Ever since Hamas’s brutal attack on Israel—replete with massacres, beheadings, and atrocities of every sort—Muslims throughout the world have been celebrating: in Greece, migrants brandished knives and trampled on the Israeli flag in Athens; in Australia, large Muslim crowds chanted the jihadist war-cry, “Allahu akbar,” and “gas the Jews” in Sydney; and in Germany, after celebrating, triumphant Muslims attacked police in Berlin.
These are just the Muslims who are willing to wear their emotions on their sleeves. Other, more prudent, Muslims—millions no doubt—are celebrating in the quiet of their mind, for obvious reasons.
Why are Muslims around the world—who come from different nations, speak different languages, and have different cultures—so moved by a distant, and rather atrocious, event that presumably does not affect or involve them? Simple: because they are Muslim; or rather, because Islam is so inherently tribal that its adherents, no matter how different or apart, maintain a sense of solidarity, one that especially exults when Islam “scores a victory” against infidels, especially those perceived to mistreat Muslims (as when Muslims also celebrated 9/11).
In connection, one of the most appealing aspects of Islam for Muslims is that it preaches power, supremacy, and even honor, including through violence (jihad), as in the well-known hadith (narrated by Abu Dawud, via Ibn Omar):
I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “If you enter business transactions, grabbing hold of cows’ tails, are content with farming, and you abandon jihad, Allah will allow humiliation to overtake you and will not restrain it until you return to your religion.”
Not only is such survival-of-the fittest thinking instinctively appealing, but it stands in stark contrast with Christian virtues, such as humility, which require cultivation.
In this sense, then, when one group of Muslims strike a victory in the name of Islam, including through bloodshed and massacres, Muslims the world over become elated, because it lifts them up, due, again, to Islam’s tribalistic nature.
On the other hand, the West fails to comprehend Muslim solidarity—which dangerously goes above and beyond “cheering”—precisely because it has no sense, whatsoever, of solidarity.
For example, Westerners are taught to disavow their own heritage and history while celebrating the cultures and customs of others—a thing that no Muslim, indeed, no socially un-engineered peoples could ever think of, let alone actually structure their society around such artificial principles.
Because it specifically deals with the topic currently under discussion—religious solidarity—an even more apt example concerns the absolute indifference that the vast majority of Western Christians have concerning the global persecution of their coreligionists.
Consider: if Muslims around the world have a sense of solidarity with Palestinians, millions of Western Christians could care less that many millions of non-Western Christians are currently being persecuted in ways that make the Palestinians’ lot seem enviable.
In the months and years before Hamas struck Israel, the Muslim nation of Azerbaijan had been committing and continues to commit a bona fide genocide of Christian Armenians—and, ultimately, for the very same reason that Hamas attacked Israel: because Muslims can never be at peace with their (infidel) neighbors. Recall Samuel Huntington’s accurate words: “Islam’s borders are bloody…. Wherever one looks along the perimeter of Islam, Muslims have problems living peaceably with their neighbors.”
Among other things, Azerbaijan committed and continues to commit atrocities against the Armenians under its authority in Artsakh, including by starving them for many months and, most recently, militarily driving them out of their ancestral lands. This is to say nothing of the other hallmarks of jihadist hate, such as the systematic destruction of Armenian churches and other Christian heritage sites.
Or one can look to Nigeria, where an even more dramatic genocide of Christians has been unfolding for well over a decade. There, Muslims have massacred tens of thousands of Christians— “every two hours, a Christian is killed for their faith” on average in Nigeria—and destroyed approximately 20,000 churches and Christian schools.
Atrocities committed against Armenian or Nigerian Christians are, incidentally, just the tip of the iceberg. According to the World Watch List 2023, 360 million Christians around the world experience persecution.
Not only have the overwhelming majority of Western Christians shown no interest concerning the suffering of so many fellow Christians; the very policies of their nations, chief among them the U.S., are directly responsible for exacerbating if not creating—as in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt, and Yemen—the persecution of Christians. Far from acknowledging the genocide of Christians in Nigeria, the Biden administration has gone so far as to remove Nigeria from its list of nations that need to be watched for engaging in or allowing human rights abuses.
