Or at least that's what the following headline would have you think, when in fact, only Christians are quoted praising Muslims -- one of the many glaring inconsistencies in the following account. "Muslims, Christians praise each other," from the Ottawa Citizen, August 9:
Two prominent evangelical Christians praised their dialogue with Muslim leaders Thursday at the end of a three-day conference seeking ways to ease tensions between the world's two largest faiths.Odd that: Muslims accuse evangelicals of waging a crusade against Islam, but evangelicals have no other accusation against Muslims than that they worship a false god? What about eternal jihad, dhimmitude, misogyny, and all the other inevitable "problematic" aspects that may result from, not only worshipping a "false god," but basing one's life on the "pattern" of the man who first fabricated the lie?Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, and Geoff Tunnicliffe, World Evangelical Alliance international director, said some in their ranks had criticized their participation as a concession to Islam.
But both told the final session they were able to openly discuss their religious differences with Muslim participants while agreeing to work to find more common ground with them.
"Our differences are deep and real," said Mr. Anderson of the Washington-based association. "But I have been especially impressed this week with the comfortable candour with which Muslims and Christians have clearly stated their own doctrines to one another."
"It has been good to sit together and build new friendships," said Mr. Tunnicliffe, who is based in Vancouver.
Evangelicals and Muslims are not natural partners. Some Muslim preachers charge U.S. evangelicals with waging war against Islam and trying to convert them. Some evangelical preachers accuse Muslims of worshiping a false god.[...]
"In this dialogue, we are not discussing doctrines or creeds," said Mohammed Bechari, secretary general of the Islamic European Conference. "We are just trying to find common ground for religions to work together as intended by God."That is, we are trying to get the hated Crusader off our back, to give us time to regroup, since we are currently not strong enough for an all out military confrontation with the West.
In their final statement, participants affirmed their support for freedom of religion and mutual respect, important points for Christians who say Muslim-majority countries curtail rights of religious minorities and for Muslims who accuse Western societies of widespread prejudice against Islam.Of course, institutionalized religious discrimination against all non-Muslims throughout the Islamic world is equivalent to the very real fear Westerners have for Islam -- a fear based on, among other things, Islam's institutionalized hatred of all things un-Islamic.
In the statement, the 140 conference participants said they wanted to organize an annual week in which Christian and Muslim clergy would preach to their congregations about the positive aspects of the other faith.Can't you see it now? Minarets and mosques in Egypt, especially those near Coptic communities, instead of blasting Koranic verses such as "Infidels are they who say God is three," will be "praising" Christianity. And Arabia's Wahhabis will of course be touting the "positive aspects" of Christianity.
Mr. Tunnicliffe said evangelicals and Muslims share the common fate of being "stereotyped and stigmatized.""Just as we promise to seek to move beyond the stereotyping of Muslims found in the media, can I ask you, my Muslim friends, to get to know us beyond what is reported in the newspapers and television programs?" he asked.
Now there's the sort of un-dhimmified assertiveness Muslims appreciate.
"...religions to work together as intended by God."
The man needs a new copy writer; that particular piece of bumph had me in stitches.
What stereotype of muslims found in media ? the peaceful innocent victim? That is the only stereotype I have ever heard about.
Ugh, the ignorance of people makes me sick. There IS no common ground between Islam and Christianity or any other religion!
Ahhhh, I get it. This version of 'interfaith dialogue' celebrates a morphed Religion of perpetual grievance. Only one outcome can be expected from such malignant foundations. Only, they're too blind to see it.
DaninVan: Me, too. Surgical stitches after my head exploded.
"We are just trying to find common ground for religions to work together as intended by God."
Why can't these sappy types ever learn to recognize intrusive, platitudinous thoughts for what they are: pleasant, but dangerous fictions. They are concoctions of the subconscious to resolve unresolvable harsh realities staring these deliberate simpletons in the face. These are neither epiphanies, nor inspiration; these people are easily deceived and, thus, disqualified to lead. GET THEM OUT OF LEADERSHIP!!! NOW!!!!!
2 Corinthians 6:14-16 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?
Does this mean we do nothing with them? No.
1 Corinthians 5:9-10 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
What does that leave?
Minister to them, witness to them, try to convert them, martyr yourself doing so if you have to, but for GOD'S SAKE, don't pander to and flatter their false religion and don't represent that you have union with them.
ALLAH is NOT YHWH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(link to Durie's book)
DON'T BE YOKED TOGETHER WITH THEM. Don't put your name and reputation with them, don't sign binding agreements and resolutions with them, and on, and on. STOP THIS DAMNED "INTERFAITH" CRAP, NOW!!!!!!!!
ALLAH is NOT YHWH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(link to Durie's book)
Sorry about the link.
Muslims and Christians have nothing in common, as they don't even serve the same god/God. Muslims serve allah, a pagan moon god, and Christians serve Jesus Christ, the One True God.
Jesus and Muhammad - You Decide:
http://www.christring.org/shortseries/jesusormuhammad.htm
"stereotyped and stigmatized."
As in refering to Christians as trinitarians?
The jews as monkeys and pigs? That kind of "stereotyped and stigmatized"?
Send the goat herders back to the desert, calling Charles the Hammer.
