<<There is a doctrinal separation in Christianity. "Render unto Caesar" does it. Islam has separated the two only when the local clerics went along with it. >>
Although fundamentalists like to deny it, interpretation is everything, and changes constantly, for both Islam and Christianity. People invariably begin with what they want, then they "interpret" the text to get it, ignoring anything that might contradict their preferred interpretation. The western Church in the fourth through sixth centuries made the Taliban look moderate, as they threatened, pillaged, ransaked, burned and looted pagan sites, temples, books, libraries, etc of all sorts in their zeal of doctrinal "purity." The Church in the 15th and 16th centuries is famous through Machiavelli, Guiccardini and other writers for its temporal pursuits and its justifications for pretty much anything the Pope and/or Cardinals wanted to do. It is either just a little disingenuous or ignorant to suppose that somehow Christianity is intrinsically more amenable to a church/state separation than other religions. Well, correct that--it is a lot disingenous or ignorant. |
