In his last book, U.J. Huppert raises an
excessively intriguing and essential problem in the contemporary world - he
shows how
religious fundamentalism and monism''s
orthodoxy, a little only
different in a rhetoric and social-political culture than in a commonly known
and shiver-of terror-generative islamism, destroy the democratic and
pluralistic social tissue in XXI-century Israel. Polish Arabist and expert at
culture of Islam,
prof. J. Danecki, was considering some time ago if an
open clash of religious orthodoxy and modern civilization (observed in different
parts of the world, in different cultures from above 10
years) is not a reality
denying a common sense of contemporary human being. In prospect presented by
U.J. Huppert the view of Israel
seems to confirm an opinion of J. Danecki (prof. of the University of Warsaw).
The cultural-ethnic identity of Jews in the Diaspora (in the Ashkenazi and
Sefardi obedience as well) was preserved during about 2 thousand years by
religious faith - Judaism. Actually a role of (Jewish) clergymen - rabbis -
must have been substantial in this case and it was getting more and more
important as the years went by. An integration of national ethos with a
specific religion, its orders and strict moral rules has implied a character of
reborn Jewish
state. The expectations and intentions of the Zionist elites
building Israel
at basics (and also referring to the Western democratic traditions) were
diametrically opposite than important in tradition of Jewish Diaspora visions
created by religious leaders. The interconnections of extremist powers with
religious orthodoxy, often open fundamentalistic, are an natural, politically,
civilizationally, psyhologically and philosophically reasonable solution. In
this case it is noticed that an laic state collides with an religious
conception, not only in a moral aspect, but mainly in connection with terms:
pluralism, sovereignty and freedom. The most glaring indication of this
situation may be blocking of manifestations against homophobia, xenophobia and religious
fundamentalism in Jerusalem
(9th, November, 2006) and causing riots in the street of capital by
groups of extremists. The author describes an unprecedented increase of significance
of orthodox people and their fight for domination on the political stage in Israel as “kulturkampf”.
Reading this book it is worth to interpret the main topic more widely, because
problems of Israel in this issue, although regional, have the tendency to
relate to other states, regions and territories. Just notice Polish experiences
with regard to it.
More summaries about the Israel in a shadow of fundamentalisms