The Muslim cartoon controversy in Europe

Josh Marshall offers some really profound comments on the source of the Muslim cartoon controversy in Europe and what it predicts for the future. The controversy is not just a conflict over western freedom of the press when it irritates some muslims in the Middle East. It is a reflection of a core chasm between the beliefs that create the theocracratic governments in the Middle East and the Western beliefs that people tolerate the views of disbelievers without riots, killing and wars. The western separation of Church and State grew out of the 17th century religious wars in Europe.

The separation of church and state issue is at its essence whether the government should enforce laws against blasphemy. One element of fundamentalist religion is that the government should act to prevent blasphemy. This is not a uniquely muslim belief. Western fundamentalists agree that the power of government should be used to repress blasphemy.

The historical key is that of the three "religions of the book" [Jews, Christians, and Muslims] only the Muslims took governmental control of their societies from the beginning. The result has been that Islam, unlike Judiasm and Christianity, never developed institutions that were separated from those of government. As a result, the idea that government would not enforce laws against blasphemy is itself an attack on Islamic religion - or, for that matter, on fundamentalist Christianity or Judiasm.

This conflict will continue into the unknowable future. It is going to be a symptom of the 21st Century. It will also continue to be a problem within American politics. This will not go away, and cannot be compromised.

So get used to it.