W. F. Buckley's take on Christian evangelism in Iraq and elsewhere in the Moslem world is that it is good for all involved. He has some sensible points, but it isn't a straightforward issue. It is important to note that none of the groups involved in evangelizing the Arab/Moslem world practice (indeed, they oppose) coercive conversion, or the more subtle but equally dishonest tactic of linking aid to conversion. And while the conversion of a sizeable part of the Moslem world would solve many problems it wouldn't by itself solve them all; after all, one of the architects of the original airline hijackings was an Arab Christian. Christianity does little to innoculate Arabs against rabid Jew-hatred, and is only moderately successful in diverting them from Arabism or Marxism. Nonetheless this is a start.
CAIR and other lobby groups in the US are incensed by this, of course. They don't seem to realize that evangelism is no threat to the educated and committed believer; a Moslem who converts to Christianity at the first exposure to it was never likely a profoundly devout Moslem. On the other hand, perhaps they do realize it, and realize also that their power base derives largely from those untrained in theology of any sort, who accept the propaganda of their imams and send their dollars and their children wherever they are bidden. In this matter, as in others, it would seem that the opposition of CAIR and their ilk is confirmation that the West is on the right path.
Posted by Clio at May 27, 2003 01:44 PM