Based on the account David gives us of his welcome the thread might better have been titled "A Christian Wolf on the prowl amongst Muslim Sheep".

Once again BD has been treated with courtesy by Muslims and once again he misses the point.

I'm left wondering what the treatment would be for a representative of some other faith who turned up at an event at BD's church prepared with some protest signs in the back pocket, who declined to meet the advertised guest speaker and who attempted to evangelise another attendee. My guess is a lot less polite than BD recieved from his "Den of Islamic Lions".

R0bert

That is simply shameful, Boaz.

>>I declined to meet Ms Ridley for a number of reasons... Her topic was 'Islamophobia' but I arrived too late to hear it in person<<

...followed by

>>I note with interest that Ridley converted to Islam after being kidnapped by the TALIBAN.. the mind truly boggles. I guess blindness to all they stand for is one of the symptoms of her conversion sickness.<<

It is, at the very least, the very epitome of bad manners to go to a meeting about Islamophobia, miss the presentation itself, pass up on an open invitation to meet the presenter, and then to have the blind cheek to criticise her for what she has done.

If you are not totally ashamed of such conduct, then you should be.

Do you not have a close friend, or a family member perhaps, who can take you to one side and explain in simple terms that this sort of behaviour is unacceptable?

It is obvious that you yourself see nothing wrong in what you are doing, because you clearly take such pride in it.

>>due to the engaging conversation with the Somali man, I felt the greater benefit was to be found in discussing with him. He was evangelised for Christ and I was called to consider ulitmate truth by him<<

Read this out loud to to yourself, Boaz, and listen to its consummate smugness. The poor guy, standing there listening politely to this nutty Christian with an anti-Islam placard in his pocket - have you no shame at all?

Incidentally, could you explain to us mere mortals exactly what is involved in being "evangelised for Christ" and in your being "called to consider ulitmate truth by him"

Maybe it only sounds distressing, who knows.

Some like to put the boot into you BD but it is clear they can not find much of Merritt to do so.
In Iran a rather mad fellow has again asked for war on the west, he holds Australia's pass port.
The only action I can think of that would prove Muslims in Australia do not share his views is to get rid of this bigoted idiot now.
Some very good Muslims could be found to represent this group but is the will there?
Is there any point in multi cultures if insults such as this persons are not stopped?
Some from within the community I speak of find nothing wrong with his rambles but much wrong with my views.
Australia needs some to review their views on racism and bigotry and our right to be concerned at importing problems.

Hi Belly.. a lot of people put the boot into me :) I take kicks every week..literally... rarely do they hurt.

Rob... on Australia day, I attended a prayer meeting in Festival Hall, it was a Catch the Fire organized event. Outside there was a small group of committed atheists holding up the book by Dawkins "The God delusion" and they were trying to 'set us free' from our Christian bondage. I noticed no-one speaking to them (including myself) in any other way than that of concern, and polite disagreement.
I welcome their exercise of their democractic and free speech rights, it goes with the territory. If Muslims came to my own Church with a protest sign or 3 I wouldn't mind, it might shake some of our more apathetic brothers and sisters out of their comfort zones.

Rob, I don't know how it would have gone if I'd made a similar approach to the rather ferocious looking Wahabbis present. They might not have taken the same tone. I don't open a coversation with a sledgehammer whack of John 3:16 on people. I open with friendly banter.

Pericles, I don't mind you having a feeding frenzy there :) You are reading way too much into all this. 'Evangelized' means that the man was presented with a statement of the finality of Christ. (John 14:6) and that..in response to a direct question from him..."Why don't you obey Mohammad" ? He needed to go in, and prior to departing he simply suggested that I consider the various 'answers' in the various religions, but obviously he meant for me to discover "Islam" as the true faith. Thats no problem. It seems the most ruffled feathers in all this are on your own back.

I've been at the Alemain fountain with a gospel group in days gone by, and a drunk came up and king hit one of our team. It is not always smooth.

Wolf Rob ? :) not a bad comment.

>>Pericles, I don't mind you having a feeding frenzy there :) You are reading way too much into all this.<<

Hey, you started this thread, not I.

>>the man was presented with a statement of the finality of Christ. (John 14:6) and that..in response to a direct question from him..."Why don't you obey Mohammad" ? He needed to go in, and prior to departing he simply suggested that I consider the various 'answers' in the various religions<<

That's "a fruitful discussion as Christian to Muslim"? Sounds more like a Mormon doorstep interchange.

>>She claims Australia is one of the most 'Islamophobic' countries in the world. Well... who can resist such a challenge ? Not me.<<

From what you subsequently tell us, you resisted the challenge remarkably well.

Entirely, in fact.

Given that you didn't actually attend the meeting, or engage in any meaningful discussion, what exactly was your point?

Just another excuse to score a few cheap points, apparently.

Belly asks, somewhat obscurely:

>>Is there any point in multi cultures if insults such as this persons are not stopped?<<

Given the full story of your sojourn, where exactly is the "insult"?

This is the problem with rabble-rousing. You don't actually have to do or say anything meaningful to get a reaction from the masses. You simply blow that dog whistle, and they bark away.

Boazy: "I think we have little to fear from Ms Ridley, who appears to be very naive, bordering on irrational, and definitely a strange individual."

Yes, well - that's undoubtedly exactly how the Muslims at the conference regarded you. And, of course, pretty well how most of us here at OLO regard you as well :)