Intellectual and Social Dhimmitude

A Muslim Benedict Option by Rod Dreher

It’s interesting to reflect on how as a Christian in post-Christian America, I would probably feel better with the Muslims of Al-Maqasid as my neighbors than with nominally Christian people who fully accepted the immoralities of popular culture. But that’s the world we find ourselves in. And here’s a further strange thing, something I can’t quite figure out. I would feel more comfortable with these Muslims as neighbors than with hardline fundamentalist Christians. Why? Because if we lived around Christians, I would feel that my Christian children would have to constantly be on defense about their Orthodox Christian faith, whereas with Muslims, this would probably not be contested territory.

How can those skeptical of his presentation of the Benedict Option read this and not think that his children are being sheltered and not engaging "the world"? His children should not respond to "hardline fundamentalist Christians" with a "defensive mentality" nor an "offensive aggresive mentality," but with charity and friendliness and welcoming hospitality to their Christian brethren, to hold frame, as it were, and to conquer hearts with courageous love. Even if differences in Christian belief and practice cannot be reconciled, they can still form alliances, even political friendship with other Christians, if they choose to reach out and manifest the proper goodwill needed. This should be a no-brainer for someone who supposedly is familiar with Southern culture.