Dhimmitude and Secularism

There's an interesting column and discussion over at Robert Spencer's _Jihad Watch_:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/12/the-soft-dhimmitude-of-secularism.html

My caveats about the post are that the author, one Roland Shirk, does not seem to see the importance of theological [specifically, Reformed Christian] ideas in the nurturing of Western ideals of rule of law, consent of the governed, and political compact. Further, it is probably also time to open the question about whether ignorance of theological tradition (including their own) has not crippled Western states, peoples, and governments from squarely facing the jihadist menace.