Islamophobia is the next bogeyman

Our neighboring city, Frisco, Texas, appears to be a test site for the next manufactured culture war bogeyman.

Remember when it was the immigrant caravan?

And then wokeism and DEI corrupting public ed?

And then trans people just … existing?

Scott Gilliland

Well, now it’s Islamophobia.

I’ve been told as far back as I can remember that one reason America is exceptional is its status as “The Land of Opportunity.” The history of immigrants seeking a better life and pursuing the American Dream.

But the truth is we’ve always struggled when “those people” want opportunity or “those people” dare to dream. “Those people” used to be the Irish. Or the Italians. Or this group or that group. And so on and so on.

I was an eighth grader on 9/11, and it was the first time I was keenly aware that a person’s faith could make them a villain in the eyes of another. I’ll never forget when a Muslim classmate of mine came into algebra class that day, tears streaming, telling us her dad said, “The men who did this were Muslim, and that means everyone will hate us now.”

He wasn’t wrong. Our country grieved, and part of that grief was an intense anger that turned (at its worst) to violent bigotry.

But over time, that anger subsided, and I’ll admit I was naive enough to believe we were leaving the bigotry behind. That we would live into the dream once again.

But I was wrong.

“We are witnessing the early stages of what I imagine will be the national playbook for leaders seeking office through fear-mongering and divisive misinformation.”

Here in North Texas, we are witnessing the early stages of what I imagine will be the national playbook for leaders seeking office through fear-mongering and divisive misinformation. We are told to fear Muslims and their obvious desire to impose Shariah Law on us all.

The truth is they want to build a mosque (in a region where churches are at every intersection), or a design a master-planned community (you know, like the billions popping up all over North Texas right now), or go to the dadgum waterpark. Frightening stuff.

I’ve lived with Muslims my whole life. I’ve never had Shariah imposed upon me; I’ve never even had a Muslim evangelize to me, to be honest.

But I’ve had Christian prayer included in the classroom.

I’ve had Easter Day at elementary school.

I’ve had the Ten Commandments on my kids’ classroom walls and on courthouse lawns.

I’ve had sex education and human anatomy taught with Bible verses in public middle school.

I’ve had Christian young earth creationism taught in my earth science class.

I’ve had youth pastors tell me I’m going to hell in the high school lunchroom.

I’ve had public preachers condemn me in the name of Jesus at UNT.

I could go on, but my point is this: Christians have imposed their religion on me my whole life. Muslims never have.

Christian nationalists want us to be terrified because they would prefer we live under their own theocracy. Maybe if we fear Shariah Law enough, we’ll allow Evangelical Fundamentalist Law instead.

Don’t buy it. Don’t fall for it. As the kids would say, go outside and “touch grass.” Reconnect with the real world. Meet your neighbors. Invite them over for dinner. Dream together and live life together.

Muslims always have enriched my life, Jesus always has led me to imagine a table large enough for my Muslim siblings, and the dream I dream about America is vibrantly colorful and multicultural.

We have been here before, and here it comes again. Here comes the bogeyman. For our cities, our nation and our world, let’s shine a light and show how small that bogeyman really is.

Scott Gilliland serves as co-pastor of First United Methodist Church of Denton, Texas. He is a graduate of SMU’s Perkins School of Theology.

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