Re: “ ‘Islamic Exceptionalism’ book review: Focus on Islam’s unique influence,” July 3 book review.
It sounds like “Islamic Exceptionalism: How the Struggle Over Islam is Reshaping the World” is a book all of us should read. As reviewer Carlos Lozada points out, we need to face a hard reality: Even so-called moderate or mainstream Islam presents huge problems because it calls for religion to have a major influence on political decision-making. The partnership of religion and government in much of the world is troubling because it involves government policy being influenced by myth, superstition and supernaturalism and an absurd argument about whose God is the “true” God.
As the framers of our constitution wisely recognized, it is essential to strictly separate religion from government, and to make the separation clear and unequivocal. It is one thing to believe that there is some kind of power or source beyond our understanding and quite another to believe that any church or religious hierarchy (Christian or otherwise) should influence legislation or governance. The latter leads us down a dangerous path.
Jack Farrar, Denver
Submit a letter to the editor via or check out our for how to submit by e-mail or mail.
