Their appeal should be granted -- as soon as the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is reopened for use as a cathedral.
From Reuters, with thanks to Seymour Paine:
Spanish Muslims said they had appealed to Pope Benedict XVI to be allowed to prostrate themselves in worship in Córdoba Cathedral, built as a mosque in southern Spain during the nation’s centuries of Islamic rule and converted into a church in the 13th century. “What we wanted was not to take over that holy place, but to create in it, together with you and other faiths, an ecumenical space unique in the world which would have been of great significance in bringing peace to humanity,” the Islamic Board said in its letter. This month the Conference of Catholic Bishops in Spain issued a statement saying it was not prepared to negotiate for other faiths to use the building.
The father of lies would bring mutual understanding and peace to the sheeple of the world as well.
A google search around the theme of university meeting rooms and prayer rooms will be enough to dispel this:
What we wanted was not to take over that holy place, but to create in it, together with you and other faiths, an ecumenical space unique in the world which would have been of great significance in bringing peace to humanity.
Muslims cannot share space nor will they be interested in mutual understanding and outreach. To do so would be to disobey the eternal and unchanging commands of Allah in the Qur'an and would be treasonous to the army of Mohammed... aka the Ummah.
Islam must dominate. So said Mohammed. So said Allah. So say the rulings of the ulema and the mouths of current religious and political leaders, as well as protestors in various infidel lands. So do the jihad fighters in any place you chose to highlight.
Islam must dominate.
Not only Hagia Sophia. Other churches-turned-into-parts-of-mosques, in Damascus and Cairo and Algiers, all come to mind. Reciprocity in all things.
It might also be worth mentioning that Allah and Mohammed gave Muslims PERMISSION TO LIE to Infidels if it suits the purpose of Islam.
so much for sharing with muslims
Fortunately the independent account of the historian ar-Râzî allows us to fill in some of the gaps. In the course of his description of the founding of the famous Cordoban mosque, the chronicler explained that the conquerors appropriated half of the local church dedicated to St. Vincent for use as a mosque. This was not an uncommon stopgap measure for dealing with the religious needs of the victorious armies. Syrians in the town of Hims had experienced similar divisions in the wake of their conquest.
But with the steady influx into Córdoba of Arab immigrants over the next two generations, the Muslim worshipers found their quarters increasingly cramped. During the reign of the first cUmayyad emir, cAbd ar-Rabmân I (754-88), negotiations began between the emir and the leaders of the Christian community to resolve the problem. Finally, after a promise of a large cash payment as well as permission to rebuild one of the extramural churches that had been leveled at the time of the conquest, the Christians relinquished their half of St. Vincent's. The emir then ordered the demolition of the church to make way for the construction of the mosque that occupies the site to this day.
http://libro.uca.edu/martyrs/cm1.htm#N_10_
When they allow Christians and churches in Mecca and Medina.
Just imagine the butchery that would ensue if a group of Christians in Turkey were to have the effrontery to petition a Muslim leader outside of Turkey to intervene with Turkish authorities to grant them rights to worship in Hagia Sophia!
They have one standard for Muslims and another for the rest of the human race.
http://www.hagiasophiablog.com/contact-secure.php
Petition for the Hagia Sophia. Please sign.
I don't know which One-Word answer would be better:
NO
or
NUTS.
There is simply no comparisont to the Hagia Sophia. The Hagia Sophia was never constructed on once Islamic territory and then coverted to a Church. Spain had a right to confiscate the moseque in Spain because it was originally their land.
after the way the turks behaved during the pope's recent visit, one might have hoped that their co-religionists would have been just too embarressed to make this request. or that if they really wanted to do it, they would have done it on the basis of some kind of reciprocity.
so, i hope the spaniards will not allow the camel's nose under the tent flap this time. just say no.
They need to prepare for a media war on this one, and tighten security. Can you imagine it will be more than a few days to weeks before some frail Mohammadan takes a seat, and starts chanting with mysteriously appearing video cameras to document his thrashing and wailing extraction? "He just wanted to pray! Can't he just pray?" Oh, poor, poor baby; mean, mean Pope!
Can anyone direct me to the schedule to reserve Mecca. I was wanting to host a 4th of July bar-b-q.
And is there a 'host bar' or do we have to 'BYOB'?
