by D. Keith Shurtleff

Created on: March 31, 2007   Last Updated: April 05, 2007

In the eyes of much of the Muslim World, the West, or at least America, is the Great Satan. How ironic, that a nation originally established on religious principles which were taught by Jesus, (a being the Muslims consider to be a great prophet), would now carry that title. That point reveals to the student of both Islam and American culture that it is the move of our Western culture away from faith toward secular, and sometimes even anti-religious, attitudes that threaten Islam. As a nation we have moved from being what the Holy Qur'an refers to as "The People of the Book" to those who set aside "The Book" in preference of science, or self-professing wisdom. That trend is disturbing to devout believers in the Holy Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who lie at the heart of Islam.

On one occasion as I spoke with an Arab, from the Mid-East, a dedicated Muslim, we began to discuss suicide. He told me that suicide was not a problem in his country. When I asked him why, he said," Because unlike those in your country who profess Christianity, we really believe what we profess." His point was that Muslims believed to their core, their very souls, that suicide was immoral, and so it was not an issue. His deeper point came in the subtle conclusion he had come to: that Americans profess to be religious, but do not really believe in their hearts what they profess with their mouths. In his view, our lives do not reflect our faith. In that perception lies the key that distinguishes the Muslim world from our culture.

For example:

1. Separation of Church and State: This modern trend to move our nation from a religiously friendly and supportive government to one that is neutral, and sometimes even hostile toward religions is anathema to a people who see God as the ultimate law giver, the provider of rules and directives to govern life, which will keep adherents within God's grace. That tension is clearly seen in many nations where the Islamic Law, or Sharia comes into conflict with civil law. If Westerners do not like what the Islamic law requires, we simply profess it to be "old fashioned" or "Byzantine," and then choose to side with the civil law. After all, who would want to live under those restraints? However, our own feelings should not cloud our minds to the understanding of those who truly believe the law is from God.

2. Modesty: Considering the devout Muslim's respect for women's physical attributes and strict adherence to laws of modesty, it is no wonder they see

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