Oslo and the Dangers of Moral Equivalence

Posted by Bruce Thornton Bio ↓ on Jul 25th, 2011

Print This Post

A A A

The revelation that the perpetrator of the terrorist attacks in Oslo, Anders Behring Breivik, is a self-described Christian and conservative is sure to provoke an outburst of the moral equivalence favored by apologists for jihadism. Ever since 9/11, those unwilling to confront the theology of violence in Islam have relied on the tu quoque fallacy––“you do it too”––to dismiss the role of Islamic doctrine in Muslim terrorism. In this argument, all religions have violent extremists, and so it is irrational bigotry to suggest that there’s something in Islam that makes such violence more acceptable and legitimate.

After 9/11, for example, the fact that the Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh was a nominal Methodist was presented as evidence for Christian terrorism––even though he died a self-professed unrepentant agnostic––or used as an example of how religious affiliation had nothing to do with Muslim violence, as Greg Easterbrook did in his book The Progress Paradox . The tendentious depiction of the Crusades in popular culture, as in Ridley Scott ’s historically ignorant Kingdom of Heaven, went even further, suggesting that Christianity’s record of religiously inspired violence was worse than Islam’s. More recently, during Representative Pete King’s hearings into Muslim extremism in America, Representative Sheila Jackson Lee scolded King for ignoring “Christian militants.”

Or consider the six-hour CNN documentary, God’s Warriors, which appeared in 2007. Its host Christine Amanpour not only equated the tiny number of Christian and Jewish terrorists with the vastly greater number of jihadists, but also implied that Jewish militants were the cause of Muslim violence: “The impact of God’s Jewish warriors goes far beyond these rocky hills [i.e. Jewish West Bank settlements]. The Jewish settlements have inflamed much of the Muslim world.”  So, too, historian of religion Philip Jenkins, who told NPR that “the Islamic scriptures in the Quran [concerning war] were actually far less bloody and less violent than those in the Bible.” The serial apologist for jihad John Esposito wrote in his book Unholy War, “Terrorists can attempt to hijack Islam and the doctrine of jihad, but that is no more legitimate than Christian and Jewish extremists committing their acts of terrorism in their own unholy wars in the name of Christianity and Judaism.” An atheist Richard Dawkins makes the same argument, alleging that Christian fundamentalists “fuel their tanks at the same holy gas station” as Muslim terrorists.

The absurdity of these arguments is patent. First, the number of attacks attributable to self-professed Christian terrorists is miniscule compared to the toll of Islamic jihadists––17,489 since 9/11, as counted and documented by Religion of Peace. More important, though the former terrorists may call themselves Christian, only a tiny handful of Christians would accept that label, contrary to the wide acceptance and approval of jihadist terrorism that can be found throughout the Muslim world. For example, a recent Pew survey found that one in five people in Egypt view al Qaeda favorably, the same percentage in supposedly moderate Indonesia, figures representing over 60 million people. It is unimaginable that a similar survey about Breivik would generate anything more than a rounding-error’s worth of Christians supporting him.

This fact reflects the most obvious fallacy behind the moral equivalence argument: the complete lack of anything remotely resembling a theology of violence in the Bible. Yes, there is plenty of blood and guts in the Old Testament, but as Raymond Ibrahim points out, the references to those battles are “descriptive, not prescriptive,” and reflect history rather than theology. There is nothing in the Bible remotely similar to the numerous commands to wage war against the infidel that can be found in the Koran, the hadiths, the biographies of Mohammed, and 14 centuries of Islamic jurisprudence, commentary, history, and theology.

Continue reading page: 1 2

Posted in:  Front Page Magazine

Did Oslo Terrorist Anders Brejvik Have Links To British Extremists?

 July 25, 2011 08:15 AM EDT

comments: 1

 As Norway tries to recover from the shock terrorist attacks in Oslo on Friday, suspect Anders Brejvik is due to appear in court – with more and more information about his plans becoming public, including possible links to British extremists.

Friday’s attacks came as a huge shock to everyone, apart from Brejvik, who had been planning the attack in a 1,500 page document online. The document makes it clear that he wanted a large stage in which to make a statement – he even had his hair and make up done before being photographed, so the photographs projected around the World would make him look his best.

Brejvik vowed to “take revenge” on “indigenous Europeans” who had betrayed their heritage by allowing Islam to take over. He claimed they would be punished for their “treasonous acts”.

