Core Issue (2) Fundamentalism

The Lausanne global leadership has identified six core issues that they believe are among the key global challenges of our day.  These next few posts will look at this list from the perspective of making room for the Sons of Ishmael.The second issue:

2. Responding redemptively to the fundamentalism of Islam and Hinduism.

I'll probably take a couple posts to address this... The world over, Al Qaeda and terrorism are household words.  However, fundamentalism and terrorism aren't the same thing.  Fundamentalists cling tightly to the essentials, and focus on the fundamentals.  Fundamental Christians focus on tightly held doctrines that govern thought and behavior.  Fundamental Muslims do the same.  In Christianity, we call those who try to enforce their 'Christian' standards on others legalists, or judgmental.  In Islam, they're labled extremists or terrorists.  Most use the term 'fundamentalist' to refer to the most conservative part of a group.  

The first way to respond redemtively to fundamentalist Islam is to understand that they are not that much different that you or me.  A circle is formed by joining two ends of a straight line (perceived opposites).  For example, Author Karen Armstrong defines fundamentalist movements as "embattled forms of spirituality, which have emerged as a response to a perceived crisis" - namely the fear that modernity will erode or even eradicate their faith and morality (1). This concern is shared by Fundamentalist Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs and others.  

Christianity is a religion of the heart.  Each one is responsible before God for his own spiritual status, and responsible to share the gospel with 'the nations' vis a vis the whole world.  Some therefore condemn others and use emotional weapons of guilt, blame and condemnation to enforce their brand of religious standards.  In the Middle Ages, Christians conquered lands and went on 'Crusades' to 'spread the gospel' by killing, occupying land and kicking out those of other religions.  Today, Christians travel across continents to win converts by sharing the good news in missions.   

Islam is a religion of community (Umma) and law (Sharia).  The community is responsible for each individual, and for application of law.  Fundamentalists take this literally to mean they are responsible for the entire world community. Therefore, to please God, they try to convert others to Islam, and bring about adherence to God's law, so the world community can live in peace.  Many say Islam is a religion of war and violence.  I do not agree.  Islam is a religion of peace, but a radical branch of fundamentalists have resorted to violence. Terrorists actually don't have much in common with most fundamentalist Muslims, because of their choice of mode. The vast majority of Muslims want peace and reject violence.   

In the next post we'll discuss the aims of fundamental Muslims and how we can further respond redemptively... 

1. Karen Armstrong, "The Battle for God," Knopf, (2000).