There is much to dislike, even loathe, about the Islamic cleric known as Abu Qatada. But whether or not jailing him, as the British government has just done, will accomplish anything is unclear. It's true that it will keep him from fleeing Great Britain before being tried on a variety of charges. But it will not keep him, or anyone else, from spreading the hatful views which he teaches. For better or for worse, ideas cannot be put in prison - even ugly ones.
The only way to strip a teacher's power is to convince his potential audience to shun his teachings. It's not that we should give up on law enforcement. But do we imagine that there are not ten imams waiting to take Abu Qatada's place?
Only when religious leaders like Abu Qatada are preaching to empty halls, will we be successful. And that demands more than reactive prosecution. It requires proactive initiatives which provide equally compelling alternatives to those over whom Abu Qatada currently holds sway.
If this man, who entered Great Britain on a forged passport and may have been raising funds for terrorists in places like Chechnya, goes to prison for these actions, none of us should lose any sleep. If we think that jailing people for teaching dangerous ideas will keep us safe, we need to wake up.
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Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of 
To all: Jesus never killed anyone, nor did he intend his followers to kill anyone or to teach hatred of anyone. Have Christians killed? Have Christians hated or taught hatred? Sure. So have Jews. I don't blame G-d for them, don't blame Jesus either.
It seems that there may be teachings in the quran that encouraged the murder of infidels (nonmuslims) but there have never been any such teachings in the Old or New Testament.
Let's stop spreading hatred, OK?
"Only when religious leaders like Abu Qatada are preaching to empty halls, will we be successful."
That is so true.
Scott and Your Name:
Thank you for your comments on my question. The results of my researches are in total accord with your thoughts. Textual and other studies of the New Testament make it clear that it is virtually impossible to know what specifically Jesus said after centuries of translation, editing, accidental mis-copying, and conscious alteration to fit a preconceived view and shore up a doctrine already in place when even the canon of the NT was "officially" decided upon.
I'm reminded of a scene in "Angels and Demons" in which one character asks another what he thinks about God -- not what he thinks of what men say about God. Worthwhile question in re Jesus as well.
Thanks again.
Ben Hall
Textual and other studies of the New Testament make it clear that it is virtually impossible to know what specifically Jesus said after centuries of translation,
But why stop with what Jesus might have said? The same could be said about Moses, David, etc of the Old Testament. Jesus was a Jew too, so it might benefit us all if Jewish scholars can unearth what Jesus "actually" said.
Dear Toto,
Yes Dear Toto we Jews have vast records of what every Jew has ever said from the very second Abram became Abraham.
Here's what our records show. Jesus said, "I am not the way. I have no special connection with G-d. All Jews -- all men -- are equally holy in the eyes of G-d and no man needs to be saved. Pass the matzah."
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