Baker: now in Bahrain
“Islamic countries can save the West from its moral decay.” Who said it? Bill Baker, who, according to the Orange County Weekly, “has resurfaced as a frequent guest speaker at Muslim functions across North America despite articles in OC Weekly in 2002 that outed the Laguna Hills resident as the former head of the neo-Nazi Populist Party and led to his ouster as a close associate to the Reverend Robert Schuller of Garden Grove’s Crystal Cathedral.”
The MSA has hosted Baker at Western Michigan University.
Note the similarities of the soothing syrup of peace and harmony between Muslims and Christians that Baker peddles and that which is sold by American Muslim advocacy groups. Neither face the harsh realities of the persecution of Christians by Muslims, or lingering dhimmitude.
From the Gulf Daily News, with thanks to Nicolei:
ISLAMIC countries should come to the rescue of the Western world which is suffering from moral decay and deterioration, says a top US scholar and writer.
Muslims and Christians should join hands in the pursuit of peace, freedom, justice and moral values, said California-based Christians and Muslims for Peace (CAMP) president Professor Bill Baker.
No country, irrespective of its military and money power, can exist if its moral values are deteriorated, he told the GDN.
“Islamic countries can save the West from its moral decay, provided Muslims lead a life built on the five pillars of Islam,” said Prof Baker.
“Islam is like a house built on the rock of submission and supported by five pillars: Witnessing, Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving or Tithing, and Pilgrimage.
“These five pillars are the distinguishing marks of Islam from all other religions.”
Prof Baker is in Bahrain at the invitation of Discover Islam.
He gave a talk on Zionism or Judaism, Justice or Injustice, Oppressor or Oppressed at Beit Al Quran last night.
Deputy Prime Minister and Islamic Affairs Minister Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalid Al Khalifa hosted a luncheon reception in honour of Prof Baker at his Riffa residence yesterday.
It was attended by Information Minister Nabeel Al Hamer, Municipalities and Agriculture Minister Dr Mohammed Al Sitri, Parliament second deputy chairman Shaikh Adel bin Abdulrahman Al Maawda, Islamic Affairs Under-Secretary Shaikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Defence Under-Secretary Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, GDN chairman Anwar Abdul Rahman, Discover Islam chairman Ishaq Kooheji and other guests.
Prof Baker presented to Shaikh Abdulla the copies of his latest books: More in Common than you think: The bridge between Islam and Christianity and Theft of a Nation.
Now is the time to build on the foundations of existing coalition and co-operation between Christians and Muslims, said Prof Baker.
“Now is the time to teach all Muslims and all Christians everywhere about the common ground they share,” he noted.
“As a Christian who has lived, studied and interacted with Muslim believers for many years, I consider it my responsibility to set forth the basic history and teachings of Islam in an effort to educate the sincere individual who truly wants to know what Muslims believe and practise.
“Once learned, that individual may join with other Christians in building bridges of peace, dialogue, and understanding with the brothers and sisters of Islam.”
America and the Western nations begin the new millennium by presenting Islam as the most dangerous threat to freedom and democracy, said Prof Baker.
“Politicians portray longtime Arab allies as untrustworthy and in need of close scrutiny, while the media too casts aspersions on the millions of honourable Muslim citizens living in the West,” he added.
“My mission is to remove the distortions and prejudices created against Islam by bringing people and nations on common ground.
“I also appeal to Christians and Muslims to oppose the common evils of all mankind by joining hands in the pursuit of peace, freedom, justice and moral values.”
CAMP, based in Southern California, has members in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Middle East, who are actively engaged in promoting dialogue between Muslims and Christians.
Prof Baker is a member of the Near East Institute of Archaeology, the Oxford Philosophical Society and numerous other organisations.
He had earlier addressed a dialogue session at the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, entitled East meets West – Removing Mistrust between Islam and the West.