Xenophobic European intellectuals and politicians like to embrace the claim that Europe is founded on Judeo-Christian values. (This talk of shared values is really an invention of theologians embarrassed by Auschwitz.) This allows them to suggest that 'political Islam' is an alien force around here (name your favorite European country)--the implication is that it needs to be removed like a cancer. This strategy becomes a bit absurd now that (for example) in the Netherlands, those very types -- high minded animal rights activists and the medical establishment -- have suddenly discovered the horrors of (Kosher/Halal) ritual slaughter and male circumcision. Parliamentary majorities to ban both are not far off. We might say, with a sad pun, that Europe is rapidly cutting itself off from its Jewish heritage, again.
When I pointed out to a Dutch philosophy friend (and one of the great Heidegger critics of our age), who loves to present himself as an heir to the radical Enlightenment (and, thus, in his mind no friend of Judeo-Christian values), that this attack made a mockery of freedom of religion, he suggested that religion could change. I grant that historically religions have adapted to changing circumstances (Maimonides even counsels this to some degree), and I also grant that no doubt in a rational future state, all irrational mores would have to be abolished. But to remove circumcision and ritual slaughter from Judaism and Islam is to efface (sorry) the main difference(s) between them and, say, the Ethical society.
The Netherlands has one of the largest agricultural export sectors in the world; the conditions of animals in it are disgraceful. (These are also a danger to public health; local resistance to antibiotics among humans is fast increasing (almost certainly) because of the too free use of antibiotics in agriculture.) No doubt there are a few principled animal rights lovers who shrink back at these horrors and convert to vegetarianism. If among these there are a few who challenge the agri-industrial establishment as well as the kosher/halal food-industries in equal measure I could respect these. But you know you are dealing with racists when they pick on the vulnerable communities in a society in the name of high minded principles, yet leave powerful interests untouched.
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