The Yazidi, recent targets of genocide
in its most atrocious form, have sometimes been accused of devil
worship by fundamentalist Christians and Muslims. Of course forced
conversion and murder are not be any less moral enormities if their
targets are devil worshipers than if they are Episcopalians. A
libelous accusation of devil worship is, however, something religious
people of most persuasions find at least offensive, and the Yazidi
are no exception.
Because a little modestly technical
philosophy is helpful in analyzing the accusation of devil worship,
and is illustrative of turns of argument applicable in many other
settings, I am going to take a closer look at the issue than its
plausibility and the moral standing of the accusers warrant.
