Anglican Archbishop Embraces Sharia Law

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Anglican Archbishop Embraces Sharia Law

Posted Feb 15th 2008 1:09AM by Dinesh D'Souza
Filed under: Islam, Christianity, Bizarre, Atheism

Atheists can break out the champagne: there really are some wacky religious people out there. One of them seems to be Rowan Williams, the archbishop of Canterbury. In a recent speech Williams ruffled a lot of feathers--it is not Anglican custom to ruffle a lot of feathers--when he said it "seems unavoidable" that Muslim holy law or sharia is coming to Britain. Not only that, but our bearded, bespectacled cleric even thought that this would be a good thing because it would foster social cohesion.

While conceding that "nobody in their right mind would want to see in this country" some of the "extreme punishments" and "attitudes toward women" that prevail in certain Muslim countries, Williams called for a "constructive accommodation with some aspects of Muslim law." So: no chopping off limbs and no honor killings. Williams argued, however, that other issues such as marital disputes and financial matters could be handled not by the British legal system but by Muslim sharia courts. All of this would have the beneficial result, in Williams' view, of meeting the distinctive needs of Muslims. Williams argued that Muslims should not have to choose between "the stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty."

Now if this sounds absurd to you, and a little dangerous to boot, ask yourself: where have I heard this before? What we are getting from Williams is not religious craziness but liberal craziness, not theological error but multicultural reductio ad absurdum. The multicultural premise is that classical liberal rules that apply equally to everyone nevertheless discriminate against racial and cultural minorities that don't want to play by those rules. Consequently equality of rights for individuals must give way to equality of consideration for groups. Otherwise minorities will feel disenfranchised even in a society where there is equal treatment for individuals under the law. This is what Williams means when he says that Muslims should not have to sacrifice cultural loyalty in order to be loyal to Britain.

So what is our woolly-headed archbishop suggesting: office breaks for Muslims to pray five times a day? Jihadist history month? Overlooking the occasional polygamous marriage in the Muslim community? No one really knows because Williams didn't really say. And when several people expressed shock at Williams' words and called for his resignation, Williams finally acknowledged that he had spoken "clumsily" and with a "misleading choice of words." Even so, he added that while he did not favor creating "parallel jurisdictions" for sharia and secular courts, he thought that "additional choices" could be opened to Muslims. On what precisely those choices might be, Williams maintained a Sphinx-like silence.

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Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 25)

Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

16. oops, wrong link;

http://youtube.com/watch?v=exDo2SMdB-0

a born atheist at 10:07AM on Feb 15th 2008

17. anne b:"if we follow our own Bible on stoning the adultrer "

Saudi Arabia has a place for you, Annie.

Even if you want to argue that our generations have been ruined, you can't say that its as one-dimensional as being only TV. TV shows sex = kids are immoral. Way too simplistic. There are so many more factors than that. And just remember, 40 years ago people said the Beatles were Satanic, now they're quaint and wholesome. 40 years from now, people will say the same about Eminem and Marilyn Manson.

Just a little nit: the Victorian era didn't follow Shakes' time. He lived in late 1500s-early 1600s, Victorian era didn't start for at least another 240 years.

AndrewV at 10:10AM on Feb 15th 2008

18. Champagne for my real friends and reap pain for my sham friends!

Mokele-Mobembe at 10:12AM on Feb 15th 2008

19. "Atheists can break out the champagne"? Don't flatter yourself. We atheists aren't as obsessed with you superstitious folk as you are with us. We have constructive work to do and lives to live. You are hardly a blip on our radar screens, except when you try to use the state to shove your nonsense down our throats. And then you can expect a fight.

emelpe at 10:16AM on Feb 15th 2008

20. Woops, I meant "real", not "reap". Actually "reap" doesn't work out so bad.

AndrewV,
Eminem and Marilyn Manson will be seen as no more than skid marks in the annals of music history. In the future people will look and and realize Survivor and Europe were music in its highest art.

Mokele-Mobembe at 10:16AM on Feb 15th 2008

21. Anne B-

The Bible does not condone the stoning of the adulterer. Under the Mosaic Law it was permitted/demanded(?), but Christ fulfilled that law. Which is why He did not stone the woman caught in adultery.

I do agree with you on the current condition of the media and entertainment industry's treatment of sexuality; we essentially live in a red light district. It's damaging to children and adults.

Sex is a GREAT gift; unfortunately, it's become a marketing tool and a collective joke.

Josiejo at 10:16AM on Feb 15th 2008

22. emelpe,
Dinesh just wants to associate atheists with habitual drinking. It's all relative anyway. An alcoholic is just someone who drinks more than his physician.

