Sharing the Blame

Sincerely hope this ultra-new concept of freedom between religions is all about sharing historical blames especially as regards us and the Islamics.

Us of course also meaning the Israelis who certainly do regard themselves as closer to us Anglo's et all than the Arabs.

Finally, could say from a philosophical viewpoint that while we might say it could be hate from the Islamists who do not agree with the concept, from our side as usual will be a mixture of Western arrogance and the usual chicken liverness.

Regards, BB WA.

"The Koran itself is a highly derivative, boringly repetitive and inconsistent mishmash"

Quite unlike the Bible.

It can't be pointed out often enough that Islam is 600 years younger than Christianity, and is identical in almost every respect to Christianity 600 years ago.

Sancho: Your ironic "Quite unlike the Bible" shows little knowledge of the Bible or history of Christianity.

There is some repetition in the Bible - a human product. Kings and Chronicles cover similar ground; the Ten Commandments appear in both Exodus and Deuteronomy. However: there is much beautiful poetry and imagery in the Bible. Its coherent style - and content - are incomparably superior to the Koran.

The Koran recognizes Jesus as a major prophet, yet there is not a trace of his teaching in the Koran. Jesus overturns the 'eye for eye, tooth for tooth' injunction in Leviticus, with his clear instructions about forgiveness and non-resistance. The Koran has no equivalent of the sublimity of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, or Beatitudes.

Christianity 600 years ago was benefiting from scholasticism (Abelard, Aquinas). Islam has stayed intellectually destitute. The Reformation (1500s) came from application of reason (detailed, interpretive study) to the Bible, and personal spirituality . Islam shot its brains out centuries ago, and comprehensively in the 20th century with the cesspit of Wahabiism and that idiot General Zia whose cosiness to mad mullahs flushed Pakistan down the toilet.

I'd like to believe that Mr. Kahn is both genuine in his viewpoint and sincerely believes that it is possible for Islam to re-invent itself. But I am immediately assailed by the Koranic exhortation that Muslims may lie to and deceive the ‘infidels’ (i.e. us Christians and Jews) in order to promote Islam.

There is also the problem that Muslims would have to - repeat HAVE TO - extensively re-write the Koran if they genuinely want their religion to evolve into a religion that can co-exist peacefully. As it currently stands, that book is clearly explicit in promoting violence against anyone who does not toe the Muslim line.

When Christianity underwent its reformations there was no change to the Biblical texts. But the Islamic faith cannot in any way change if it clings to a book that literally insists on violence, coercion and whatever ugly forms of intimidation may be necesary to assert itself.

The opposition by Islamic extremists to ANY changes to the Koran - let alone extensive changes - is such that any informed person understands that any change at all would be virtually impossible. It is certain that there would be much bloodshed amongst Muslims before any meaningful changes occurred. But even if drastic changes are somehow miraculously made and completely embraced by the entire Muslim community, what Muslims would end up with would simply be a version of Christianity (which, by the way, is in no way exemplified by, for example, young white women walking half-naked on our streets and young white men drinking themselves insensible in pubs on a Sunday morning. These types are NOT “Christians.” They are Godless/secular barbarians and I dare say that this is one reality that genuine Christians and Muslims can very comfortably agree on.) So why don’t those Muslims who are sincere in their desire for love of fellow humans and world peace simply give that faith away and embrace a more peaceable faith - one that, warts and all, history has shown, brought far more well-being to people around the world than any other for of belief system (religion)?