About tolerance, 2007
Religion hasn't been responsible for a lot of peace this year, but hope appeared in some unlikely places.
On a day when American Christians celebrate one of their most cherished holidays, the rest of our citizens cherish their freedom instead to rejoice in a day free of toil, traffic or the tyranny of 24/7 connectivity. This year, it is clear that protecting the freedom of belief -- and the freedom not to believe -- will require not merely a vigorous defense but a good offense. Religious intolerance is flourishing around the globe, and in 2007, the world witnessed fierce outbreaksof repression and violence, hatred and bigotry.
In the U.S., the GOP presidential contest features a disturbing contest between Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee over who is the better Christian. Huckabee asked disingenuous questions designed to fan doubts about Romney's Mormon theology, suggested that religion is a suitable test for public office and said that Americans should choose a president who speaks "the language of Zion" as a mother tongue. Romney warned against those "intent on establishing a new religion in America -- the religion of secularism." He went on to assert that "freedom requires religion, just as religion requires freedom." These statements betray a militant theism that has become alarmingly common in our national dialogue.
But why is the intersection of religion and politics generating fresh tensions, here and in so many other parts of the world? It has long been observed that religious revivalism and ethno-religious political conflicts flourish during epochs of rapid change, social dislocation and uncertainty about the future. Today, the challenges of globalization, overpopulation, migration and competition for scarce resources are blowing through many lives with hurricane force. And when hurricanes rage, most people run down to the basement and cling for dear life to the oldest, strongest foundations -- usually their family, tribe, ethnic group or religion.
And so in 2007, Christians and Muslims clashed in Egypt, Ethiopia and Lebanon, while Shiites and Sunnis battled in Iraq. Horrific car bombings in northern Iraq killed more than 500 Yazidis -- ethnic Kurds who practice a pre-Islamic religion that some consider devil worship. China continued to attempt to control Tibetan Buddhism with the absurd decree that it would not recognize as genuine the reincarnation of any lama born outside the territorial borders of the People's Republic of China (a swipe at the Dalai Lama, who has said he will seek to be reborn outside Beijing's clutches).
