In PJ Media I discuss a few examples of recent attempts at inter-faith dialogue that Pope Francis should consider as he weighs engaging with the Islamic State.
During his trip to Turkey in late November, Pope Francis said that he would never rule out the possibility of dialogue with representatives of the Islamic State:
I never consider something a lost cause, never. Maybe we can’t have a dialogue, but never close the door. It is difficult, you might say “almost impossible,” but the door is always open.
Dialogue, of course, has to be a two-way street to be effective. So it is useful to consider some of the most recent examples of Muslim outreach to Jews and Christians: it can help us evaluate the prospects of that dialogue with the Islamic State and the Islamic world in general.
6. Poll: 80% of “Palestinians” support jihad terror attacks on Israeli civilians
The Associated Press reported Tuesday on a new poll showing that 80 percent of Palestinians “supported individual attacks by Palestinians who have stabbed Israelis or rammed cars into crowded train stations.”
They’re approving of hit-and-run attacks on Israeli civilians, and of stabbing whole families to death in their homes in the middle of the night. They’re glorifying and celebrating savagery. But surely this is nothing that a bit of “dialogue” won’t cure!
5. Muslims forcing closure and demolition of churches all over Ethiopia
Last week Ethiopian authorities, responding to complaints from local Muslims, destroyed the building housing the Y Semay Birihan Church (Heaven’s Light Church), located in the overwhelmingly Muslim city of Harar. The Christian news site BosNewsLife reported that “efforts by local majority Muslim populations to ‘eliminate the public presence’ of churches resulted in the forceful closure, destruction and demolition of several church buildings in recent years.”
Cameron Thomas, an official of International Christian Concern, explained:
Corrupt officials willing to defend their religion rather than the laws they’ve sworn to uphold, are violating Christians’ rights by forcibly closing, destroying and demolishing churches across Ethiopia.
Islamic law forbids non-Muslims to build new houses of worship or to repair old ones. It seems as if Muslims in Ethiopia, with help from compromised officials, are trying to establish that prohibition there.
4. Islamic State using former churches as prisons
In the formerly Christian city of Mosul, the Islamic State has converted former churches, notably the ancient Chaldean Church of the Immaculate Conception and St. George’s Monastery, into prisons. The transformation neatly epitomizes the difference between the worldview of those who previously used the buildings and those who use them now. There have been no reports, in any case, of a successful “dialogue” resulting in the Islamic State reducing or commuting the sentences of anyone held in these new prisons.
3. Islamic Republic of Iran launches “We Love Fighting Israel” campaign
Not to be outdone in glorifying hatred and savagery, even among the youngest children, and paving the way for a war that is certain to come, the Islamic Republic of Iran has launched a social media campaign titled “We Love Fighting Israel.” Investigative journalist Adam Kredo reported in the Washington Free Beacon that this campaign “encourages Iranian children, teens, and Internet users to photograph themselves alongside messages of hate for the Jewish state.”
That is indeed outreach of a sort, but not of the kind that the proponents of “dialogue” in the West have in mind….
Read the rest over at PJ Media.
Don McKellar says
Dear Pope Francis,
When it comes to Islam, Pope, you have just met your SECOND truly lost cause. Let me put it in perspective for you, in terms you will understand. You believe there is such a thing as Satan, right? Of course you do — you have to, it is one of the core tenants to your church. Is Satan a lost cause? Do you somehow believe you can have a dialogue with Satan that will lead to something good? Of course such a thing is not possible — Satan has a set nature and agenda which does not change. The only possible good to come of such a dialogue might be that you manage to escape and strengthen you resolve to work agains Stana’s influence on the world. Well, let me point something out to you, so does Islam work in the same manner and have the same characteristics. It does not change, and its agenda is, with an objective truthful look from an atheist like me, virtually exactly the same as the objective and agendas laid out for Satan in the Bible. And you would see that, too, if you would make an honest appraisal of the situation.
