And where do we see, in real life, this “shared brotherhood”? In the endless attacks on Christian churches and worshippers in Pakistan? In the death sentence, and eight years of prison, endured by Asia Bibi? In the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian Minister for Minorities, who dared to attack the blasphemy law that was used to condemn Asia Bibi? Is that “shared brotherhood” displayed in the hundreds of thousands of Pakistani Muslims who came out on the streets, after Bibi’s acquittal, to bay for her blood? Do we see that “brotherhood” of Christians and Muslims in the attacks, even in supposedly “moderate” Indonesia, on Christians, including the decapitation of Christian schoolgirls? Is this “brotherhood” visible in Saudi Arabia, where Saudis are forbidden to practice Christianity, and where even the foreign Christians are forbidden to worship publicly, and must do so only behind closed doors? Bibles, crucifixes, and other Christian symbols are prohibited; Christian clergy are forbidden entry to the country. Even the most innocuous of activities are punished. A group of Korean nurses, softly singing Christmas carols in their own rooms, behind closed doors, were overheard by the religious police, and were promptly expelled from the country.
Is the “shared brotherhood” of Christians and Muslims to be found in Iraq, where the Christian population has gone from 1.5 million in 2003 to 250,000 today, a country where, the Anglican Canon Andrew White now says, “Christianity is dead”? Why did the Christians leave Iraq? Once Saddam Hussein, who had been their protector, was overthrown, Muslims of both sects — Sunni and Shi’a — promptly began to attack at will the now unprotected Christians. Or is that “shared brotherhood” to be found in Lebanon, where the Maronite community has been in steady decline ever since the Lebanese Civil War, during which it defended itself mainly against the Sunni Muslims, and now finds its major foe to be the Shi’a Muslims of Hezbollah? In Egypt, where is that “shared brotherhood” when Muslims attack Coptic Christians, bomb their churches, riddle with machine-gun fire buses in which Copts are traveling to and from pilgrimage sites? Where, in any of these countries, have Muslims turned out en masse — or even turned out at all — to protest the mistreatment of local Christians by local Muslims? The answer is: nowhere. Nowhere can this “shared brotherhood” of Christians and Muslims be found.
Islam 101 comes on the heels of last semester’s interfaith panel, “A Rabbi, A Pastor and An Imam: Stronger Together,” which Khan said brought out around 300 people to discuss the similarities and differences between Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
This Interfaith propaganda will inevitably include many of the following points:
First, that Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are the “three great monotheisms.” Nothing will be said about how Muslims regard many Christians as guilty of shirk, or polytheism, because of the doctrine of the Trinity.
Second, that Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are the “three great abrahamic faiths.” Just how significantly Islam’s version of the story of Abraham differs from that of the other two “abrahamic faiths” will not be addressed.
Third, that Muslims revere Jesus “as a great prophet.” There will be no mention of the denial, in Islam, of His divinity.
Fourth, that Mary, too, is revered in Islam, that Sura 19 is named after her, and that “Mary” (“Mariam”) is mentioned more frequently in the Qur’an — 70 times — than in the New Testament. But the Muslim apologists are unlikely to admit that she is only a righteous woman, neither a prophet nor the mother of the Son of God.
As for “fasting during Ramadan,” that will be accurately described as a month-long fast, during the day, that offers Muslims a way to demonstrate the strength of their commitment to the faith.
“I think it [Islam 101, two one-hour lectures by two Muslims] will be a great opportunity for those who don’t know much about Islam or don’t personally know Muslims,” Khan said.
Food will be catered from nearby Mirch Masala Grill, and a question-and-answer period will follow each speaker. For those who want to test their newfound knowledge, the Center for Multicultural Education will have trivia directly following the lecture.
An evening of sanitized Islam, carefully prepared by Muslims well-versed in the arts of taqiyya and tu-quoque, And accompanied by that essential come-on and emollient — free food.
That food, representing one or more Muslim cuisines, is a sine qua non of these Open Mosque Nights and Ask-A-Muslim Anything events. Sometimes it’s a sampling of many Muslim cuisines. In this case, the food provided by the “Masala Grill” is apparently is to be that of South Asian cuisine. Hungry students — are attracted to these events by the promise of exotic free food. The food also puts them in a receptive, cheerful mood, more likely to accept what they are told by their kind hosts.
The little game of “trivia” that ends the evening, “for those [visitors]who want to test their newfound knowledge,” will provide them with the illusion that they have learned a great deal. It’s not hard to guess what kinds of questions will be asked, nor the right “answers” that will be supplied to them by their Muslim hosts.