Living in the World
The Archbishop and Sharia law

Dr. Rowan Williams created quite a stir on 07 Feb. when he was reported as saying Sharia Law should be implemented in parts of the UK. As reported at www.Spectator.org Dr, Williams stated that there need be “a constructive accommodation with some aspects of Muslim law as we already do with some kinds of aspects of other religious law," His reasoning is that Sharia law is little different from other legal codes, and as such should not be seen as threatening. He declares that "it's not as if we're bringing in an alien and rival system.”

Thankfully, the Archbishop of Canterbury is just that and not the PM.. In the interview he admits not being an expert on Sharia law but gave his opinion anyway. With that no one can quibble…after all he is in the UK and not Saudi Arabia where contrary opinions are not countenanced. [I wonder why?] But, the sensibility of his statement must be questioned. If Muslims in the UK can have certain law forms for them only, several questions are raised. Does this cover all Muslims? When Sharia law and UK law conflict, which prevails? But, most importantly, since Sharia law makes non-Muslims second class citizens, how does this impact Muslim/Christian relations in the UK?

Dr. Williams must be overlooking the fact that Sharia law is for all of life. There is no separation of church and state in Islam…all is one. That is why non-Muslims are second class citizens. The UK is a fragmented place [as Williams acknowledges] Why add to the fragmentation? Should not all people in the UK be under one law and be assimilated into one society? How can separate social and legal systems work legitimately in one society?

The last post I entered was on “change” and the new tolerance. Here, Dr. Williams represents he worst of both. Introducing Sharia law into UK society is certainly change. But, is it change that is for the better of society? In addition, this represents the new tolerance. Not acknowledging Sharia law as different and tolerating it as such but looking it as an equal to UK law, especially when it applies to Muslims in the UK. The position is that what may be true for you may not be true for me in the context of a society where we live together. What does that sound like?

These statements of the Archbishop are symptoms of a larger problem. It indicates our willingness to give up on western civilization. Not because it has show itself to be unworthy but because we have not stomach for it any longer in this age of pluralism. Many in the West are willingly rejecting the importance as well as the virtues that flow from the spiritual, cultural, historical and legal legacy of a common civilization. We all are infected by the postmodern ethos and the desire to treat all ideas as equal in merit and therefore application to the society in which we live. That should be anathema to Christians like Dr. Williams. Instead, it is indicative of living in the world today.