There is an historic and religious context to the horrific events in the United States.
Let us assume that it does not turn out to be an Oklahoma-style, anti-government attack by US nationals and that the attack was launched from the Islamic world.
For a trifling 50 years we have had the ideological battle between communism and capitalism. Bt it has been a secular battle. After the fall of the Wall, the main conflicts in the world have been a religious ones: between fundamentalist Islam and Christian-capitalist.
It is not a contest between ideals on earth – collectivist vs individualistic. That is relatively easy to deal with. No; it is a contest between belief in what might happen in the afterlife. That is very much harder to deal with.
The destruction caused in the US yesterday could only have been caused if those committing it were prepared to die for their cause. They were prepared to suicide. In Islamic tradition, suicide in these circumstances results in an immediate transfer to paradise. In Christian (particularly Catholicism), suicide is utterly forbidden and results in immediate transfer to the hellfires.
Christian martyrdom is not on the same level: it requires the action of others to be completed. Someone else has to do the killing. Someone else hammers the nails in. Islamic martyrdom can come from the suicidal actions on the individual who dies by his own action. He (even as a teenager) walks into the minefields between Iran and Iraq knowing death without the intervention of any other human is inevitable. He pilots and aircraft into a building, dying by his own hand without the intervention of anyone else with death and only death as the inevitable consequence of his action. And a transfer to religious paradise.
In the Christian-warrior tradition, on the other hand, some exit is always possible, however, remote the chance. McVeigh survived.
It is very hard to defend against suicidal offenders. It adds to the frustration and anger that Americans now feel.
America has suffered the onslaught of suicidal, religious fanatics before with the Japanese Kamikaze pilots.
Go further back in the English-America tradition and we find the defenders of the British Isles pitted against the Valhalla in Viking times. In Norse mythology the Valhalla was the splendid place to which suicidal Viking warriors went. It is hard to fight against or defend against people who have been indoctrinated thus. They really believe they are going to paradise when they fly planes into the World Trade Centre, die in a Viking raid on Britain or die at the controls of a Zero fighter aimed directly at a US carrier.
Christian warrior tradition is more one of a responder than initiator.
The political difference between the religions is crucial. The concept of jihad “”by the sword” is active and universal. It is not a concept of individuals being voluntarily persuaded and converted one by one in the Christian missionary sense. Rather it is aimed at gaining political control over the collective affairs of society as a whole to run it in accordance with Islamic principles. Afghanistan is a good example.
President Bush’s speech exemplified the difference.
“”Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature, and we responded with the best of America, with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and
neighbours who came to give blood and help in any way they could,” he said.
The Good Samaritans responded.
“”The search is under way for those who are behind these evil acts. I’ve directed the full resources for our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and bring them to justice,” he said.
Render unto Caesar and the rule of law. Do not impose religious law as civil law.
“”And I pray [the victims and families] will be comforted by a power greater than any of us spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me.’M”
This conflict is more profound and had longer roots in history than the ephemeral conflict between capitalism and communism.
This is about fundamental belief.
The difference between those who accept suicide as a means to paradise and who accept religion’s place at the head of temporal power will always be at odds with those who reject suicide and who accept the rule of law as a base for temporal power.
If only they could both get beyond their childish beliefs.