Against Political Certainty

Zealots at the Gate

Democracy is suffering from an overabundance of ideological certainty. Few citizens are willing (or able) to honestly express their doubts about their tribe. We can only project ideological certainty, purity, and strength—no wavering or weakness allowed. How might we begin to doubt ourselves again? How might we take ourselves and our political ideas less seriously? While Islam and Christianity are often labelled “dogmatic” and “fundamentalist,” Shadi Hamid and Matthew Kaemingk explore the unique ways in which their faiths actively help them to doubt.

Related links:

Shadi’s article on the dangers of religious certainty in politics:https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/12/how-resist-making-politics-theological/578851/

Matt’s discussion of Christian political humility can be found in chapters 4, 6, and 7: https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Hospitality-Muslim-Immigration-Fear/dp/0802874584

Andrew Tate explains his conversion to Islamhttps://twitter.com/Raaaatiba/status/1586293661360193537

Rod Dreher on Islam: https://www.theamericanconservative.com/islam-the-last-badass-religion/

Zizek Devours Hotdogs:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YamAsbzPKA