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The Litmus Test: Will Muslims Appropriate Western Values?
Several issues have been highlighted since the beginning of the twenty first century as Westerners have begun to question once again whether Muslims will be able to assimilate into Western societies or whether the religion of Islam will impede their assimilation and adoption of Western values.
For example, in a speech delivered in Regensburg, Germany, Pope Benedict XVI quoted a medieval text, stating “Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.” The world-wide Muslim community was offended. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation saw the lecture as tending toward character assassination of the Prophet. The Pope later apologized, stating that the quote did not reflect his personal opinion: rather, it was an invitation to dialogue, a sentiment echoed by political leaders in the US and Europe who called for dialogue with Muslims. Taking the opportunity, Prince Ghazi of Jordan issued a document “Common Word” on October 13, 2007 co-signed by 138 Muslim leaders from throughout the world calling for dialogue between Christians and Muslims based on mutual recognition of their faiths. (Subsequently, high-level groups of Catholics and Muslims held a dialogue meeting at the Vatican.) It received special resonance in the United States and led to a spike in dialogue activities including dialogue between Muslims and Evangelicals. At the same time, there were voices of dissent among Muslims and Christians such as that of former Prime Minister of Spain Jose Maria Aznar who asked why the Muslims have not apologized for their occupation of Spain for 800 years.
Other incidents that generated Muslim ire were connected to what was perceived as the defamation of the Prophet. The publication of Muhammad cartoons in 2005 by Jyllands-Posten in Denmark generated anti-Western riots and condemnations throughout the Muslim world. Muslim feelings were aggravated when other magazines and newspapers re-published the cartoons claiming that they were defending freedom of speech. In July 2012, a similar reaction was generated when a trailer for an obscure, independently financed film titled Innocence of Muslims depicted the Prophet as a pedophile. Most recently, there was the publication of cartoons perceived as defaming the Prophet by the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in France, which culminated in the death of 17 people garnered world attention which heads of states marching in solidarity with the French president under the slogan of “Je suis Charlie.” The general Muslim reaction has been subdued, with many Muslims living in Europe and America not only denouncing the violence associated with publication, but publicly supporting the freedom of speech.
The Litmus Test: Will Muslims Appropriate Western Values?
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Last Updated: 04/2022
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