This subject (SPAIN: Muslims Appeal for Use of Cathedral) was discussed at DhimmiWatchback in April 2004 while Pope John Paul II was seated (apparently not yielding).
The comments on the previous article offer further insight to the ultimate chutzpah of this updated request. As Hugh stated back then:
The idea that the Christians are being asked for a gesture of reconciliation, just after the Madrid bombing, and then the desecration of the corpse -- taken out of the grave -- of the Spanish anti-terrorist policeman, fills one with fury. .
SPAIN can learn a wee bit from Stuck MoJo's OPEN SEASON
to prostrate themselves in worship in Córdoba Cathedral,
asking for forgiveness for their Sins ? Let them do it outside until they accept the Word of God and turn their back on paganism. You cannot have Muslims inside a Christian Church without an exorcism and re-dedication thereafter
Now imagine that those two despicable and bigoted Christian rulers King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, did not kick the Muslims out of Spain in the 15th century. Given the European muslim birthrates compared to European Christian birth rates over the last 50 years or so, Spain would have been majority muslim by now. And enjoying democracy with full civil rights for the indigenous Spanish Christian minority, I'm sure.
"after the way the turks behaved during the pope's recent visit, one might have hoped that their co-religionists would have been just too embarressed to make this request."
Aye, aye - I'll 2nd that!
I'll also drink to that!
Although the bishops do not appear to be willing to make concessions, what about the local priests and local officials? Are the people of Cordoba ready to give into Muslim grievances or are they tired of the demands and threats and digging in their heels? Is anyone familiar with the local angle on the story?
We have a leading indicator here ... of Western resolve. NEVER NEVER NEVER let this phony cult pray there!
Unfortunately, the entire article isn't so sanguine. Here's the link.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12023329/
...security guards often stop Muslim worshippers from praying inside the old Mosque, said the board’s general secretary, Mansur Escudero, who complained elements of the Roman Catholic Church felt threatened by Spain’s growing Muslim population.
“There are reactionary elements within the Catholic Church, and when they hear about the construction of a mosque, or Muslim teachings in state schools, or about veils, they see it as a sign we are growing and they oppose it,” he told Reuters.
Mansur said Muslims came from around the world to see Cordoba’s Cathedral, still known as the Cathedral-Mosque and built when much of Spain was the Moorish territory of Al-Andalus, a major center of Islamic thought and architecture.
Spain’s last Muslim territory fell with the conquest of Granada in 1492 after almost eight centuries of presence.
The vast majority of Spaniards still describe themselves as Catholics, although church-going has fallen off in recent years. But more than a million of Spain’s 44 million people are now Muslims, mainly recently arrived immigrants from North Africa.
Looks like Mansur is a former communist leader who "reverted" in 1978. Googled him in Spanish, lovely character, Mansur. Refers to Spain as Al-Andalus, thinks Khomeini was a paragon of virtue, and believes that Spain should be Muslim.
For those who speak Spanish:
http://www.paralalibertad.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=5668&mode=thread&order=2&thold=0
Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas.
Next thing you know, the cathedral will be declared Islamic land belongingto allah. Besides, with so many mosques, how many celebrated Christmas?
Excuse me, but the Vatican has already responded to this question in 2004 with Pope John Paul XVIII.
http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=696
Locally, I think of the Great Mosque in Gaza, which was originally a synagogue and, of course, the Temple Mount.
Not only do Muslims confiscate churches, they eventually permanently eliminate all members of the church. In no way should Muslims be allowed in a church of a Non Muslim religion. After all, Muslims do not allow Catholics, Protestants, or Hindus to conduct prayers in a Mosque.
If you were suffering from a cancer would you consider the introduction of additional cancer cells to your body as a form of treatment?
The Peaceful Religion of Islam is daring the world to bare arms, to fight, to die, or justs surrender and submit.
Let us make the right decision.
let them prostrate themselves.
let someone be behind each one to kick their butts hard while in prostration...
Answer of Cordoba´s Bishop (sorry, only spanish):
Obispo de Córdoba sobre solicitud de uso compartido de la Catedral por la Junta Islámica de España
Algunos Medios de comunicación se han hecho eco hoy, día 27 de diciembre, de una carta dirigida al Santo Padre Benedicto XVI a través de la Nunciatura Apostólica, firmada por el Secretario de la Junta Islámica de España, en la que esta institución solicita a la Santa Sede que autorice el uso compartido de la Catedral de Córdoba por católicos y musulmanes y su conversión en “templo ecuménico”.
