Irfan

Thank you a most interesting article. I do not have any expertise in either domain. Even so, you have given me more to think about.

Have a great new year
Cheers
Kay

Irfy
I learn more about Islam every day. Your warmhearted article is clearly not intended to be confrontational, and I can feel your sense of connection to the ancient history through it.

But your quote:

"...apparently deplorable state of relations between Christians and Muslims has more to do with politics than theology."

Is possibly correct to a degree, but what I'm about to post below surely won't help matters, but as you yourself said "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen"

Bukhari
Volume 4, Book 56, Number 660:
Narrated 'Aisha and Ibn 'Abbas:

On his death-bed Allah's Apostle put a sheet over his-face and when he felt hot, he would remove it from his face. When in that state (of putting and removing the sheet) he said, "May Allah's Curse be on the Jews and the Christians for they build places of worship at the graves of their prophets." (By that) he intended to warn (the Muslim) from what they (i.e. Jews and Christians) had done.

Surah 9:30 from the Quran:
009.030
YUSUFALI: The Jews call 'Uzair a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth!

Now.. without making any comment on the plain sense of these, do you feel that when the Prophet and the Holy Book curse Christians, there is much that can be done to breach the gulf between them ?

I can't see any path myself.
But in any case, cheers and happy wishes for the season. Hope you get away and have a refreshing break.

Dear Irfan,
I enjoyed this post. It's always pleasant to see moderation in religious discussion.

And by and large I agreed with what you wrote.

Where it came unstuck for me, however was the line "the things that unite us are far greater in number and importance than those which divide us". Unforunately, I suspect that for most practicing Christians and Muslims, the things which divide are absolutely central to their beliefs - such as the belief that say, Muhammad was the prophet of God, or that Jesus was the son of God.

It may have been more accurate to say "there is some common ground between the religions, which persons of good will could, with a little effort, use to build tolerance and understanding".

Not as catchy, though, is it?

Cheers,
Rhys.

A very interesting article.

BD, your quotes show enough to demonstrate that the Koran is as full as hipocrasies and contradictions as the Bible, and not doubt any other holy book. The quote provided in the article shows that Allah granted Mary a holy son. Ok, it doesnt go so far as to say that he was the son of Allah, but this can be reached by inference.

More work should be put into identifying the similarities of the two religions. If nothing else, it is enlightening from a historical viewpoint.

"The quote provided in the article shows that Allah granted Mary a holy son. Ok, it doesnt go so far as to say that he was the son of Allah, but this can be reached by inference."

I'm sorry, but how exactly can this be reached by inference? I'm sure Muslims of the world would be fascinated to hear your response. Any woman can give birth to a "holy son"- how does this make him the Son of God? I think you've been influenced by the Christian mindset.

BTW, this thread just reminded me of something- for Christians the biggest difference with Islam is that Islam does not regard Jesus as the Son of God and claims it "shirk" (a great sin) to say so. However this is one of the single defining traits of all types of Christians- we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He was given for the sins of mankind. Everything else is secondary to that universal Christian truth. (For more discussion on the "essentials" of the Christian faith, I would direct the reader to this website a Bible college student has set up in Canada: http://essentiallyjesus.blogspot.com/2006/10/determining-essentials.html )

However, for Muslims the biggest difference is that there is no reason to believe that Christianity regards Mohammad as a prophet. Of course, this is a great insult to Islam, and its evident by the severe penalties placed on people who are accused of "insulting" Mohammad in Islamic countries (which can include death).

Hi Irfan,

I think that you promoting a typical Islamic Trojan Horse. That is, "trust us, our religion is just the same as yours!"

There might be similarities if the protagonists both happen to be moderate Christians and Muslims. However, moderates like yourself are in the distinct minority when it comes to Islam. Fundamentalism IS the representative idealology of the faith. It has the loudest voice and the biggest political clout.

The truth of the matter is that Muslim Fundamentalists despise the Christian faith and have a deliberate agenda of antagonism. For example, there is the current debacle in Malaysia over the conversion of Lina Joy from Islam to Christianity;

'Death of religious tolerance in Malaysia
Greg Sheridan, Kuala Lumpur
December 27, 2006

LAWYER Malik Imtiaz Sawar seems a most unlikely person to attract death threats. A small, softly spoken, friendly man, the impression he gives is above all one of consideration.
What has earned him the death threats is his appearance in court on behalf of Lina Joy, a case that has become a battleground of Malaysian political and cultural identity, and of freedom of religion.

The case highlights what some analysts believe is the Arabisation of Malaysian Islam, a dynamic that can also be seen in Indonesia....

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20977254-2702,00.html

In Australia we have the example of Hizb ut-Tahrir. This right-right political group is broadly accepted by the Muslim community despite its agenda of hate.

Sorry Irfan, but the evidence is overwhelming - political Islam as practiced in the 21st century is intolerant of Christianity and all other faiths. It does not want to share god with other beliefs but is in violent competition with them.

This fact leaves secular humanists like myself no option but to shun monotheism till it embraces a more civilised idealology - an idealology without a vengeful sky-god and the literal adherence to a sacred book of silly Bronze Age fables. Unfortunately, given its track record this seems unlikely for a very long time.

(Now, where did I put my copy of 'The God Delusion' by Mr. Dawkins?.......)