Chris Jepson: What history suggests

I’ve been giving thought to how we (America/the West) describe the War on Terror. Liberals criticize the joining of the words Muslim and terrorist, that such a characterization is unfair to the Islamic religion. It is argued that Islam is a religion of peace and that the terror (and warfare) inflicted not only on Middle East Muslims but on Europeans and Americans as well is an unjust association of opposites (pathological zealots/peace loving Muslims).

Is it unjustified to associate the Islamic religion with the slaughter of innocents whether in the Middle East or in Europe? Is there no correlation between what religious zealots undertake in the name of their (any) religion?

When reading the history of warfare between nations/peoples, one might legitimately ask, “What are the causes of human conflict?” There is considerable disagreement among historians on the role religion has played in human conflict. Undeniably, most warfare has been over land, resources and regional power. I would take it a step further and suggest human beings are nasty aggressive little monkeys with enormous egos. That our collective history (as a species) is one of mayhem, war and sorrow is really of little surprise.

Let’s examine some historical facts. In 732 A.D., the Battle of Tours took place in what is today now France. An army led by Charles “The Hammer” Martel engaged a Muslim army intent on overtaking Europe. But for this one battle, the course of history, of Europe, America and the West might be radically different today. The French prevailed that day. The Muslims (Moors) were ultimately driven from Europe in 1492.

I bring up the Battle of Tours to illustrate that Islam spread a number of different ways, not all peaceful. This is not an indictment, per se, of Islam, as Christianity has just as ignominious a history (if not worse) of violence.

In 1517, Martin Luther nailed-up his 95 Theses and kicked off nearly 150 years of religious warfare (Catholicism vs. Protestantism) in Europe. I cannot overstate how devastating these religious wars were to Europe. In 1648 the Peace of Westphalia ended Europe’s religious wars but “incidents” occurred for another 40 to 50 years.

What happened in Europe (relentless religious conflict) was exactly why America’s Founding Fathers so insistently separated church and state when forming the United States. Be ever so thankful there is no mention of “a” or any god in our secular Constitution.