Posted on 01/26/2014 9:55:33 AM PST by Gamecock
Bishop Martinus Muskens--a retiring Dutch bishop having either a senior moment or revealing his universalism--is proposing that people of all faiths simply refer to God as "Allah." While many of Muskens' fellow Catholics are appalled (no surprise), the people at CAIR are thrilled (no surprise either).
According to a recent news article (Click here: FOXNews.com - Roman Catholic Bishop Wants Everyone to Call God 'Allah' - International News | News of the World |):
_______________________________________
"A proposal by a Roman Catholic bishop in the Netherlands that people of all faiths refer to God as `Allah' is not sitting well with the Catholic community. Tiny Muskens, an outgoing bishop who is retiring in a few weeks from the southern diocese of Breda, said God doesn't care what he is called.
`Allah is a very beautiful word for God. Shouldn't we all say that from now on we will name God Allah? ... What does God care what we call him? It is our problem,' Muskens told Dutch television.
`I'm sure his intentions are good but his theology needs a little fine-tuning,' said Father Jonathan Morris, a Roman Catholic priest based in Rome. Morris, a news analyst for FOX News Channel, also called the idea impractical. `Words and names mean things,' Morris said. `Referring to God as Allah means something.'"
______________________________
Foolish me. I thought that a bishop’s theology was supposedly above the need for such fine tuning. Meanwhile, CAIR's response (below) is predictable.
"Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington, D.C.-based Islamic civil liberties and advocacy group, backs the idea as a way to help interfaith understanding.
`It reinforces the fact that Muslims, Christians and Jews all worship the same God,' Hooper told FOXNews.com. `I don't think the name is as important as the belief in God and following God's moral principles. I think that's true for all faiths.' Christians who are Arabic speakers speak of Allah when they speak of God, Hooper added. `There's not a theological leap to make on the part of Christians,' Hooper said.
The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago supports the idea. `I think it will open up doors,' said Janaan Hashim, a spokeswoman for the group representing more than 400,000 Muslim Americans in the Chicago area. `Language is a man-made limitation. I think what God cares about is how we fulfill our purpose in life.'
The nation’s largest Catholic civil rights group says Catholics won't get behind the proposal. `Bishop Martinus `Tiny' Muskens can pray to `Allah' all he wants, but only addlepated Catholics will follow his lead,' Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, said in a statement. `It is not a good sign when members of the Catholic hierarchy indulge in a fawning exchange with Muslims, or those of any other religion.'
Muskens spent eight years in Indonesia, where he said priests used the word `Allah' during Mass. Muskens also has drawn attention for other ideas such as encouraging the hungry to steal bread and offering condoms to combat HIV and AIDS."
___________________________________
As for the reason why the God of the Bible cannot be addressed by the name "Allah," check out my sermon on article eight of the Belgic Confession (Click here: http://kimriddlebarger.squarespace.com/a-commentary-on-the-belgic-con/8%20edited%20they%20are%20all%20three%20one%).
Even through the Arabic word for God is "Allah," Christians worship the Triune God who is supremely revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. We do not worship the generic "god" of the world's religions, nor the false God of Islam, known as "Allah."
You'd think a bishop would know better . . .
Let’s just not.
Lets just call Mohammed “Pedophile, rapist, genocidal, slave trader” then.
a. Granted this is an old article, but considering some of the comments I have seen made by Roman Catholics on FR over the last couple of days the content is very relevant.
b. Starting out by calling me a “Catholic hater” just proves you have no argument, or agree with the bishop and must resort to character assassination.
Let the Mooslims call Allah "God."
Yeah. That’s working sooooo well in Indonesia.
Death to anyone who is not Muslim, but who would dare to call God, “Allah”.
Oh,....that was last week. Now, they like it. Who knew?
Allah is the middle east moon god. Why should we change the God, The Master of the Universe, in for a small thing like the moon?
The truth is that "Allah" is another name for satan, the liar, the deceiver, the enemy of the church and all that is good.
Sed Contra
For non-Arabic speakers to use the name Allah for the God of the Blessed Trinity implies an acceptance of Islam. Christians cannot accept the basic tenet of Islam (which is "There is no God but Allah and Mohamed is his greatest prophet") and remain Christian.
There’re a lot of people these days calling themselves clergy who haven’t the slightest idea what they are talking about.
Welcome to Enigma Babylon One World Faith.
I think I'll call Him "Ray".
What a moronic dhimmi to come up with something like that
Never be a knight-nor a King—ever a disgraced Bishop.I AM that I AM is NOT the bloody false god of Islam.
They are not the same god. Mohammedans reject the God of the Bible.
We have a winner!
It certainly falls in line with the Catechism of the Catholic church, so there’s no surprise there.
:-)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.