'"In this dialogue, we are not discussing doctrines or creeds," said Mohammed Bechari, secretary general of the Islamic European Conference. "We are just trying to find common ground for religions to work together as intended by God."'
Just substitute 'allah' for 'God' in that final sentence.
Then reflect on the Pact of Omar, and the contents of Bat Yeor's The Dhimmi and The Decline of Eastern Christianity Under Islam, and of Andrew Bostom's Legacy of Jihad and Legacy of Islamic Antisemitism, and of Trifkovic's "Sword of the Prophet".
According to Islam the way religions are intended to 'work together', by 'Allah' the war-god of the Arabs, is that the Jews and Christians cower and flatter and knuckle under while the Muslims tromp all over them, free to act out upon them all the worst instincts of the conscienceless and compassionless robber, rapist, murderer and cruel mean-minded bully, without the least fear that the victims will even utter a squeak of protest, let alone raise a finger to defend themselves (if they do, the Muslims will swell with insulted rage at this dreadful reversal of the divinely ordained order of the world).
All non-Jewish and non-Christian non-Muslims are supposed to be butchered wholesale if they refuse to convert, but in practice dead people don't pay taxes and cannot support the Muslims as Muslims wish to be supported, so Hindus in India and Zoroastrians in Persia were turned into dhimmi de facto slaves and treated abominably.
I think allah the war-god of the Arabs made his long-range intentions for all the other religions pretty clear in the Qur'an.
Qur’an 8:7 “Allah wished to confirm the truth by His words: ‘Wipe the infidels out to the last.’”
Qur’an 8:39 “So, fight them till all opposition ends and the only religion is Islam.”
Qur'an 9: 29 (Yusuf Ali translation): "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."
And from the Hadith, Sahih Muslim:
Muslim:C9B1N33 “The Prophet said: ‘I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and they establish prostration prayer, and pay Zakat. If they do it, their blood and property are protected". {Which means, of course, that if they do NOT convert, then their lives and property are fair game...dda}.
I think it's pretty clear what 'allah', according to Muslim belief, intends for the followers of other religions...
Another choice item from the article:
'"It has been good to sit together and build new friendships," said Mr. Tunnicliffe, who is based in Vancouver.'
Does Mr Tunnicliffe even *know* what the canonical Islamic texts, and the mainstream, consensus interpretation of same, tells Muslims about 'friendship' with non-Muslims?
From the canonical Life of the 'prophet':
Ibn Ishaq:231 - “Muslims are one ummah (community) to the exclusion of all men. Believers are friends of one another to the exclusion of all outsiders.”
From the Qur'an itself:
Qur'an 48: 29 - "...Those who follow him [Mohammed] are ruthless to the unbelievers, merciful to one another".
Qur’an 3:118 “Believers! Take not into your intimacy those outside your religion (pagans, Jews, and Christians). They will not fail to corrupt you. They only desire your ruin".
Qur'an 3: 28: "Let believers not take for friends and allies infidels rather than believers; whoever does so shall have no relationship left with Allah—unless you but guard yourselves against them, taking precautions”.
That is: NO real friendship with non-muslims is permitted; but FAKE friendships are permitted, for Muslim advantage. See Ibn Kathir, one of the classic and still authoritative interpreters:
Ibn Kathir's tafsir on Qur'an 3:28:
"Allah said next,
[إِلاَ أَن تَتَّقُواْ مِنْهُمْ تُقَـةً]
(unless you indeed fear a danger from them) meaning, except those believers who in some areas or times fear for their safety from the disbelievers.
In this case, such believers are allowed to show friendship to the disbelievers outwardly, but never inwardly.
For instance, Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Ad-Darda' said, 'We smile in the face of some people although our hearts curse them.'
Al-Bukhari said that Al-Hasan said, 'The Tuqyah is allowed until the Day of Resurrection.' "
This passage may be seen in its entirety at
http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=3&tid=8052
How can Anderson and Tunnicliffe be sure, quite quite sure, that some - or even all - of the Muslims with whom they are so delighted to be building 'new friendships', are not following the principles laid down by Ibn Kathir?
Do they know that Muslims believe Mohammed said 'war is deception'?
Do Anderson and Tunnicliffe know about *these* sorts of texts? -
Bukhari:V5B59N369 “Allah’s Apostle said, ‘Who is willing to kill Ka’b bin Ashraf who has hurt Allah and His Apostle?’ Thereupon Muhammad bin Maslamah got up saying, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! Would you like me to kill him?’ The Prophet said, ‘Yes,’ Maslamah said, ‘Then allow me to say false things in order to deceive him.’ The Prophet said, ‘You may say such things.’”
Abu Hurairah and Jabir (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "War is deception.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
[Muslim] Commentary: "Khad`ah'' means deception, i.e., employing a strategy which causes misunderstanding to the enemy, and one's real intent does not become evident to them. This is permissible in Islam in the state of war."
And I am quite, quite sure that none of the Muslims in that 'dialogue' would let on to their naive interlocutors, that in the body of Muslim tradition there exist sayings like *this*:
"When judgment day arrives, Allah will give every Muslim, a Jew or Christian to kill so that the Muslim will not enter into hell fire" (Mishkat Al-Messabih, no. 5552).