Para conocimiento de los autores de la citada carta, conversos españoles al Islam, de la opinión pública en general, de los fieles católicos de la Diócesis y de todos aquellos que desde los más variados puntos de España y del extranjero nos han manifestado su preocupación en ocasiones análogas, el Obispo de Córdoba se siente en el deber de manifestar lo siguiente:
1. La Diócesis de Córdoba quiere seguir manteniendo unas relaciones de respeto y aprecio por los musulmanes que viven entre nosotros. De acuerdo con la declaración “Nostra aetate” del Concilio Vaticano II, está dispuesta a trabajar sinceramente por la mutua comprensión, defendiendo y promoviendo unidos la justicia social, los bienes morales, la paz y la libertad para todos los hombres (n. 3).
2. Como no podía ser de otra forma, favorece también el dialogo interreligioso propiciado por la Santa Sede, desde la identidad neta de cada confesión religiosa. En este sentido no ayudaría a dicho diálogo el uso compartido de templos y lugares de culto, que sólo generaría confusión en los fieles, dando pie al indiferentismo religioso. Tal uso compartido puede tener sentido circunstancialmente en un aeropuerto o en una villa olímpica, puesto que no se trata propiamente de templos sino de lugares de oración, pero no en el caso de una catedral.
3. El Obispado de Córdoba y su Cabildo tienen títulos jurídicos fehacientes para mantener el uso exclusivo de la Catedral por la Iglesia Católica. Poseen además títulos históricos incontestables. Las excavaciones arqueológicas dirigidas por el arquitecto Félix Hernández en 1930 demostraron la existencia en el subsuelo de la actual Catedral de todo un complejo episcopal que puede datarse entre los siglos IV y VI. Allí se encuentran los restos arqueológicos de la basílica visigótica dedicada a San Vicente Mártir, la domus episcopalis, y muy probablemente la escuela clerical y los servicios de caridad del Obispo.
En el año 2004, por iniciativa del actual Obispo y del Cabildo se ha descubierto y expuesto a la contemplación de los visitantes y turistas, un pequeño sacellum o habitación donde se reservaba la Eucaristía para los enfermos. Tanto los muros, construidos en el siglo VI, como la solería de mosaico del siglo IV, están plagados de símbolos cristianos.
Todo este complejo fue destruido tras la invasión musulmana en el año 711, aprovechando sus materiales para construir parte de la mezquita, cuya estructura arquitectónica básica se ha mantenido posteriormente gracias al celo de Obispos y Cabildos.
4. La actual Catedral de Córdoba fue donada por el Rey Fernando III el Santo a la Iglesia tras la conquista de la ciudad en 1236, siendo consagrada a continuación por el Obispo de Osma D. Juan Domínguez. Es de advertir que todo el edificio es Catedral, pues todo él está consagrado. Como es bien sabido, adosadas a los muros perimetrales se han levantado a lo largo de los siglos un gran número de capillas devocionales, todas ellas de un gran interés artístico.
5. El Obispado de Córdoba no se opone a que los musulmanes que viven en nuestra Diócesis tengan lugares de culto dignos, como lo desea también para los cristianos que viven en países de mayoría musulmana.
Lo exige un derecho humano tan fundamental como es la libertad religiosa. Considera, sin embargo, que estos lugares deben ser proporcionados al número de fieles que practican el Islam, relativamente pequeño en Córdoba, habida cuenta del corto número de inmigrantes que existe en nuestra provincia, tanto en términos absolutos como relativos, como nos dicen estadísticas fiables.
6. En la Catedral de Córdoba, como en todas las catedrales, está el Señor en el Santísimo Sacramento de la Eucaristía. Este dato fundamental hace inviable celebrar la oración de otra tradición religiosa en su recinto. Por otra parte, el uso compartido de la Catedral de Córdoba por católicos y musulmanes no contribuiría a la convivencia pacífica de los diferentes credos.
Las raíces cristianas de Córdoba y a su historia cristiana diecisiete veces centenaria merecen ser respetadas. Los católicos cordobeses queremos vivir en paz con los creyentes de otros credos, pero no deseamos estar continuamente sometidos a presiones que no contribuyen a la concordia.