All the best,
Don
mortimer says
Perhaps His Holiness could discuss the possibility of preaching a new crusade.
pumbar says
I think the current incumbent would think “crusade” was some sort of soft drink.
Angemon says
Or, as a bishop put it, “talk[ing] about extreme, militant Islamists…might undercut the positive achievements that we Catholics have attained in our inter-religious dialogue with devout Muslims””
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2013/02/worcester-bishop-spencers-talk-about-extreme-militant-islamists-and-the-atrocities-that-they-have-pe
Salah says
The best Islamic outreach to Christians: the Qur’an and the hadiths.
“Nevertheless he left not himself without testimony.” Acts 14:17
What do Islamic texts say about Jesus:
http://crossmuslims.blogspot.com/2011/05/saint-and-sinner.html
boakai ngombu says
appreciate your work, Salah
so tragic that the Allah god of Islam (unknowable; the best of all deceivers) has not left the adherent to the “noble” Koran (the shepherd of the adherent; umbilical throughout the umma) with assuredness that all sin and sinful impulses and transgressions are truly lifted from them.
so tragic that the malevolent, belligerent Allah god of Islam is so full of wrath as to reject Moses and the Prophets, for even they convey assuredness in the Righteousness and Goodness of the Lord of Hosts and the Messiah.
the people of the mosque (turning point; armory and training center) are in darkness.
Salah says
Thank you boakai ngombu.
Indeed, the people of the mosque are in total darkness. But this is slowly changing, my friend. The Truth will set them free.
Edison says
“so tragic that the Allah god of Islam (unknowable; the best of all deceivers) ”
Here again We have this quote—–” the best of all deceivers)” I have recently finished reading the Koran and didn’t see this, I have done a search on online Korans and can’t find it. I am not saying it doesn’t exist (I hope it does) if it does can someone show me where, Please.
Angemon says
Edison posted:
“Here again We have this quote—–” the best of all deceivers)” I have recently finished reading the Koran and didn’t see this, I have done a search on online Korans and can’t find it”
Recent editions of the quran deceptively replaced “deceivers” with “planners”. I believe Picktahll’s translation uses the term “schemers”.
Salah says
“for God is the best of crafty ones.”
The closest translation to the Arabic is found in the Pickthall translation: “Allah is the best of schemers” (Q 3.54). The Arabic text is clear in discussing Allah’s fight against evil by stating that Allah answers deception with deception, and that he is the best of all makrin (“deceivers/schemer”).
Click on the link below, then click on “error”
http://www.thequran.com/Read/Verse/3/54/54/22
pumbar says
I don’t want to do a “christy” but I’ve copied and pasted this for you;
http://www.wikiislam.net/wiki/Allah_the_Best_Deceiver
Champ says
This dangerous effort is part and parcel of the evil Chrislam movement …
http://www.exposingchrislam.com/
Please check it out!
Edison says
These people could benefit from reading Robert Spencer’s books. I myself have read several in the past few weeks, even bought some extras to give away. Yep, I’m a Spencer Fan.
Edison says
@ Angemon, Thanks for the reply, since you didn’t give a Qur’an reference, I assume you are referring to;
Sura 3:54, or Sura 8:30. In a comparative look at these verses, none use the term deceiver, although schemer is used. The definition of schemer is to devise a plan in an underhanded way, but still not as strong as the term deceiver. BTW Pickthall uses schemer as does Dr. Gali. The others use planner or devisor.
Angemon says
Edison posted:
“@ Angemon, Thanks for the reply, since you didn’t give a Qur’an reference, I assume you are referring to;
Sura 3:54, or Sura 8:30. In a comparative look at these verses, none use the term deceiver, although schemer is used. The definition of schemer is to devise a plan in an underhanded way, but still not as strong as the term deceiver. BTW Pickthall uses schemer as does Dr. Gali. The others use planner or devisor.”
