Source: Los Angeles Times
On October 9, 2000, the Los
Angeles Times reported on Karen Armstrong. It explained that, "for
years she was tagged the 'runaway nun,' the rebellious ex-Catholic with
outspoken opinions about religion--comparing, for example, Pope John Paul
II to a Muslim fundamentalist. Now, with her 12th book, "Islam, a Short
History" (Modern Library), Karen Armstrong has changed her image. She can
still be sharp-tongued, inclined to draw conclusions that get a rise out
of critics. But something closer to reconciliation, rather than anger, is
propelling her....Readers who have followed her lately are learning her
more optimistic ideas about what Islam, Judaism and Christianity have in
common. Three of these books--"A History of God" (Ballantine, 1993),
"Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths" (Knopf, 1996) and "The Battle for God"
(Knopf, 2000)--show what unites the faiths. Each, Armstrong writes, has
developed the image of one Supreme Being who was first revealed to the
prophet Abraham. All have historic links to Jerusalem. And more recently,
each has built up a rigid conservative strain as a reaction against the
modern world."
She explained in a recent interview, "'It is
challenging for Muslims in the U.S. who for the first time are not living
in a Muslim-governed state. A basic message of the Koran is to create a
united community and share the wealth.' When Western capitalism was
introduced in the East in the last few decades, Iran and other Muslim
countries rebelled. 'The challenge for Muslims in the U.S. is to come to
terms with the success of the secular West.' Part of the problem in
integrating, she suggested, is that Muslims don't want to alienate anyone.
'Muslims need to reach out to other faiths. They aren't as practiced as
the Jews at it, who've lived in sometimes hostile countries for 2,000
years.' Other religious cultures have met similar challenges as immigrants
in the U.S. 'The Catholics did, late in the last century. They came from
Ireland, Poland and Europe in huge numbers, and they were hated. Their
arrival encouraged the rise of Protestant fundamentalism in the U.S. Now
it is the Muslims who want to be good Americans.'"