(Part II) Islam's Vision for the World: Control of the Soundscape

Whatever happened to those clappers? That's probably not a question you've asked yourself lately. Yet, if you are a Christian it is probably a question you should be asking yourself. The fact that clappers don't register on our Christian minds is a sign of the effectiveness of the Islamic strategy for worldwide domination. Huh? That's right, the absence of clappers means Islam's strategy is working.

The ringing of church bells are an abomination to Muslims. In most Islamic cultures the ringing of church bells is outlawed. Many people growing up in Muslim countries have never heard a church bell ring. Religiously, politically, and legally Islam controls the soundscape in North Africa and the Middle East.

Soundscape? Now there's a term most Christians in the West probably believe they can get along quite well without. But while Christians are either ignorant or indifferent about the whole idea of soundscape, Muslims have long since realized it's symbolic importance.

It all has to do with how the respective religions summon their people for worship. Historically, Christians called the faithful by the ringing of church bells (as early as the late 4th century). On a Sunday morning the soundscape was filled with the beauty of of church bells echoing throughout the city or countryside. In addition, these bells were used to call the faithful to prayer three times per day (morning, noon, and evening). They were used as a means of celebration after a wedding or feast day, or solemnly to signal death. Lastly, bells rang out as a warning whenever there was danger. The message is this: life was centered around the church. The church bells rang in accordance with the rhythm and cadence of that life--ecclesial life. It permeated the soundscape. It penetrated the culture. It was recognized and relied upon by both the sacred and secular parts of the community.

After the Islamic invasion beginning in the seventh century bells were generally outlawed and replaced by the Muslim call to prayer. Anyone who has visited North Africa or the Middle East will testify that calls to prayer dominate the soundscape. The calls to prayer ring out in a cacophony of voices. There is no competing voice. Calls to prayer define the pattern of life for the practicing Muslim. Perhaps even more than the landscape, calls to prayer are one of the most obvious and audible statements that you are in a Muslim country. In most cases, calls to prayer have completely replaced the ringing of church bells that used to dominate the same geography.

But what about those clappers? Well, in many places they have now been outlawed too. Clappers were wooden boards used by Nestorian Christians to call the church to worship after the ringing of church bells were made illegal. Thus far, in my travels to the region, I have never heard a single clapper even where the practice is still allowed and maintained. They are completely drowned out by the Muslim call to prayer.

Today in the West, bells and bell towers are disappearing form the soundscape with little notice and little resistance. However, if you listen carefully, here and there, you can faintly hear Islamic calls to prayer in the distance. Islam is here. They are establishing a visible and audible presence little by little. As Protestants de-emphasize the importance of buildings and bells (the visible and audible church) Islam is replacing them one mosque and minaret at a time.

Equipping Pastors International believes that Islam must be stopped at home and abroad. That is why we have established a new mission in North Africa and the Middle East. We desire to equip the church there, and help this region reclaim and recover its true heritage as the intellectual and theological capital of the Christian world. In order to do this the church must once again control the landscape and the soundscape.