This question of solidarity, or lack thereof, is one of the most unremarked but important differences between, not just the West and the Muslim world, but the West and the rest of the world. Whereas millions if not billions of people of every civilization around the world continue to mobilize and feel a sense of solidarity around their collective identity, whether it be religious (Islam) or national (Sinic, Hindu, etc.), the demographically dwindling “West”—whose very name signifies nothing but a geographical direction—continues to push for “diversity.” And this is called “our strength.”
Thanks Raymond, this article is very apt and appreciated in this distressing time. When one sees how many Muslims and their Western supporters are out in the streets of our cities, celebrating Hamas’s slaughter of innocent civilians, one realises just how evil the world has actually become.
Hi Tershia, just heard from Mary, doing much better and pain in her hip which they thought might be cancer is only arthritis. Excellent news.
I commented on Raymond’s article this afternoon if you want to look.
Thanks Don, that is indeed very good news about Mary. Please give her my love. I appreciated you comment to Raymond. I too find his knowledge very encouraging in an ignorant world.
Stay well and stay safe. The word is out that Hamas leaders have called for a day of ‘international jihad’ against Jews and Christians tomorrow – Friday. 🙏🏻🇮🇱✝️
Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham on Fox News:
“We are in a religious war. I am with Israel. Do whatever the hell you have to do to defend yourself. Level the place.”
This is asking for an act, or acts, of war crime.
Neither the Crusaders nor the Europeans when defending Europe against Islam ever said that.
BS!
Not very much sense of hope in what you say Dum Spiro Spero. Are you actually breathing?
Former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett: “Are you seriously asking me about Palestinian civilians? What is wrong with you? We’re fighting Nazis”
But for you this is no problem, it seems.
Never been to the ME have you, except maybe as a chaproned tourist.
Do you think that chopping off the heads of babies, raping, kidnapping and killing innocent women of all ages by Hamas terrorists are not also acts of war crimes?
Since you were not there, how do you know what was said or not said by Crusaders and Europeans in those days?
Thx Tershia, I’m finally reading Defenders and it is nothing less than inspiring.
The intro itself is worth reading for the anecdotes of valuable information you likely won’t get in today’s academic climate anywhere,
We have heard about the forty beheaded babies, but it is not confirmed. Do you support war crimes against civilians?
The beheadings and atrocities are confirmed by the terrorists own videos as well as the soldiers who discovered the bodies of innocent victims of Hamas war crimes, most of them with all their limbs chopped to pieces so that body bags were too big for their remains.
I suggest you read some of the many reports who will give you the truth, like Amir Tsarfati of Behold Israel. You will find his links on the Internet.
I am sorry to be so blunt, but a have always sensed a little bias in your comments, and certainly in this article. Either your knowledge is limited, and I apologise if that is the case, or you are a Muslim supported. In that is case, you are wasting your breath here.
It would be helpful to know what your statement of faith is, so we can understand each other.
I give you my best wishes.
Jews think they are above the law. They are not.
The images of the babies are made with the IA, it is confirmed.
I condemn every jihadist crime, but also Israel’s. They cannot do as they please.
Who confirmed that nonsense about images of babies made with AI?
The other day, Ben Shapiro shared an AI image of an alleged dead Israeli baby.
He’s being called out for it and instead of apologizing, he is doubling down and accusing people of being holocaust deniers.
Even CNN has also denied the story.
They didn’t voice intentions during those times, they acted on their intentions once identified. That is something westerners have yet to do. The time seems to be approaching though when actions will not be able to be avoided.
A friend always referred to older men of wisdom as “old salts.” That’s a simple but salty comment there, I agree, and hope we will be up to the task when we finally recognize its absolute necessity.
Stay well Salty
Sometimes I’m a bit slow at deciphering things, but I’m guessing you mean your comment as a compliment. I’ve been called salty since I was a little girl. It really didn’t have much to do with wisdom, at least as far as I know. It had more to do with living most of time in the Gulf of Mexico and always having salt on my skin and, as I have since done some introspection, the fact I was, and still am, inclined to get a bit snarky with my comments at times. It’s not a particularly admirable attribute, but I just can’t seem to extinguish it. It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks, especially when the old dog likes the old tricks.
