that name sounds familiar to you, it should. Mohammed was the engineer behind a number of terrorist bombings, none more significant than the 9/11 attacks that forever changed America. 

While there are certainly a host of other reasons that Mohammed would later give for his radicalization, and his hatred of America, he would say that his engagement with Americans contributed to it. “He stated that his contact with Americans, while minimal, confirmed his view that the United States was a debauched and racist country." In some way, students at an Evangelical school in the US contributed to the radialization of one of the worst terrorists that America, at least, has ever known. This should not be. Debauchery and racism have no place in the church of Jesus Christ, and neither does xenophobia or Islamophobia. I am afraid we have arrived at a place where Christians have succumbed to a popular narrative, namely that to get along, we have to fully agree and/or fully endorse those we are attempting to get along with. This is unfortunate because it’s not necessary. It is quite possible to disagree with someone, and yet treat them with dignity, love and respect; to be their friends. In fact, not only is it possible, it is Christian to do so. 

Yes, there are certainly examples of Jesus getting angry and treating someone with strong language and strong action - the money changers in the temple is obviously the best example. But I would encourage you to note that Jesus reserved that kind of language and behavior for those in his own spiritual tribe who were misusing their faith for their own purposes. When Jesus came across someone who was supposedly outcast, and not accepted within his own tribe, we see nothing but patience, grace and acceptance. Consider as examples the Samaritan woman, the children who came to him, Zaccheus or even Matthew, the tax collector, who would become one of his disciples and an author of one of the New Testament gospels. Jesus was known as a “friend of sinners” which was a term of derision used by people within his own religious community to mock his willingness to be friends with those he disagreed with. Not once did Jesus do any of this while compromising his theological positions. Instead, he communicated his positions, but he did so from a posture of love and respect. Jesus was, per the words of scripture, a friend to those he disagree with.

If you are a follower of Jesus, you have to decide if you are going to (potentially) contribute to the radicalization of those around you who disagree with you, whether they be Muslim, Jewish, Republican, Democrat, wealthy or impoverished and so on. It makes no difference, in many ways. If they are different than you, and your posture is to belittle, to humiliate, to minimize or ignore, while it may not necessarily lead to their radicalization, it certainly won’t attract them to your faith, and it definitely won’t encourage them to believe that you see them as a person created in the image of God. So maybe it’s time to stop using snide nicknames, or derogatory phrases about those you disagree with. Instead maybe, like Jesus, you ought to attempt to get to know them; to demonstrate that you love them, in spite of your disagreements. Maybe you ought to attempt to share what you believe, in love, affirming their worth and dignity all the while? It seems to me that this is what Jesus would do (and what Jesus did). 

This is among the reasons why we exist at the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network. We envision a world where people who believe differently have the freedom to express their various viewpoints, but they do so from a foundation of love for one another, and a desire to live at peace with each other. We believe that engaging with people of other faiths actually helps to enhance and strengthen our own faith tradition. We believe that doing this - living this out - will lead to the flourishing of our communities. We believe this help build resilient communities in the public square.

If you would be interested in more information about the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network, we would love to talk with you.