Mokele-Mobembe at 10:18AM on Feb 15th 2008

23. AndrewB-

The New Testament is pretty clear about monogamy. The Mormon issue, though, goes beyond that particular practice. There are a lot of things to admire about Mormons. There are also critical doctrinal differences that do separate them from Christians.

Josiejo at 10:22AM on Feb 15th 2008

24. IF MUSLIMS THINK THAT SHARIA LAW HELPS THEIR SOCIETY SO BE IT. WHAT'S A TERRORIST TO DO IF HE HAS NO HANDS? CAN'T SHOOT A GUN. CAN'T MAKE BOMBS. NOT EASY TO DRIVE A CAR BOMB IN TO A MARKET. SHARIA LAW, IN THE LONG RUN, HELPS OUR GOAL TO END TERRORISM. SO PLEASE, FOR AMERICA'S SAKE, KEEP CHOPPING OFF LIMBS, EXECUTING AND WHIPPING AND STONING. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.

Bill at 10:56AM on Feb 15th 2008

25. Mokele: No true atheist likes Survivor.

Josiejo: "There are also critical doctrinal differences that do separate them from Christians."

There are critical doctrinal differences that separate every Christian denomination. I don't know if you're implying that there is one "true" Christian faith or not, and which one that would be. My point was that many Christians like to disassociate themselves from Mormons since they have some wacky ideas like that the Indians are the devil's children.

AndrewV at 10:31AM on Feb 15th 2008

26. (Atheists can break out the champagne: there really are some wacky religious people out there.)

LOL ... we atheists would all be lushes if we had a drink everytime a "religious person" said something wacky. We'll settle for just shaking our heads and wondering ... when has an atheist ever wished that a nation would embrace more restrictive religious laws? The truth is that like Huckabee ... you would love to see the Bible as the centerpeice of American jurisprudence. And if that day ever came ... you and all your religious nuts would be tipping cases of champangne in celebration!

Jim at 10:37AM on Feb 15th 2008

27. AndrewV,
Fortunately for a certain chunk of my iPod, I am not a true atheist, but an agnostic with Spinozan speculations. And come on, "Burning Heart" is a kickass song if you're doing upper-body workouts or you're climbing a mountain. Survivor gave us Jimi Jamison, who gave us "I'm Always Here", the pulse-pounding Baywatch theme. It's the perfect song for running on the beach or watching women run on the beach. Unless that's something you're against...

Mokele-Mobembe at 10:45AM on Feb 15th 2008

28. Actually, Jews have some aspects of a local, religious court in communities throughout the world:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beth_din

A Beth Din is a local or community court which deals with certain civil issues for some orthodox or conservative jews, especially those related to religious life.

No laws of the country of origin may be broken, and the participants both agree to abide with the decision of the court. Kind of like Judge Judy. ('Cause I'm the Boss, Applesauce....!!)

To me, if Sharia law included those kinds of things, there would be no problem. The physical punishments are another story altogether.

By the way, DD's inference that what the Archbishop was talking about is an outcome of "liberal" policics is REALLY laughable. He uses the logic of a school child.

His premise is a 100% wrong, therefore everything stated afterwards is wrong, therefore he is full of shit. The liberals demand separation of church and state, and would never condone physical violence as a form of punishment.

Linda at 10:52AM on Feb 15th 2008

29. Mokele: No true atheist is against women running on the beach...ah! My philosophy is inconsistent!! Must...succumb...to...Dineshtianity...

AndrewV at 10:52AM on Feb 15th 2008

30. AndrewV--

Here's how I understand the "true" Christian issue...

There certain things that are strictly OPINION: the color of the carpet, a rock band or an organ, etc. These things are numerous--as numerous as there are Christions. These things are also negotiable and subject to change with the culture. They are essentially non-relevant to one's faith (or should be).

There are certain things that are INTERPRETATION:
the Sabbath--is it Sunday or Saturday, pre-, post-, or mid-tribulation (when will the so-called rapture occur), etc. These differences, though important, should not cause division but be respected.

Then there are the ABSOLUTES:
Jesus is the Son of God, His death and resurrection is the only way for us to be reconciled with a Holy Creator, etc.
There are only a few of these and they are critical. They are non-negotiables, not subject to personal interpretation or cultural influences. By virtue of the fact that they are absolute, they tend to cause division when one believes differently.

I am not a theologian. This is just how I understand it. As to the one "true" faith, I do think there is such a thing. I just don't think it's found in a denomination--it's found in the individual.

I believe that "true" Christianity is a relationship between man and holy God, enabled by the redeeming act of Jesus the Christ and progressed(?) by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

While I do believe that is the spiritual reality, it's difficult to explain the actuality of what it's like to live it and how deeply rich it is.
Which is why Paul called it "the mystery" and why I submit this comment with humility.

Josiejo at 10:54AM on Feb 15th 2008

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Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.