I propose that a high-level team of Islamic scholars study this case, and defend Rahman, and win the legal victory they deserve: "Case dismissed." This would establish the Islamic legal precedent, on the international level, that true Islam requires freedom of religion. This might very well be as important a case for the entire world today as Brown v Board of Education was for the United States in 1956. And it could be the foundation of true Christian-Muslim understanding and peaceful co-existence, as described below.
THE PROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS
The world is well aware that a fundamental tension has long existed between Islam and Christianity, Muslims and Christians. The underlying theological reason for this tension is best understood by comparing two verses from Scripture: Sura (chapter) 112 from the Qur'an (Islam's highest written authority) and John 3:16 from the Bible (Christianity's highest written authority.) Sura 112 is considered by many Muslims to be the most important single statement in Islam, and John 3:16 is considered by many Christians to be the most important single statement in Christianity.
The fundamental conflict is that the Qur'an says Allah (God) did not father any children in any way, and that no one is like Him; but the Bible says that Jesus is God's Son and that anyone who believes in Jesus will have eternal life. Islam accepts Jesus, but only as one of the many prophets who came before Muhammed, not as the only-begotten Son of God.
[112.1] Say: He, Allah, is One. [112.2] Allah is He on Whom all depend. [112.3] He begets not, nor is He begotten. [112.4] And none is like Him.
Qur'an 112:1-4 (Shakir Translation)
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
The Revised Standard translation of the Bible (RSV) and the M. H. Shakir translation of the Qur'an are both widely available and widely accepted. If you want to consult other translations, you can easily do so by searching for "Bible online" and "Qur'an online" at Google.com.
To a Muslim, it is blasphemy to say that Jesus is the Son of God. To a Christian, it is blasphemy to say that Jesus is not the Son of God. This is the fundamental conflict between Islam and Christianity, and it cannot be papered over with smiles and pleasant words.
Nevertheless, it is quite possible for both religions to live side-by-side in peaceful, even brotherly, co-existence. In fact, the Qur'an specifically instructs Muslims to accept and tolerate Christians, and the Bible instructs Christians to live at peace with all people, as we will show below.
The Way Christians Should Act Toward Muslims
The Bible instructs Christians to live at peace with all people, as much as it is possible to do so. Further, Christians are instructed not to seek revenge for personal offenses, but to leave vengeance to God.
If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."
Rev. Bill McGinnis is an Internet Christian minister, writer and publisher. He is Director of LoveAllPeople.org, a small private think tank in Alexandria, Virginia, and all of its related websites, including InternetChurchOfChrist.org,CommitteeForTheGoldenRule.org,CivicAmerican.com, and AmericanDemocrat.net. His agenda is to help maximize the happiness and well-being of all people. His blog is located at http://blog.myspace.com/revbillmcginnis
I am glad to note your level headed approach to the headline grabbing excesses of a militant few Islamics.
One might show examples of similar excesses in every religion should one wish to or find a need to villify a certain belief system. Over one billion followers of Islam in this world and a very few are making all the news. Just as within Christianity a very few subvert that religious system to their own purpose. Of course by putting the followers of Islam in a bad light it makes the murdering of a hundred thousand or so, and the torturing of hundreds more that much easier to bear........
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments)
on Monday, March 27, 2006 at 7:25:46 AM
I am amazed at the depth of knowledge and understanding of Islam by the author being a non Muslim. A wonderful article where you have gone to the root cause of all this controversy without any bias.
by
Shami (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments)
on Monday, March 27, 2006 at 8:07:47 AM
The article is good and the intention is good but..
It misses the point. The people who do all that mischief are neither true Moslems not true Christians. They are ignorant bastards. We should first and foremost share the information and learn also on how to deal with the ignorant bastards. Say, there should be a convention of the real religious scholars on who the ignorant bastards are on all sides, what to do with them and how to deal with them. And here is the tricky question: if we know our ignorant bastards, who don't we excommunicate them?
It was done before.
Otherwise, the article above just proves a common decency.
by
Mark Sashine (50 articles, 19 quicklinks, 242 diaries, 3434 comments)
on Monday, March 27, 2006 at 9:16:39 AM
3 comments
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