The manifesto does reveal some clues for investigators trying to piece together Brejvik’s mental state – Brejvik was determined to get notoriety, even planning to allow himself to be arrested, and has ensured investigators have all the information they need on how he planned the attacks, and why.

It’s his reference to a UK mentor called Richard which has caused some alarm – Were British extremists involved in this attack somehow?

The English Defence League has posted a statement online denying any links with the terrorist, and said it condemned what he had done, according to the Metro.

“Terrorism and extremism of any kind is never acceptable and we pride ourselves on opposing these…We strongly oppose extremism and always reject any suggestion of us being either extremists or far-right, due to our great past record of dealing with anyone who holds such extreme views.”

Brejvik’s father has revealed his son cut him out of his life in 1995, and heard about his son’s arrest on the news. Brejvik dressed as a police officer after bombing Government buildings in Oslo, before open-firing on 14 to 18-year-old Labour supporters at a youth camp. At present, the death toll is thought to be around 90.

The World is anxiously waiting for Brejvik to appear in court – he has already admitted the crimes to investigators, but has denied any criminal guilt, and claimed he has not broken the law. Whether he will be able to speak at the hearing – and whether anything he says is released to the media – remains to be seen. As it is his desire to be heard and remembered, however, maybe censoring his message would be for the best – it is sure to be one hate, and despite his horrific crimes, everything possible should be done to prevent him from achieving the notorious status that he craves. More then 60,000 people have joined a Facebook page calling for the court to demand a closed court, to stop the media from being able to report on his trial.

Reports are now breaking that Polish police have arrested a man after discovering that Brejvik tried to buy explosives for the massacre from Poland, although as yet this is unconfirmed. It is also reported that Brejvik asked for permission to wear a uniform to court – it was not revealed what, although it has been reported that he owns a wide variety of military uniforms. Prosecutors have asked for eight weeks to prepare a case against him, and only one victim has been named so far – 51-year-old policeman Tront Berntsen, the stepbrother of the crown princess.

This morning thousands of people gathered to take part in a minutes silence for the victims, laying candles and flowers at a service lead by King Harald V and Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.

Photo Source: The Metro

Norway Shootings: Terror on Utoya Island

 July 23, 2011 12:40 PM EDT

2 people recommend this | comments: 11

 They were just kids. The gunman in the Norway shootings on Utoya Island knew where he could find the future of the governing Labour Party. He approached the youth wing camp Friday, attended by about 700 young people, mostly teenagers.

He gained access to the island by acting as a police officer, camp guard, Simen Braenden Mortensen told the Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang. “He gets out of the car and shows ID, says he’s sent there to check security, that is purely routine in connection with the terror attack (in Oslo).” A boat then carried him to the island.

An eyewitness to the Norway shootings said the youth felt relieved to see a police officer, since they had just gotten news of the Oslo bombing. “We then heard someone shout, ‘The police are here, we are now safe,'” Stine Renate Haheim told the BBC.

The tall, blond gunman wore a black uniform with red edges, official Adrian Pracon also told the BBC. He said the gunman resembled a Nazi.

The gunman rallied the kids and then began firing. Witnesses describe the scene as panic and chaos. Youth and officials not hit by bullets ran for cover. Campers hid where they could, some in the toilet areas, some in the underbrush. They sent texts begging for help but worried that ringing cell phones would give them away.

Others jumped in the water to escape. The gunman soon followed and shot at them. He pointed the gun at Pracon but spared him. Although police officials say the shooting lasted about 30 minutes, Pracon said the gunman returned about an hour later and resumed shooting. Bodies fell on him, and this time a bullet hit him in the shoulder. “Then he came closer, I could feel his breath, I could feel his boots, I could feel the warmth of the barrel,” he said.

By the time the Norway shootings ended, the gunman had killed 85 on Utoya Island. Police arrested a man at the scene. They have not released his name, but news agencies say he is 32-year-old Norwegian Anders Behring Breivik. Some reports describe Breivik, also a suspect in the Oslo bombing, as having right-wing extremist views.

In the first moments after the bombing, officials speculated that the attack may have an al-Qaeda connection. Breivik, however, reportedly has made anti-Muslim comments. The kids who stood in front of the gunman at Utoya Island only knew that the killer looked and spoke just like them.

Posted in:  news.gather.com