Reading the European press, you'd get the impression that conservative Christians were the most evil force on earth, casting a dark shadow over the land with all the malevolence of the Orcs of Mordor.

This is odd, considering the absolutely stunning death toll produced by "enlightened" governments, hostile to JudeoChristian values, in the 20th century. Even if you look back to the "bad days" in Christian history, since Christianity's prime focus is the soul's act of free will in "choosing" God, it seems to me that most "Christian" wars were fought among varying shades of believers (Catholic/Protestant) -- I cannot think of a single example of a war fought by Christians to "force" anyone to convert. (Please let me know if you can think of an example.)

In contrast, all the things alleged about Christians -- their alleged backwardness, patriarchal values, "love of war", intolerance towards "unbelievers", forced conversions -- all these things actually are being played out, sometimes in a big way, in many parts of the Muslim world.

And yet, European elites seem to treat antisocial Muslim extremists as some sort of adopted pet. "Aww, they're expressing their rage. Isn't that cute? I'll bet it was caused by racism (of other people, of course). Or perhaps that nasty man, George Bush."

So what's up with this? Why the unhinged, "Christians-are-a-huge-threat" tone for American Christians, while being endlessly defensive of a culture which does things like sentencing a Chemistry teacher to 750 lashings (will he survive?) because he opposed terrorism, argued from the bible, and praised Jews and Christians?

I've heard one theory, but tonight I thought of a second answer.

One is that the elites are actually much more afraid of Muslims than Christians. So they project their fear, not on the people who they actually fear, but onto people who they know full well won't hurt them.

I suspect that could indeed by true in some cases. Yet I find it unsatisfying: in many instances, the affection for all things Islamic seems every bit as genuine (observe Prince Charles' vigorous defense, and Ken Livingstone's associates) as does their fear and hatred of Christians. For example, read this unhinged complaint in The Guardian about a Christian organization that distributes Christmas presents to poor children:

What is astonishing is that Christian fundamentalists have managed to persuade millions that their warped version of Christianity is the real thing and that mainstream churches have sold out to the secular spirit of the age. The truth is quite the reverse.

US evangelicals employ a selective biblical literalism to support a theology that systematically confuses the kingdom of God with the US's burgeoning empire. It is no coincidence that the mission fields most favoured by US evangelicals are also the targets of neo-conservative military ambition. To use Jesus as the rallying cry for a new imperialism is the most shameful reversal of all...

Yes, the Guardian can't write an article about a charity which distributes Christmas gifts of soap, crayons, and dolls to the world's poorest children without somehow implying the whole scheme is really about "military ambition" and "American imperialism"! (But don't expect a similarly vigorous expose on any Muslim charity -- even a charity which channels money to help terrorists kill people!)

The animosity displayed in that article doesn't seem to animated by a displaced fear of Islam.

So here's the alternate theory:

Perhaps, deep inside, many European elites who display this kind of unhinged hatred actually do fear Christianity more than Islam. Really. Perhaps it's not some kind of displaced emotion at all.

I mean, let's remember, Europe, though it is clearly trying to forget, actually has a culturally Christian history, and many Europeans know much more about Jesus than Allah. So perhaps, consciously or not, intentionally or not, they actually follow Jesus's advice to his listeners:

"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." (Luke 12:4-5)

I don't think the European elites are truly tempted to believe in Allah. The entire cuture is too different from their own, and cultural relativism teaches its adherants to view such beliefs as quaint (even if deadly) cultural artifacts. Frankly, I expect elite Europeans would adopt about the same stance toward the god of Islam as they would towards an African animist water deity.

No, their atheism is a Judeo-Christian flavored atheism. YHWH is the God they specifically reject. And long before they were confronted with the spectacle of burning Puegeots, many had declared an internal war on the father-figure God of Christian belief. So, as the proverb goes, my enemy's enemy is my friend.

So perhaps the European left and radical Islam unite, intentionally or otherwise, in opposition to the God of Christianity -- a deity who (like Allah) threatens judgement, but one whom they are far more tempted to fear, and thus hate.