While in Saudi Arabia to interview then-King Faisal ibn Abdulaziz after the crippling 1973-74 oil embargo, I learned one Arabic word quickly—"Inshallah," literally, "If God wills."
It punctuates Muslim conversation—as, "I'll see you tomorrow, Inshallah."
Saudi Arabia is a thoroughly religious state, its laws derived from the Holy Quran. But the ruling Saud family, dutifully deferring to extremist Islamic clergy in its domestic policies, finds itself besieged by intolerance, exemplified by Saudi-born terrorist Osama bin Laden, and forced to impose puritanical laws criticized by an increasingly tolerant Saudi society.
Christian worship is outlawed. Religious police patrol Saudi shopping areas to enforce closing for prayers five times a day (shades of America's Sunday-closing religious laws). Women can't travel without a husband or father's permission or drive cars.
Extremists have declared war on Christian "infidels."
Now, back in the states, politically powerful Christian evangelicals on whom born-again President Bush relies for his faith-based reshaping of American culture into a "moral values" society are egging him toward a religious state.
One evangelical with special influence on President Bush is Bob Jones III, of South Carolina's Bob Jones University, where Bush made a highly publicized 2000 campaign speech.
Last week, Jones sent Bush a letter, declaring, "In your re-election, God has graciously granted America . . .a reprieve from the agenda of paganism." Does he mean Democrat paganism?
Jones implored Bush to enact "legislation that is defined by biblical norm regarding the family, sexuality, sanctity of life, religious freedom, freedom of speech and limited government."
Requiring Bible-inspired government, as Muslim countries shape domestic law with the Holy Quran, would eliminate the last vestiges of U.S. separation of church and state and unleash extremist religious intolerance that would be our 21st century version of the Spanish religious Inquisition (1478-1834) and Puritan Massachusetts' Salem witch trials (1692).
The transformation is under way.
Contraception is being purged from textbooks, replaced by abstinence as sex education. School boards condemn evolution as "theory," not scientific fact.
Some evangelicals advocate laws permitting ministers to conduct political sermons without losing tax-exempt status. Evangelicals demand memorializing the Ten Commandments in public buildings.
Some in Congress reject the Endangered Species Act as violating the Bible's injunction for man to rule over beasts.
All that's now needed to mold Americans into a disciplined flock abiding by puritanical "morals values" are (a) sweeping laws passed by a Congress beholden to evangelicals and (b) a Supreme Court enforcing the Bob Jones vision of "biblical" law.
Congress, including powerful members who believe the End is near, is almost in place. New Supreme Court appointees are near.
Not good news for "pagans" who oppose President Bush's agenda.
Pat Murphy
