The Fear of Islam, by Todd H. Green

Virtually every day, headlines and reports present images and narratives that link Muslims and Islam with violence, often arousing attitudes of fear and distrust not only toward the perpetrators of the misdeeds but toward all Muslims and toward the Islamic faith.

The challenge is not new. Fear of Mus­lims and Islam has shaped the lives of Christians in Europe, Africa, and Asia for centuries. For about a thousand years, from the seventh century CE to the second siege of Vienna in 1683, armies led by Muslims repeatedly confronted the forces of Christian rulers and frequently defeated them. Follow­ing the lead of John of Damascus in the seventh century, Christians frequently viewed Islam as the last and most dangerous of the heresies. For centuries European Christians de­mon­ized Mu­ham­mad as a forerunner of the Antichrist. In some times and places, Christians and Muslims lived in relative harmony. There was regular trade, and military alliances repeatedly crossed religious borders. Nonetheless, negative images of Muslims and Islam often dominated attitudes.

In many regions around the world today, conflicts involve Muslims, and some commentators argue that there is a unique relationship between Muslims and violent attacks. As a result, numerous voices warn that Islam and Muslims pose a growing danger to Western Christian civilization. In some areas, political and religious leaders have proposed legal measures to protect Americans and Europeans from this perceived threat.