The Islamic World's Rejection of Reason Parallels Modern Leftist Ideology
Source: https://www.facebook.com/americanspectator/. "When Reason Was Rejected | The American Spectator | USA News and Politics." April 26, 2026. spectator.org
The Gist
The author argues that when Islamic civilization rejected rational thinking in favor of pure divine power centuries ago, it set a pattern that modern leftists follow today. Both groups hate reason and natural law, preferring raw power instead, which is why they work together against America and Israel.
Conclusion
Modern radical Islamists and the Marxist/Deconstructionist Left share a fundamental rejection of reason and natural law in favor of pure power, making them natural allies against Western covenantal societies that embrace both faith and reason.
Premises
- The Islamic world historically made major contributions to science and philosophy through the Mutazila school, which embraced reason and natural causality alongside faith
- The Ashari school defeated the Mutazila by arguing that natural laws deny God's infinite power, leading to the rejection of rational inquiry in Islamic culture
- This rejection of reason in favor of divine power parallels how Marxist ideology rejects transcendent truth in favor of party power
- Both movements reduce their opponents to 'nothing' and worship unaccountable power as the ultimate truth
- Israel and America represent 'covenantal societies' that combine reason with faith, freedom with order, making them natural enemies of both radical Islam and the Left
- The alliance between radical Islamists and the Left is based on their shared devotion to 'death, emptiness, and meaningless power' rather than life-affirming truth
Assumptions
- Historical intellectual developments determine contemporary political alignments
- Theological positions about causality necessarily translate into political worldviews
- There is a fundamental incompatibility between pure power-worship and reason-based societies
- Western 'covenantal societies' successfully balance reason and faith in ways other cultures cannot
- Political movements can be accurately characterized by their deepest philosophical commitments