But as other “On Faith” bloggers have already observed, the real issue here is not whether or not McCain should renounce Rod Parsley. Yes, the comments are inflammatory and abhorrent and, theologically-speaking, incorrect. And yes, Parsley undermines prospects for improved relations between Muslims and non-Muslims in the U.S. and broadly speaking, between the West and the Muslim world. Any U.S. president should have zero tolerance for intolerance – whether it is John McCain, Barack Obama, or Hillary Clinton. Renouncing Parsley’s poorly parsed prejudice, then, is essential and McCain must quickly act to preclude further damage to his campaign.
Beyond renouncing Parsley, however, what looms largely over the presidential election is the general trend towards upholding the Bush administration’s policies vis-à-vis the Muslim world. Here, all three candidates are culpable. Obama vehemently denies any Muslim affiliation, professing, in contrast, his Christian identity. Clinton responds to this issue as if Obama was plagued with an incurable disease. And McCain’s near total ignorance on Shia and Sunni differences is a throwback to US Congress’s ill-informed approach to Islam post-9/11. His association to Parsley will no doubt ring loudly throughout the Muslim world.

For America’s new president to maintain the Bush status quo with the Muslim world puts West-Muslim world relations on even more fragile precipice. The U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (Islamic republics), the brewing wars on Iran and Pakistan (also Islamic republics), and crippling boycotts in Gaza, creates a dangerous brew of resentment within the Muslim world. The persistent and pervasive perception amongst Muslims is that America has its sights set on Islam – and people like Parsley only reinforce this fear.

What is needed, then, from a President McCain, Obama or Clinton is to balance one of America’s greatest values – that of the freedom of religion – with a solid and sound assessment of religion. In separating church and state, the founding fathers’ primary intent was to ensure the rights and freedoms of even the early American Atheist, not to strip from the State the wherewithal to understand and navigate religious dynamics influencing politics.

Current U.S. foreign policy, consequently, seems to be dangerously devoid of due diligence when it comes to dealing with Islamic states and Muslim. Equipping U.S. government representatives, whether from the State Department, Defense Department or Congress, with the knowledge and skills to deal adeptly with religious leaderships abroad would radically alter, and ultimately improve, West-Muslim world relations. This should be top priority for presidential hopefuls McCain, Obama and Clinton. Additionally, the millions of Muslims in America, if courted respectfully, are perfectly positioned to be the new President’s greatest asset in building bridges between the fractious and divide West-Muslim world relationship.

At minimum, that is what is needed if America wants to see less, not more, anti-U.S. sentiment surge in the Muslim world. Renouncing Parsley is important, but a more fundamental shift must follow if the new American president is to be taken seriously.