Como afirmara en el mes de mayo de 2004 el Arzobispo Mons. Filtzgerald, ex presidente del Pontificio Consejo para el Diálogo Interreligioso, a raíz de una solicitud idéntica de la Junta Islámica, “Es difícil promover la convivencia entre cristianos y musulmanes remontándose a la historia o queriendo revanchas. Es necesario aceptar la historia y seguir adelante”.
7. El Obispo de Córdoba manifestará estas razones y otras varias de carácter pastoral a la Santa Sede si es requerido para ello.
Córdoba, 27 de diciembre de 2006
Answer of Cordoba´s Bishop (sorry, only spanish):
Obispo de Córdoba sobre solicitud de uso compartido de la Catedral por la Junta Islámica de España
Algunos Medios de comunicación se han hecho eco hoy, día 27 de diciembre, de una carta dirigida al Santo Padre Benedicto XVI a través de la Nunciatura Apostólica, firmada por el Secretario de la Junta Islámica de España, en la que esta institución solicita a la Santa Sede que autorice el uso compartido de la Catedral de Córdoba por católicos y musulmanes y su conversión en “templo ecuménico”.
Para conocimiento de los autores de la citada carta, conversos españoles al Islam, de la opinión pública en general, de los fieles católicos de la Diócesis y de todos aquellos que desde los más variados puntos de España y del extranjero nos han manifestado su preocupación en ocasiones análogas, el Obispo de Córdoba se siente en el deber de manifestar lo siguiente:
1. La Diócesis de Córdoba quiere seguir manteniendo unas relaciones de respeto y aprecio por los musulmanes que viven entre nosotros. De acuerdo con la declaración “Nostra aetate” del Concilio Vaticano II, está dispuesta a trabajar sinceramente por la mutua comprensión, defendiendo y promoviendo unidos la justicia social, los bienes morales, la paz y la libertad para todos los hombres (n. 3).
2. Como no podía ser de otra forma, favorece también el dialogo interreligioso propiciado por la Santa Sede, desde la identidad neta de cada confesión religiosa. En este sentido no ayudaría a dicho diálogo el uso compartido de templos y lugares de culto, que sólo generaría confusión en los fieles, dando pie al indiferentismo religioso. Tal uso compartido puede tener sentido circunstancialmente en un aeropuerto o en una villa olímpica, puesto que no se trata propiamente de templos sino de lugares de oración, pero no en el caso de una catedral.
3. El Obispado de Córdoba y su Cabildo tienen títulos jurídicos fehacientes para mantener el uso exclusivo de la Catedral por la Iglesia Católica. Poseen además títulos históricos incontestables. Las excavaciones arqueológicas dirigidas por el arquitecto Félix Hernández en 1930 demostraron la existencia en el subsuelo de la actual Catedral de todo un complejo episcopal que puede datarse entre los siglos IV y VI. Allí se encuentran los restos arqueológicos de la basílica visigótica dedicada a San Vicente Mártir, la domus episcopalis, y muy probablemente la escuela clerical y los servicios de caridad del Obispo.
En el año 2004, por iniciativa del actual Obispo y del Cabildo se ha descubierto y expuesto a la contemplación de los visitantes y turistas, un pequeño sacellum o habitación donde se reservaba la Eucaristía para los enfermos. Tanto los muros, construidos en el siglo VI, como la solería de mosaico del siglo IV, están plagados de símbolos cristianos.
Todo este complejo fue destruido tras la invasión musulmana en el año 711, aprovechando sus materiales para construir parte de la mezquita, cuya estructura arquitectónica básica se ha mantenido posteriormente gracias al celo de Obispos y Cabildos.
4. La actual Catedral de Córdoba fue donada por el Rey Fernando III el Santo a la Iglesia tras la conquista de la ciudad en 1236, siendo consagrada a continuación por el Obispo de Osma D. Juan Domínguez. Es de advertir que todo el edificio es Catedral, pues todo él está consagrado. Como es bien sabido, adosadas a los muros perimetrales se han levantado a lo largo de los siglos un gran número de capillas devocionales, todas ellas de un gran interés artístico.
5. El Obispado de Córdoba no se opone a que los musulmanes que viven en nuestra Diócesis tengan lugares de culto dignos, como lo desea también para los cristianos que viven en países de mayoría musulmana.
