Tariq Ramadan & Christopher Hitchens: Is Islam a Religion of Peace?

This past Tuesday, October 5th, Tariq Ramadan and Christopher Hitchens met at the 92nd Street Y to address the question: Is Islam a religion of peace? The footage below is from the latter, Q&A portion of the event, reposted with permission from 92Y Blog.

With the Obama administration in its nascent years, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict proving as intractable as ever, relations with Iran reaching a boiling point and the political landscape changing rapidly both in the United States and the Middle East, wrestling with the issue of Islam is more crucial than ever and will be a defining feature of the 21st century. In the video clip above, famous atheist and prolific author Christopher Hitchens and the accomplished and controversial scholar Tariq Ramadan debate one of the most pertinent questions of our modern age. Conversation was moderated by Laurie Goodstein, national religion correspondent for The New York Times.

For more comprehensive view points from those in attendance, Danny Groner, Online Assistant Editor at TheWeek.com filed a report for The Huffington Post as did Marc Tracy at Tablet Magazine.

[Update] The event is now for sale as a webcast.

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Prior to the Q&A, both gentlemen engaged in a proper debate. Here, I have done my best to present a sample of what was said.

Hitchens

– “I want to maintain that there is no such thing as a religion of peace, by definition.”
– I find it problematic, “the idea of the perfect human being – the prophet Muhammad – and the idea of the perfect book – the Qur’an.”
– On literal interpretations of the Qur’an: “Demands that you believe the impossible do not lead to peaceful outcomes.”

Ramadan

– “I do not like this question, ‘Is Islam a religion of peace?’ Islam is a religion for human beings, and if you deal with human beings, you deal with violence…You must ask, ‘Is my religion helping us towards peace?'”
– “Islam is as complex [as any other religion]…the problem is not the book, the problem is the reader.”
– “Peace is what you achieve after self-education.”
– “What is the will of God? Diversity. But the risk of diversity is lots of knowledge and lots of wars.”
– On Islam being a young religion: “Respect the Christians, respect the Jews, respect the religions before you.”
– “I will never deny that some Muslims, some theologians are using the verses in a way which is – for me – unacceptable.”

Hitchens

– “You’re right – and I’m surprised to find my self saying this, Professor – that the problem is not the book, but the reader.”
– “I don’t like the idea that there is the promise of paradise for martyrs.”
– “Where is the authoritative statement in the Sunni world that says, ‘This behavior is not appropriate?'”
– “If you want diversity, like the Professor says he does, you need a secular state with a god-less constitution.”

Ramadan

– “You [Hitchens] must acknowledge yourself that you may not have read the texts [of the Qur’an] in the right way.”
– “The condemnation [by Muslims] of [violence in the name of Islam] was widespread…but it’s like they didn’t speak. It doesn’t make the headlines.”
– “I’m critical from within [the religion] and I’m not the only one.”

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