Voegelin on Radical Islam?

Connie Marshner

The Fox News special on Radical Islam last Saturday (Feb 3) was harrowing to watch, but it was a necessary public service.   Anyone who maintains that “Islam is a religion of peace” will be hard put to explain the indoctrination of young children into the jihad mentality that was so graphically documented in that one hour documentary.

A quote from the unexpected pen of Eric Voegelin comes to mind:

“Resistance against a satanical substance that is not only morally but also religiously evil can only be derived from an equally strong, religiously good force.  One cannot fight a satanical force with morality and humanity alone.” 

Is islamofascism a satanical substance, comparable to the fascism Voegelin was writing about?   If there is something in official, organized Islam that can be a good religion, let it step forward now.

Another thought, prescinding from Voegelin.  What “equally strong, religiously good force” can combat Islam?

It is not consumerism.  It is not hedonism.  It is not exceptionalism.  It is not any form of government per se. Generic Christianity is good, but is it strong? 

Is the Catholic Church the only equally strong, religiously good force equal to Islam in the world today?

If Voegelin is right that resistance must come from an equally strong, religiously good force, and if the Catholic Church is that force, then the Holy Spirit already knows it.  In which case, we must believe He is at work changing the Church and making her ready for the combat. 

Does that cast a different light upon some of the internecine ecclesiastical warfare we are all too sadly aware of?