Lo exige un derecho humano tan fundamental como es la libertad religiosa. Considera, sin embargo, que estos lugares deben ser proporcionados al número de fieles que practican el Islam, relativamente pequeño en Córdoba, habida cuenta del corto número de inmigrantes que existe en nuestra provincia, tanto en términos absolutos como relativos, como nos dicen estadísticas fiables.
6. En la Catedral de Córdoba, como en todas las catedrales, está el Señor en el Santísimo Sacramento de la Eucaristía. Este dato fundamental hace inviable celebrar la oración de otra tradición religiosa en su recinto. Por otra parte, el uso compartido de la Catedral de Córdoba por católicos y musulmanes no contribuiría a la convivencia pacífica de los diferentes credos.
Las raíces cristianas de Córdoba y a su historia cristiana diecisiete veces centenaria merecen ser respetadas. Los católicos cordobeses queremos vivir en paz con los creyentes de otros credos, pero no deseamos estar continuamente sometidos a presiones que no contribuyen a la concordia.
Como afirmara en el mes de mayo de 2004 el Arzobispo Mons. Filtzgerald, ex presidente del Pontificio Consejo para el Diálogo Interreligioso, a raíz de una solicitud idéntica de la Junta Islámica, “Es difícil promover la convivencia entre cristianos y musulmanes remontándose a la historia o queriendo revanchas. Es necesario aceptar la historia y seguir adelante”.
7. El Obispo de Córdoba manifestará estas razones y otras varias de carácter pastoral a la Santa Sede si es requerido para ello.
Córdoba, 27 de diciembre de 2006
Here is the bablefish translation of mon-c's post above:
Bishop of Cordova on request of use shared of the Cathedral by the Islamic Meeting of Spain Some Mass media have become echo today, day 27 of December, a letter directed to Santo Padre Benedicto XVI through the Apostolic Nunciature, signed by the Secretary of the Islamic Meeting of Spain, in which this institution asks for Santa Sede who authorizes the shared use of the Cathedral of Cordova by catholics and Muslims and their conversion in "ecumenical temple". For knowledge of the authors of the mentioned letter, Spanish conversos to the Islam, of the public opinion in general, the catholic faithfuls of the Diocese and all those that from the most varied points of Spain and the sometimes analogous foreigner have showed their preoccupation to us, the Bishop of Cordova feels in having to show the following thing: 1. The Diocese of Cordova wants to continue maintaining relations of respect and esteem by the Muslims who live between us. In agreement with the declaration "Nostra aetate" of Vatican Concilio II, is arranged to work sincerely by the mutual understanding, defending and promoting united social justice, the moral goods, La Paz and the freedom to all the men (n. 3). 2. As it could not be of another form, it also favors I engage in a dialog interreligious caused by Santa Sede, from the net identity of each religious confession. In this sense it would not help to this dialogue the shared use of temples and places of cult, that would only generate confusion in the faithfuls, giving foot to the religious indiferentismo. Such shared use can circumstantially have sense in an airport or an Olympic villa, since it is not properly about temples but places of oration, but not in the case of a cathedral. 3. The Bishopric of Cordova and its Town hall have fehacientes legal titles to maintain the exclusive use of the Cathedral by the Catholic Church. They have in addition incontestable historical titles. The archaeological excavations directed by the architect Felix Hernandez in 1930 demonstrated the existence in the subsoil of the present of a whole episcopal complex Cathedral that can be dated between centuries IV and I SAW. There are the archaeological rest of the visigótica basilica dedicated to San Vicente Martyr, domus episcopalis, and more likely the clerical school and the services of charity of the Bishop. In 2004, by initiative of the present Bishop and the Town hall it has been discovered and exposed to the contemplation of the visitors and tourists, a small sacellum or room where the Eucaristía for the patients was reserved. As much the walls, constructed in the century I SAW, as it would be accustomed to it of mosaic of century IV, are plagued of Christian symbols. All this complex was destroyed after the Muslim invasion in year 711, taking advantage of its materials to construct part of the mosque, whose basic architectonic structure has stayed later thanks to the fervor of Bishops and Town halls. 4. The present Cathedral of Cordova was donated by King Fernando III Santo to the Church after the conquest of the city in 1236, being consecrated next by the Bishop of Osma D. Juan Domínguez. It is to notice that all the building is Cathedral, because all it is consecrated. As well it is known, leaned to the perimetrales walls they have risen throughout the centuries a great number of devocionales chapels, all of them of a great artistic interest. 