Tuesday 26 February 2008

The Turks March On

It doesn't matter how the Turkish State revises the Hadith. What matters is that it presumes to do so at all.

Those who liken this to the Reformation (quite apart from the extreme misogyny, and hostility to art and science, of the Reformation when compared to the Middle Ages) need to explain which Reformation. The English Henrician-Edwardine one seems closest.

Now, Henry VIII and, even more so, Edward VI certainly bought into historically mistaken Continental Protestant ideas about the Canon. But even they never claimed the right to change the very text of the Bible.

Whereas that would have been the equivalent of what the Turkish State has now taken it upon itself to do. It sees itself as the Caliphate, and indeed as far more than the Caliphate.

Be afraid. Be very, very, very afraid.

1 comment:

  1. Harry's Place thinks that it's a great idea. Enough said.

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