We borrowed Cato’s famous mantra for this Blog, changing the target to be destroyed from ancient Rome’s arch-enemy, Carthage, to Religion. Recognizing that the destruction of religion is a quasi-impossible objective, we settled for ridiculing rather than dreaming of destroying religion. We have already pointed out that Carthage was in fact destroyed in 146 B.C., but we all know that religion is not likely to be wiped off the face of the earth anytime soon, or perhaps ever.
DAESH, as a self-declared Caliphate, State and military force, can and must be destroyed. But it presents a far more formidable challenge than Carthage. The Islamic radicalism that underpins and inspires it is in the minds of its followers. Its army, its headquarters, its supply lines, its hijacked oil-fields, its weaponry and munitions can all be destroyed. But its ideology, its fanaticism, its jihadist agenda will continue to thrive and wreak havoc and terror world-wide, until and unless we take the necessary steps to make it implode through the recognition by its followers that their religion and fanaticism and the terrorism they breed have no justification. Ideally, they would become atheists, but we will no doubt have to settle for less and accept that they practise a mainstream, non-violent form of Islam.
I have a (pipe ?) dream : What if atheists and apostates from all of the world’s major religions promoted a competition to come up with “The Answer to the Cancer of Religious Terrorism” ? A panel of six, chaired – naturally – by Richard Dawkins, including two recognized authors of both Jewish and Muslim origins, as well as another, besides Dawkins, of Christian origin, would select among the articles submitted (limit three pages) the one most likely to sow doubts in the minds of convinced terrorists and the recruits they are brainwashing. Criteria for selection would include the pertinence and impact of the arguments presented, but also the author’s originality and powers of persuasion.
The competition would be open to all, and would not involve monetary gain for the winner, who would retain full copyright of his/her article. Hopefully, the competition would attract contributions from atheist non-academics and especially from theologians who have abandoned their faith but retain their intimate knowledge of the texts and practices of their former religion. A selection of the articles submitted could be considered for publication in a book for which the committee would choose a publisher. The winning contribution would be made available to the media throughout the world.
If you have a better idea, let me know, before it’s too late. The next catastrophe has already been planned.
RIDENDA , DELENDA RELIGIO
DELENDUM DAESH