5. The Bishopric of Cordova is not against to that the Muslims who live in our Diocese take worthy places of cult, as also wishes it for the Christians who live in countries of Muslim majority. It demands a as fundamental human right as it is the religious freedom. It considers, nevertheless, that these places must be provided to the number of faithfuls who practice the Islam, relatively small in Cordova, had account of the short number of immigrants that exists in our province, as much in absolute terms as relative, as they say trustworthy statistics to us. 6. In the Cathedral of Cordova, like in all the cathedrals, he is the Gentleman in the Santísimo Sacrament of the Eucaristía. This fundamental data does nonviable to celebrate the oration of another religious tradition in its enclosure. On the other hand, the shared use of the Cathedral of Cordova by catholics and Muslims would not contribute to the pacific coexistence of the different creeds. The Christian roots of Cordova and to its centennial Christian history seventeen times deserve to be respected. The Cordovan catholics we want to live peacefully with the believers of other creeds, but we did not wish to be continuously put under pressures that do not contribute to the concord. As Archbishop Mons. Filtzgerald affirmed in the month of May of 2004, ex- president of the Pontifical Council for the Dialogue Interreligioso, as a result of an identical request of the Islamic Meeting, "Is difficult to promote the coexistence between Christians and Muslims going back to history or wanting revanchas. It is necessary to accept history and to follow ahead ". 7. The Bishop of Cordova will show these reasons and other several of pastoral character to Santa Sede if he is required for it. Cordova, 27 of December of 2006
Translate again
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=GAL%204&version=31
"Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son."
"Spanish Muslims said they had appealed to Pope Benedict XVI to be allowed to prostrate themselves in worship in Córdoba Cathedral"
As in all Catholic and Orthodox Churches, the Blessed Sacrament of the Lord's Body and Blood is reserved in the Tabernacle above the altar in the Córdoba Cathedral.
Anyone, inluding Muslims, are welcome to prostrate before it!
Heh! I sent this article to my cousin in Fla. and told her about the danger of islam.
And she says "there's nothing in the koran that says anything about killing or attacking others."
"Course she hasn't even scanned the koran, but must have been talking to an islam!"
What a dope!
Let me tell you, when I was a kid - I was enthralled with the fantasy of the "I Dream of Genie" costume, and the 1001 Nights tales, (fr. those old b&w movies) Ma, not knowning what it was about asked a family member in Spain to get it fr a fancy publisher there. A leather book tome w/ gold etchings- Vol I (didn't get the rest 'cause I didn't want to spend money on 18k gold edgings).
It's not tales for teens, every story had sex in it and sword violence - (my mother is a bit like Edith Bunker). I sort of scanned it on an off over the years ( as teens do).
Then one day, couple yrs ago, I really started reading it - by then I had an idea about what Sheherezade and her danger fr a vengeful Haroun al-Rashid.
WOW! The book was shuckful of women being beheaded and tortured. And women being whipped.
And the whole thing was treated casually in the book!
WEELL!!! Didn't see the point of having this kind of crap among my books. I finally threw it out!
My Edith Bunker, ma, was scandalized when I told her! "OOHH! how could you possibly throw out a book!" She claimed it as hers, even though she had no clue what it was really about.
Like my cousin that hasn't read the koran.
"Spanish Muslims said they had appealed to Pope Benedict XVI to be allowed to prostrate themselves in worship in Córdoba Cathedral"
Not true. An organisation of Catholics who had converted to Islam made this request.
Strange to leave the Catholic Church and then to want to pray in it.............sounds like they didn't understand Islam when they recited the Shahaada
Thank you for the translation.. Voyager ....
"All this complex was destroyed after the Muslim invasion"
......This is what you must expect when Muslims begin their demands........
the way toward world religious harmony is not just stirring up a pot consisting of the various religions. it is reading books on the what is popularly called 'consciousness' acc. to which the commonality of all religions' ontology (science of religion at its most basic) is brought into view. ken wilber has written a fabulous book on this subject. it makes triumphalism by any single religion (eg slami) impossible