"I think I came to see Islam, or at least one part of Islam, as an important defense mechanism against the commercialization of the world"

In this quote, Peter Jennings is revealing his belief that Islam, or at least a certain aspect of it, functions as a protective barrier against the widespread commercialization of the world. He might be suggesting that the concepts and worths of Islam, such as simpleness, humbleness, and neighborhood, use a counterbalance to the materialistic and consumer-driven culture that controls much of the contemporary world. By welcoming Islam, one can find a sense of grounding and resistance to the continuous pressure to consume and adhere. Jennings might also be indicating that Islam supplies a sense of function and significance beyond product ownerships, making it an important defense versus the shallow and shallow elements of commercialization.