Cartoon by Gary Varvel. Published in Time, Apr 3/06

In the days following 9/11, western leaders and liberal religious figures were falling over themselves to claim that the religion of the airplane terrorists was a “religion of peace”. They claimed that the true core of that religion was non-violent, tolerant, something to be trusted. The terrorists were extremists, not representative of mainline believers (at least not those located in western cultures).

Taliban flashbacks

Under the religious Taliban, Afghanistan was one of the most opressive, restrictive nations in the world. Now we see the new, free, de-Talibanized, and democratic Afghanistan putting a man on trial for converting from the state religion to Christianity. The constitution of Afghanistan calls for such converts to be tried and put to death. That same constitution is based on the state religion. Ok, so the government is a bit heavy handed.. what about the people? The call from the masses and “senior religious leaders” is that if the state doesn’t kill this guy, they will. Tolerant? No. Extremists? Mainline, in Afghanistan at least. A religion of peace? You decide.