Based on a false premise
The Muslims’ letter to the Pope is not all it seems
The Muslims’ letter to the Pope is not all it seems
At first sight the letter from 138 prominent Muslim scholars and imams to Pope Benedict XVI and other Christian leaders published last week, ‘A Common Word Between Us and You’, is a welcome statement of a number of obvious truths — that Christianity and Islam worship one God; that both religions enjoin truth, justice and love of neighbour; and that if these two great monotheistic religions fight one another, then there is little chance of peace in the world. The letter, issued by the Royal Aaal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Jordan, had among its signatories grand muftis with tens of millions of followers, and pointed out that Muslims and Christians make up more than half the world’s population.
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Dr. Irene Lancaster FRSA
October 21st, 2007 5:16pmAll this is pretty obvious and the writer has not even suggested that it is offensive to Jews to leave us out of the equation and to cite Mark without stating that his quote comes from the so-called Old Testament, the Hebrew Bible
marc silver
October 23rd, 2007 4:24amIs the West trying to destroy Islam? No, and Yes, depending on the depth of your viewpoint. It seems nonsensical for Muslims to claim we are attacking them, because on a doctinal level democracies and democrats have no complaint. Westerners don't care what day you worship on, what name you give God, whether you eat port, drink or worship images. On this plane the Muslim charge is absolutely wrong. HOWEVER, Muslims know that doctrine is not at issue in this crisis--- COSMOLOGY IS. By what moral principles shall we run this planet? Is tolerace a virtue or a vice? What is the value of the individual person? What rights do we own at birth? Shall men live according to the demands of external authorities holding scimatars? or by the inner dictates of a congenital conscience founded on the love of life---ALL life? Will we allow families to circumcise their young girls? No. Will we allow brothers to strangle sisters who are rumored to have affairs? No. Will we allow males to rule their women like haram slaves? No. On the level of moral principles we are definitely at war with Islam. The mullah, ayatollas and imams all know the seminal depth of the conflict. The sooner westerners grasp it and adjust our efforts accordingly, the surer will be human survival and fulfillment on this planet
Stephen
October 25th, 2007 1:56pmTrue but trying telling that to Muslims. It is a sad fact of life that religious groups only remember harm perceived as done to them and remember nothing that their own side does against the others.