GOTTA KNOW YOUR ALLIES:

Liberal Author Dr. Shaker Al-Nabulsi: Secularism Will Triumph in the Arab World; Terrorism's Crimes Are 'The Death Struggle of Fundamentalism': an interview with prominent Jordanian-American liberal author Dr. Shaker Al-Nabulsi (Aafaq.org, 5/15/08)

Interviewer: "What is your concept of secularism?"

Nabulsi: "'Secularism' means the separation of religion from the state, excluding the clergy from politics, and not permitting religious political parties. These measures are all in the interest of religion, to keep the sacred - religion - apart from the profane - politics.

"This is because when, throughout the ages, politics made use of religion, the joining of religion and politics was to religion's detriment. Politics gained, and religion lost. And likewise, this separation [exists] in order to hold the politician accountable for his political activity, and not [let him] take refuge under the umbrella of religion to avoid accountability and punishment. It is difficult to oppose or hold to account the clergy who combine religion and politics.

"In fact, the separation of religion from politics is easier for the Shi'a than for the Sunnis. Shi'ite institutions evolved like the Church, and the Shi'ite hierarchy resembled the ecclesiastical hierarchy, so that both hierarchies remained separate from the state.

"This is in contrast with the Sunni institutions, which were incorporated into the state from the time of Caliph Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, [the first caliph of the Umayyad Dynasty]. The state made use of Sunni institutions more than the Shi'ite institutions, which remained outside the domain of the Arab Islamic state.

Which is why Shi'ism is the Third Foundation.

Posted by Orrin Judd at December 12, 2008 9:07 AM