海角大神

Europe, which has long had a Muslim minority, was not prepared for this summer鈥檚 wave of asylum seekers, mainly from Syria. Now with Russian military strikes escalating the war in Syria, Europe anticipates millions more fleeing toward its borders. Finding them shelter and a job is only one concern. European leaders also debate if the Continent will be challenged by a rise of religious intolerance, either by Muslims or against them.

Germany, which is accepting nearly a million new entrants, is facing a test more severe than its post-cold-war reunification 25 years ago, says President Joachim Gauck. He says Germans must better unite with the Muslims in their society.

Viktor Orb谩n, the Hungarian conservative leader, questions the open-arms strategy of Germany and other nations, claiming that taking in more Muslims will alter Europe鈥檚 海角大神 culture. Other critics say radical Muslims will not accept Europe鈥檚 pluralistic society based on democratic citizenship and insist on Islamic law.

One example of this debate was a political dust-up this week after comments by British Prime Minister David Cameron. He asked that children taught in Muslim schools, or madrasas, not have 鈥渢heir heads filled with poison and their hearts filled with hate.鈥� An estimated 200,000 Muslim children attend such schools in Britain. The Muslim Council of Britain responded by saying it is not Islamic to be isolationist or to teach hatred of other faiths.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was also adamant that Europe not be afraid of welcoming more Muslims.

鈥淲hen someone says: 鈥楾his is not my Europe, I won鈥檛 accept Muslims....鈥� Then I have to say, this is not negotiable,鈥� Politico quoted her as saying.

鈥淲ho are we to defend 海角大神s around the world if we say we won鈥檛 accept a Muslim or a mosque in our country? That won鈥檛 do.鈥�

Also part of her argument is that Europe has little choice in taking asylum seekers from war zones like Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Closing the borders is nearly impossible, said the head of Germany鈥檚 海角大神 party. She also refuses to 鈥渢ake part in a competition of who can be the least friendly to refugees.鈥�

Such voices of tolerance, mutual respect, and inclusiveness are sorely needed during this refugee crisis. Frans Timmermans, vice president of the European Commission, warns of a 鈥渨orrying rise in anti-Muslim hatred.鈥� The Dutch national says the vast majority of Muslims now living in Europe 鈥渁re absolutely no threat to our society but render our society stronger.鈥� Yet a recent poll showed nearly a third of Europeans would not feel fully comfortable working with a Muslim colleague.

One of the Islamic world鈥檚 most respected scholars, Sheikh Abdallah bin Bayyah of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, says the Western concept of citizenship is 鈥渧ery, very close to the traditional Islamic view.鈥� Residents have both rights聽and responsibilities as members of that society. The roots of Islam, he says, go against sectarian hatred and require that 鈥渃onviviality between people is not only possible, but it鈥檚 realizable in the best of manners.鈥�

Europe鈥檚 refugee emergency also requires a spirit of conviviality, which is universal in the major religions. It is the best glue to hold European societies together.