Ha, it’s a compliment Ms Salt. Sage wisdom is the theme, hard eaned knwledge. But usually referring to old seamen, or elder men in any trade. But you;ve broken into the ranks! Congrats!
Good fishing in the Gulf I’ve learned, but never been there, maybe some day.
Stay safe and well
Well now, that I will definitely accept as a much appreciated compliment. The fishing is great. I hope one day you have the opportunity to enjoy the area and the many magnificent things offered up by the Gulf. May life treat you kindly, Sir.
😂😇
This is so agonsingly true! The Armenian Genocide should be fresh in the minds of Christians, and yet Christians worldwide ignore the plight of the Armenians today, as well as the tribalist violence against Christians in Pakistan and elsewhere. The signs of that tribalism should worry us, since we have welcomed so many of these jihadis into our midst. Do we really think that it is safe for us to continue this practice, given the response of the Muslims amongst us to the completely sick violence of Hamas?
Thanks again Raymond – for another article perfectly describing the current reality of the situation in grand scope, without, having to try and count the immeasurable amount of atrocities committed or reciting every area of concern.
The simple truth is it is now a worldwide problem, that will seek to devour every society on earth as their stated (very often stated) religious goal that must be fulfilled.
That includes non- Western nations on every continent and inhabited island of the globe … without exaggeration … that is their goal!
Thanks again Raymond for a very enlightening article.
I do not defend jihadists. What I am saying is that white phosphorus bombs, which are otherwise banned, cannot be used. Or deprive three million people of the most basic foodstuffs. Etc. What is this?
Excellent piece. I learned a lot. But one interesting thing is the statement: “Westerners are taught to disavow their own heritage and history while celebrating the customs and cultures of others…” It was only our civilization with it’s Christian foundations that, as the progenitor of science, was interested in and studied the customs and cultures of others for knowledge. Now, with the destruction of the foundations of our civilization, we have no foundations and every culture is considered as good as another, so to be fair you don’t want to recognize that one culture is superior to another, even though that is the obvious truth especially with reference to Islam.
😊. There are most like different understandings of what GOOD is!
Thank you Raymond for saying what most Western journalists who support Israel are afraid to say. There is outrage as there should be, but you are the only one I have read, on these atrocities, that points out that Islam requires the faithful to commit acts of brutality against non-Muslims, as a way of life.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a telephone conversation with a small group of lawmakers on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, sources told Politico.
The diplomat allegedly said that the State Department is “monitoring the possibility of an Azerbaijani invasion of Armenia” and “considers an invasion of southern Armenia possible in the coming weeks.”
And who cares? Armenia and Christans doesn’t matter
It will never cease to amaze me how Christians are infinitely more committed to defending others than themselves.
There have been recent massacres of Christians far more serious than this latest Hamas attack and no one mounts any campaign in support of Christians like this one.
Ethnic cleansing of Christian Armenia with silence from the world, to take one example.
I don’t remember anything like this even when ISIS crucified Christians in Iraq and Syria, or sold them into slavery. And this was the day before yesterday as it were. Regions that have been inhabited by Christians since the first apostles have been emptied of Christians.
There are laws against anti-Judaism and Islamophobia but not a single anti-Christian law. What is our “right wing” waiting for to do something like this? What are many brothers waiting for to condemn and organise to defend themselves?
Tribalism is about identity, not Jesus or virtues or morals or behavior. We see minorities embrace and laud their criminals simply because they are from the same minority. True Christians cannot brook that deceit. We belong to Christ, not a tribe.
Very well said. I find it’s true that most Christians are either unaware or disinterested in the massacres of Christians in Armenia and Nigeria and other Muslim countries. And, not to take away from the inhuman horrors of the murderous slaughters which have taken place against the Jews, many of these atrocities against our Christian brothers and sisters are every bit as bad as what has taken place in Israel because they are perpetrated by the same ilk. But it seems if the media and world leaders don’t acknowledge what’s happening, then neither do so-called civilized people, even Christians. When I’ve tried to raise awareness in my Christian circles it never leads to any sustained impact or action. I’m glad you have written about this. Our complacency in the West musy grieve our Lord. How can we cling to a pre-tribulation rapture belief when more than 300 million Christians are even now enduring extreme persecution and death for the name of Jesus?
Bilden ser ut att vara tagen ur en skräckfilm.