Carnal Reason

Count me in.

Via Classical Values:

But it occurred to me that the best way to honor Oriana Fallaci might be with some sort of alliance between religious and non-religious (or irreligous) people who respect our heritage of religious freedom, the Western pluralism, the Enlightenment tradition — you know, that collection of stuff we call Western values — against a tyrannical enemy which wants to destroy them.

Something along the lines of a Judeo-Christian Atheist Alliance in defense of the West?

It makes sense to me, and I say this as a longtime anti-Culture-War person who spent years dwelling on and kvetching about differences. We are already fully aware of what these differences are. To me it seems there’s not much point in debating them. But even for people on either “side” who think the “Culture War” debate is of utmost importance, might it also be worth remembering why we are even able to have this debate? If radical Islam had its way, there wouldn’t even be a debate between Judeo-Christianity and atheism. Christian, Jew, Buddhist pagan, atheist, agnostic — all would be silenced. Atheists, agnostics, and Judeo-Christians might not agree on much, but when the right to be what we are is itself threatened, can’t we agree that we have a common interest that overrides our differences?

I propose a simple motto for alliance: Never submit.

Posted on September 17th, 2006 by pwyll
Filed under: politics, religion