Islam: Compatible with Religious Freedom?

Cal Thomas has a commentary on Townhall, titled: Conversion: A One-Way Street? He begins by discussing the recent baptism of a prominent “moderate” Muslim by Pope Benedict XVI. Thomas concludes:

When someone converts to Islam, the religion the person left behind doesn’t issue threats or express fury. Only when someone converts from Islam to something else, or to unbelief, is there rage and proclamations that the convert is deserving of death. In Christianity and Judaism, among other faiths, people enjoy freedom of conscience. In Islam, they are mostly intimidated to stay in that faith. That’s what the converts from Islam tell us in increasing numbers. We should be listening more to what they are saying instead of investing too much faith in “moderate” Islam. Faith in moderate Islam may be the biggest counterfeit faith of all.

Can Islam co-exist in a society that values religious freedom when the reaction to conversions is hostile or violent?

Is the refusal to honor freedom of conscience something that is inherent in Islam as a theological system?

Why do these important questions remain unaddressed in the “mainstream” media and by our political leaders?

Many will point to a violent history of coerced conversions in Christian nations. It is true that shameful historical episodes exist in the history of Christian nations. That is to be expected, if in fact, man is sinful as Christianity claims. But, in most cases the violence was not required by Christian theology. It was driven by political interests cloaked in the name of Christianity.

Christian theology has always acknowledged separate jurisdictions between church and state, although at times jurisdictional boundaries have been abused or ignored. On a theological level, Christianity has also always acknowledged the fundamental necessity of an individual’s voluntary conversion. Thus, Christian theology provides a firm foundation for religious freedom to flourish.

So, we are faced with these questions. Does Islam forbid jurisdictional distinctions between church and state that are essential to religious freedom?

Is Islamic theology inherently hostile to freedom of conscience or is it merely a matter of the distorted practices of some Muslims?