I recently received link to an on-line Google video called Fitna (WARNING: contains graphic content) with a kind of breathless “everyone needs to see this” tone, saying “powerful video...”.
All very well-meaning, of course.
To a certain extent, I'm inclined to agree. It is a powerful video. But after having watched it, I'm left wondering; powerful in what way?
To summarize, the video is a series of old news-footage clips transitioned with selected statements from the Koran, all set to the background music of Muslim prayers. It does a good job of creating a really creepy and very serious atmosphere. For an on-line video, the production value is high.
The end result is an attempt to shock and scare the watcher with what are generally very well known news stories; clips of the 9/11 attack on the WTC, a small child being taught that Jews were unclean swine, printed news articles relating the Van Gogh murder, cartoon caricatures of the Muslim prophet Mohamed that were used by Muslims as an excuse to riot and loot, and so on.
To be blunt, it is purely red meat for the masses. Utterly useless.
Now, I don't say utterly useless lightly. I say it because NO purpose is served here other than to scare us as much as possible. It's a purely emotional play on our thinking. Not once is the watcher given anything helpful, such as a reason or a solution. At the end of the video, it merely tells you that Muslims need to be stopped.
Really!?!? “They're” threatening “our” very existence and need to be stopped before it's too late? Please sir, do tell me how! If I'm so clueless to the Muslim threat in the world today, as you suggest, then I clearly need some kind of direction!
To be certain, Islam is a problem. I'm not contesting that at all. What I'm saying is that the real problem to be concerned about is not represented in the video. With great respect to the United States' justified “war on terror”, the threat in which everyone needs to focus on isn't in the flesh. It's the same threat we face from ALL false religions and apostasy (Rev 17:2).
Apart from very old news stories being presented, the two things that stood out to me in particular were the the heavy emphasis on the Netherlands and statistics of “Muslim creep” in the UK.
First, when was the last time that the Netherlands were referenced in a globally relevant news item? I mean come on. Are you serious? What do you expect me to do with that?
Second, and more seriously, as it relates to the UK (and is applicable to the Netherlands), we're talking about a nation that's proudly printed the very prophet of atheism onto their currency, Charles Darwin! The world at large and Europe, in particular, are running to Godlessness as if they were trying to win Nascar with a record time.
Listen, in case you didn't already know it, I have news for you. The heart of man will not live in a vacuum. The heart of man knows God; All of creation speaks to His glory. You simply cannot eliminate that truth from who you are no matter how much you try. You may as well try shoveling the tide for all the good you'll do.
The end result is exactly what is being seen in Europe, God's truth is being abandoned in droves and something else is right there to take its place in spades. You can't combat this problem with sticks and stones. This is a problem of the heart and the only way to stop it is to preach the Gospel of truth. There is no other remedy.
