It is a striking feature of any religious tradition that heaven, of all places, should have anything to with sex. One does not get that in Judaism. One does not get that in Christianity. Indeed, it is a characteristic of both Judaism and Christianity to view sex as being at odds with the highest level of spiritual development. Sex: an extraordinary physical pleasure on earth, yes; but not the defining feature of a reward for being a righteous person in the world-to-come. There is not even the hint of a suggestion in the Old Testament, where both Judaism and Christianity have enough in common (nor in the New Testament), that God’s greatest spiritual reward in heaven has anything to do with sex. Moses Maimonides does not talk about sex in his “Epistle on Martyrdom” and Jesus is presented as an asexual holy man.
So the very fact that Islam has come to have the tradition that martyrs will be rewarded 70 virgins in heaven tells us much about the true character of Islam. It doesn’t matter that strictly speaking the Holy Qu’ran does not talk about 70 virgins. For that does not change the fact that the tradition itself is very much alive; and continues to be invoked in the name of committing all sorts of horrors.
Consider, for instance, that black slaves in the United States often appealed to Christianity as a form of underwriting their hope for a better world. Indeed, it is well known that black slaves often viewed themselves on the order of a people to be delivered as the Old Testament reports that the Jews were delivered. Heaven, though, is always characterized as a place free from the cares of this word, where blacks would enjoy a freedom that was heretofore unimaginable. There has never been any talk about heaven “getting it on” in heaven. You will find absolutely nothing in black folklore that even comes close to that. Every black slave would have deemed such a characterization as utterly blasphemous.
So once again: The very fact that Islam has come to have the tradition that martyrs will be rewarded 70 virgins in heaven tells us much about the true character of Islam.
Now, like the next person, I believe in respecting religious traditions. Alas, people keep forgetting that respect has to be merited. One does not respect something merely because it is there. After all, there are lots of things out there that are utterly fulsome. Shall I respect child sexual abuse because someone claims that their religion calls for it? I think not.
So here we have a religion that has a tradition the idea of which is that each man who becomes a martyr getting a reward of 70 virgins in heaven. Now, what exactly am I supposed to respect about that? Am I supposed to respect the idea that even in heaven we an Islamic tradition that places a premium upon men obtaining sexual pleasure? Am I supposed to respect the idea that we have a tradition according to which women submit themselves to men even in heaven? Or is it the characterization of heaven as a place where, at last, one can “get it on” forever? Or, if I may dare ask: How exactly is being able to “get it on” forever spiritually elevating. Or, finally, when I think of all the ways in which human beings can be excellent, how can it be that in heaven of all places such a premium is placed upon having sex?
Perhaps my last question undoubtedly reveals just how naïve I am. But I remind you, though, that I did not make up the tradition of the 70 virgins. And I further remind you that the tradition continues to be widely evoked. Finally, it seems rather unlikely that most of Islam really opposes this tradition. Here is how I know that.
To state the obvious: not all Jews are alike. Indeed, there are some Jews who characterize themselves as being Jews for Jesus. They even have a website: JewsforJesus.Org
It is most significant, though, that when we think of Jews, this group never comes to mind. Respectfully, Jews for Jesus are a fringe group with respect to Judaism, be it Orthodox or Conservative or Reform Judaism. Thus, if a person tells you that she is a Jew, there is no need to ask for clarification: “Do you mean a Jew for Jesus?” Quite the contrary, if a person is a Jew for Jesus and does not say so in claiming to be a Jew, then she has been somewhat misleading.
So let us turn back to Islam and the 70 virgins. Whether this tradition is fully sanctioned by the Holy Qu’ran or not, it is very much identified with Islam; and that would not be possible if (what might be called) mainstream Islam had distanced itself from the tradition, as the example of Jews for Jesus makes abundantly clear.
This brings me to the issue of violence. Sex is a prurient interest. And, of course, it is no accident that story is about 70 virgins for the male martyr. For as we all know, a young man surfeited with sexual desire is willing to do an awful in order to obtain that satisfaction. Not only that, what he wants is sexual satisfaction as opposed to a commitment. And what could better speak to that state of mind than an offer of 70 virgins. Finally, this offer is apt to be more appealing to the downtrodden than the well-off. I doubt if Osama Ben Laden has trouble getting a virgin if he wants one.
So this tells us something rather malicious about Islam. There is nothing in Judaism or Christianity that comes even remotely close to appealing to the downtrodden in this kind of way. That is, neither religion makes an offer involving putting one’s life on the line that is more appealing to the downtrodden than the well-off. Quite the contrary, it is typically characteristic of both religious traditions that the well-placed lead by example. With Islam, it is the other way around: the martyrs are the downtrodden as the well-placed go on talking about sexual orgies in heaven. Is there another way to character having sex with 70 people?
Again, black slavery in America is manifestly revealing here. It certainly can be argued that white Christians used Christianity to elicit obedience on the part of black slaves to white slave owners. But white Christians did not even come close to proposing any view of Christianity that would suggest that blacks would have an advantage in heaven if only they were to put their lives on the line for the sake of Christianity or white people. Perhaps racism itself would never have allowed that. And that itself may be revealing. Still, the truth is that the height of racism in America, Christianity was never interpreted in such away as to make it appealing for blacks to take their lives. This is a defining feature of Islam and only Islam.
And this brings us right up today’s moment in history. Fortunately, an attempt to blow up numerous airplanes (perhaps as many as 10) traveling from the United Kingdom to the United States was foiled today, 10 August 2006. The vast majority of the people traveling on those planes would have been innocent. Is it any surprise, that a religious tradition that makes lasting sex a heavenly reward would be utterly indifferent to the killing of innocent lives? Who is innocent and who is not is always tricky business. But there has always been the presumption that civilians on airplanes are clearly among the innocent. Islam rejects that presumption.
Now, I understand the claim that Islam has been hijacked by radicals. But I havae drawn attention a tradition in Islam that has been very much alive for a very long time. Alas, the existence of radicals does not suffice to explain that. What is more, the very content of that tradition, namely obtaining 70 virgins for being martyr, makes it implausible that the tradition would accord a premium upon respecting innocent life. For the tradition constitutes nothing more than a base appeal to prurient desire. There is no reason whatsoever to think that a religious tradition which makes a base appeal to prurient desire is even apt to pay lip service to the idea of respecting innocent life. And guess what: Islam does not even do that. For Muslim Arabs have committed suicide bombings even at funeral services of other Muslims.
Jews have committed wars; and Christians have committed even more wars. But the difference is that Islam is, in the end, essentially a warrior religion. I offer as evidence of this two simple truths. One is that no other religion recuits people for the purpose of turning them into killers, such as suicide-bombers. The other is that no religion in modern times has shown more utter indifference to killing innocent human life than Islam. And if I am right, this should come as no surprise. For it is also the case that Islam is the only monotheistic religion that appeals to prurient interests in recruiting martyrs by turning heaven into an orgy for those who so sacrifice themselves.
A final comment: There are roughly 1 billion Muslims in the world. If 900 million made it clear that this tradition of the 70 virgins is just so much nonsense, I can assure you that the tradition would not have the standing that it has; and I remind you of the example of Jews for Jesus as proof of this. I further remind the reader of what I wrote about yesterday, namely tacit consent. Deafening silence in the face of evil is consent.
The very idea of a sexual orgy heaven for those who sacrifice themselves utterly debases religion and the idea of heaven. And it is foolish to deny this in the name of being open-minded.
