AnalPhilosopher

“[I]t is ambition enough to be employed as an under-labourer in clearing the ground a little,
and removing some of the rubbish that lies in the way to knowledge.” —John Locke, 1689

“[P]hilosophy can no more show a man what he should attach importance to
than geometry can show a man where he should stand.” —Peter Winch, 1968

Timothy Fuller on Andrew Sullivan

Sullivan understands himself to be engaged in an intramural struggle among conservatives for the soul of conservatism. Of course, Sullivan's agenda, which includes liberalized abortion and gay rights, could also be identified as liberal, at home in the Democratic party, where it is not unknown to assert, as Sullivan does, that Christian fundamentalism is a "milder counterpart" to Islamic fundamentalism in expressing its disgust and rage "at court-imposed racial integration, abortion rights, and homosexual equality." In truth, political liberalism is perceptible throughout the book.

(Timothy Fuller, "Sullivan's Travels," review of The Conservative Soul: How We Lost It, How to Get It Back, by Andrew Sullivan, First Things [October 2006]: 48-54, at 49)

Darwin2 (www):
Christian fundamentalism is milder than the Islamic version but only in the same sense that a stubbed toe is a milder injury than a gunshot wound to the chest. Clearly Sullivan thinks that the difference is far less than that but my comparison is scarcely strained. Christian fundamentalists might well want to put the brakes, for instance, on "homosexual equality" but except for a tiny moronic few they would not want as a matter of public policy to have Andrew killed as many Islamic ecclesiastic supporters of sharia based governance would indeed like to see happen. Neither are C.F.s big on honor killings, the stoning of rape victims, forced marriage, the disenfranchisement and subjugation of half the population, etc. nauseating etc. This is a million light years from a "milder" difference.
11.1.2006 2:07pm
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