Radical Islam filling moral vacuum: UK bishop

The Economic Times ^ | May 29, 2008 | Economic Times

[americanophile]

LONDON: A Pakistan born senior bishop has warned that the decline of Christianity in Britain has paved the way for radical Islam to fill a moral vacuum, a comment that could create a row over the relationship between Islam and the West.

The Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, claimed the "social and sexual" revolution of the 1960s had led to a steep decline in the influence of Christianity over society.

The bishop, who was born in Pakistan of Christian parents, said the decline of Christian values has created a "moral vacuum" which radical Islam is filling, the Daily Telegraph reported today.

In an article published in the magazine Standpoint, Nazir-Ali said Britain had become gripped by the doctrine of "endless self-indulgence" which had led to the destruction of family life, rising levels of drug abuse and drunkenness and mindless violence on the streets.

The outspokenness of Bishop of Rochester, who has become well-known as a defender of traditional Christianity, warned that radical Islam is now moving in to fill the void created by the decline of Christianity.

His comments are just the latest in a long line of combustible remarks he has made over the relationship between Islam and the West.

Earlier this year, he faced death threats when he said that that some parts of UK had become no-go areas for non-Muslims.

Last weekend he also courted controversy by claiming that the Church was not doing enough to convert British Muslims to Christianity.

[americanophile]

Finally, someone in Britain's clergy with some stones.

[stuartcr]

I don’t understand. If there is a moral vacuum caused by the decline in Christianity, why would it get filled by radical Islam? If this vacuum needed filling, why doesn’t Christianity re-fill it? Isn’t radical Islam more restrictive than Christianity?

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

“is now moving in to fill the void created by the decline of Christianity.”
absolutely right. Look at Poland and Greece. Compare to England and Denmark.
end of discussion.

(Poland and Greece continue with a strong Christian practice: few headchoppers. England and Denmark have abandoned Christianity for secular humanism: millions of headchoppers)

[Ouderkirk]

Islam is a criminal enterprise tenuously held together by the preponderance of ignorance and the threat of violence.

[stuartcr]

???

[americanophile]

It seems counterintuitive I know, but it makes perfect sense. People who believe in nothing often chose the most comprehensive and therefore most restrictive ideology. Radical Islam grows because of its uncompromising nature, not in spite of it. It is the same with radical communism, or fascism, etc., people are drawn to these ideologies because they are strict and fundamentalist, thereby giving the new adherent a total life framework in which to operate. It happens time and again throughout history, this is why buffet-style lefty Christianity, where one take whatever doctrines make them feel good and discard anything they don't like is such a failure - it's a milquetoast ideology that provides no moral basis for organizing one's life. People desire to believe in a truth that they can organize their lives around, and if Christianity doesn't provide it, Islam will. It is a fundamental misunderstanding of religion we have in the west that people will be attracted to the most liberal forms of socio-religious community.

[snarks_when_bored]

Radical Islam filling moral vacuum: UK bishop

What I'd like to know is how this bishop can tell the difference between a moral vacuum and radical islam.

[ishabibble]

This might interest you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J58cRAFaIbA

[stuartcr]

Since I firmly believe that God is in control of everything, I can only think that this is as He wants it. Perhaps this is just the direction the world is supposed to take?

[SQUID]

I think he is correct 100%. Christianity has been beaten into the dirt by secular and opposing interests so many times that it has become impotent and this has given rise to the culture of corruption, self interest, greed, moral relativism, moral decay, perversion, socialism and eventually communism.

I think if America turned socialist people wouldn’t do a damn thing about it. They would let it happen and I think the left sees that.

[americanophile]

I should think that God wouldn’t have bothered sending us a savior to make us fishers of men or give us a moral code if he expected that we played no part in our own fate. If God controls all things then God must be blamed for the greatest injustices of the most evil of men. I don’t subscribe to this view.

[stuartcr]

OK