Morally Obtuse

Quite a column in the Tribune today by a retired University of Chicago professor at the divinity school, suggesting the pope should have acknowledged Christianity's use of the sword in the Crusades, and its era of the Inquisition. Perhaps so. Perhaps the pope should have provided a bit more context for his remarks. Perhaps he could have pointed out that the emperor quoted may have been under some duress at the time---under the siege of an Islamic army in Constantinople.

The professor then goes on to compare conservative Christians to Islamofascists:

Some on the Muslim and American right seem to be craving a war of civilizations, a war about which we know only one thing: Both sides (or the many sides) would lose.

Rather than point to the "evil and inhuman" nature of Islam's, Judaism's, Christianity's, Hinduism's, Buddhism's and other holy wars, the pope will serve better if he can still find dialogue partners in search of the good and human.

After making such morally obtuse, outrageous remarks, the professor will perhaps forgive us if we are not impressed by his logic.

It is difficult to turn the other cheek when your "dialogue partner" just wants to cut off your head.


Related post, Reciprocity in Religion