Sam Shamoun and David Wood, from answering-islam.org and answeringmuslims.com, wrote some articles on the subject. Hope they can clarify your doubts:
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/allah_best_deceiver.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/does_god_deceive.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Authors/Wood/deceptive_god.htm
Edison says
@ Angemon, Thank you for the links, this is what I was looking for. I will definitely bookmark these. Much appreciated.
guide inside says
Any interfaith dialogue the Pope might have should be conditional with the Pope wearing a very thick leather collar around his neck.
Bill says
The Pope and all other Christians should realize that the Scriptures clearly demonstrate that Islam is the Body of Antichrist. And, the Antichrist will be a Middle East Muslim:
1. 1 John Chapter 2: The antichrist is identified as “he who denies the Son.” Islam at the creedal, foundational level is defined by its denial of the Son. The Koran and all Islamic texts are replete with denials of the Son and of the Trinity. The al Aqsa Mosque, for example, is filled with plaques that deny the Son, the Cross and the Trinity. Islam is a Unitarian heresy like the Arian heresy.
2. Psalm 2 demonstrates the nations are aligned against the Son who is enthroned on Mount Zion.
3. Daniel 9:26 says that “the people (Hebrew “am” meaning ethnic group or kindred, not empire or nation) of the prince who is to come will destroy the Temple.” Josephus identified those who destroyed the Second Temple in 70 AD as the Tenth Legion “Frentensus.” The Tenth Legion was comprised of Turks, Arabs and Syrians. These are the “people” of the antichrist.
4. The antichrist is referred to as “The Assyrian” (Micah 5), “The King of Babylon” (Isaiah 14), “The King of Tyre” (Ezekiel 28) and “the “terrible ruler” of Egypt (Isaiah 19).
5. Gideon is a type of the Messiah (see Isaiah 9, Isaiah 10, Psalm 83). When Gideon killed the princes of Midian (i.e. Arabia) Gideon took their CRESCENT ornaments off their camels.
6. In Revelation 20 the Saints are killed during the Tribulation by BEHEADING.
7. In Daniel 11 the antimessiah “has no regard for the desire of women.” This does not mean he is gay. It means he has “no regard for what women want” (i.e. respect and equality). Islam degrades women.
8. The OT is filled with texts of YHWH, The Messiah and/or the Jews fighting the enemies of God and Israel at the end of the age. All of the fighting is against the following: Edom, Mt. Seir, Gaza, Philistia, Lebanon, Babylon, Elam, Midian, Teman, Dedan, Ethopia, Libya, Egypt, Assyria, Moab, Damascus, “Yavan” (not “Greece” but the western shores of Turkey), Mesech, Tubal…not one mention of fighting against European nations. (See Micah 5, Numbers 23, Pslam 83, Isaiah 63, Ezekiel 35-39, Zechariah 9, Isaiah 19, Isaiah 17, Obadiah, Isaiah 9-11 to name a few).
9. In Revelation, as Jesus is addressing Pergamum, He states they live where “Satan’s throne” is. Pergamum is in Turkey.
10. In Matthew 24:15 Jesus warns those “in Judea” to “flee to the mountains” when they see “the abomination of desolation spoken of by the Prophet Daniel.” Judea is “The West Bank.” Currently there are 500,000 Jewish “settlers” living there. They will be slaughtered by Palestinians once the horrible event happens. As Matthew writes: “Let the reader understand.” Someone needs to warn them. Do you believe they are going to be slaughtered by Europeans in The West Bank?
11. The types of the antichrist include only Middle East characters (e.g. Goliath, “The Assyrian,” Antiochus Epiphanies, Pharaoh, Nimrod, etc).
12. At the foundational, textual level, Islam hates and is antagonistic against Christians and Jews.
13. Isn’t it clear by now that the dispute over Jerusalem (Zechariah 14, et al) and THE LAND is at the heart of Islam?