Daffey Thoughts
So Cardinal Schönborn has warned about the possible invasion of Europe. And the invaders? That would be Islam. It’s nothing new. I hope most readers are aware of the fact that while Europeans were slaughtering their way through the New World, at Europe’s back door the Ottomans were, once again, attempting to do the same to Europe. The difference is the Ottomans failed. Not that the Islamic world didn’t reach in and subjugate certain portions of Christian civilization for a time. And we all know the results weren’t always pleasant. But it happened.
And it happened more than once. It isn’t as if 1683 was some strange fluke. In fact, from the dawning of the Islamic faith, multiple attempts to reach into the European continent were attempted, with varying levels of success. In some cases, such as the conquest of the Christian Visigothic kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula, the gains were eventually eroded as the Islamic elements were pushed out during the Reconquista. In others, such as in regions of modern Turkey, which once comprised a sizable portion of Christian Byzantium, the results were longer lasting.
How many Muslims want to see such things happen again is hard to say. The general narrative of Islam today, at least from more progressive circles, is one of a peaceful religion with folks who only want to be like us (Western Progressives that is), except for some hard cases of radical extremists who have been pushed to the brink by Western Imperialism, Capitalism, and religious (read: Christian) conservatism. If that’s the case, I doubt Europe has anything to fear, and Pope Francis’s joy at the ascension of Muslim leaders in Europe will prove well founded.
If not? Well, since most of us won’t be around to see the results, I don’t think we should worry about it. A key component in modern, 21st century ethics.
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