And - were we only to acknowledge these striking similarities - it would really go a long way towards reducing Islamophobia:

The similarities between the United States and Saudi Arabia, while not outweighing their differences, are significant - and rooted in their respective political and religious histories of the past three hundred years... The doctrinal differences between Wahhabism and Methodism are immense, but their followers nevertheless shared certain traits. Both groups endured the charges of their enemies that they were preachers of fanaticism. Both stressed in their daily lives a constant and active adherence to God’s laws as they understood them and a similarly energetic avoidance of practices they considered evil. Both believed that you had to continually show your faith in your actions if you were to merit salvation. And both tirelessly spread their beliefs and practices among others of their faith, Muslims or Christians respectively, both at home and in faraway lands... Is it conceivable that a forthright acknowledgement of the religion problem by both governments could lead to an American commitment to reducing Islamophobia in the United States and a modest Saudi relaxation of the existing restrictions on Christian religious observances in the kingdom? This may be within the realm of the possible.

Don't focus too much on how the Saudis tend to remain unmoved by interfaith dialogue even at their own conferences. You might miss the litany of vapid equivalences that crescendo into that beautiful final note: thinking about it now, I guess nebulous American Islamophobia really is a lot like Saudi Arabia's total ban on Christianity. Someone should really do something about how the Methodists keep burning converts alive. That nonsense is beginning to get out of hand.

Richard Bulliet, by the by, teaches hundreds of Ivy League students a year. Someone should tell David Brooks.

References:
* Methodists and Wahhabis [Middle East Online]
* Interfaith Dialogue [Glittering Eye]
* Interfaith dialogue is a joke [FP Passport]
* Bibles, Crucifixes Not Allowed into Saudi Arabia [The Christian Post]
* SAUDI ARABIA: BURNT ALIVE FOR CHANGING RELIGION [ANSA]
* David Brooks’ Ivy League ejaculations [Malkin]

Previously:
* Saudi Cleric, Former US-Based Diplomat: "Mickey Mouse Should Be Killed" Because He's "One Of Satan's Soldiers" (Plus: Saudi Clerics Also Trying To Ban Romance, Laughter, Puppies, Kittens, And Birthday Cake)
* Saudi Arabia: Hey, Remember Our "Peace Plan" Where Israel Gets Overrun And Destroyed? How About It?
* Pro-Islam Christian Leaders Seemingly Untroubled By Muslim World's Surreal Anti-Christian Oppression And Murder