Talking Truth to the Muslim World (priest's message rocks Muslim world)

CBN News ^ | October 2006 | Steve Little

[NYer]

Father Zakaria Boutros

Father Zakaria Boutros looks like a mild-mannered, unassuming priest. But his message is rocking much of the Muslim world.

His television program called 'Truth Talk' is broadcast daily into the Middle East over the Al-Hiyat satellite channel. On it, he challenges Muslims to examine what he says are inconsistencies in Islamic doctrine – inconsistencies that he says Muslim leaders don't want exposed and ordinary Muslims are told never to question.

“Islam cannot stand in front of intellectual questions and no one can understand because of contradictions in Koran, contradictions in Hadith, contradictions and false doctrines. So they don't want anybody to ask and to learn. 'This is Islam, you have to accept it as it is' lest you should be killed,” Zakaria said.

Father Zakaria doesn't stop at challenging the teachings of Islam. He also questions the Prophet Mohammed himself, who Zakaria says had his mind set on wordly pursuits.

“He said that his concerns are three things: women, perfume, and food,” he said. “Where is the kingdom of God? Where is the glory of God? Where is the salvation? Where is love? Where is the mission of a true Prophet of God?”

Father Zakaria's broadcasts have generated intense anger in the Muslim world and there's a $60 million bounty on his head. But he makes no excuses for his confrontational style.

He says the provocative statements are designed to challenge Muslims to examine their faith.

“This is my way: short, sharp, shock for the unconscious,” Zakaria said

That was the case with James, an Egyptian who began watching Truth Talk late at night while the rest of his family slept.

"When I first saw the show, I was angry at him. I wanted revenge," he said.

He began studying the Koran and the Bible to refute father Zakaria's claims, and in the process learned more about Christianity and Islam.

"I started to think about things I had never thought of before. My understanding changed and things became clear," James said.

James came to faith in Jesus Christ watching Father Zakaria. His wife soon followed.

"I realized Islam was a fake religion, Mary said. “When I learned the truth, I removed my veil. I felt freedom. I had been released. "Life is not about religion it's about a relationship between us and Christ. Christ is life."

Father Zakaria says the Muslim world is full of people like James and Mary.

Thousands of people visit his Internet chat room on 'Pal Talk' every month.

They come to challenge Father Zakaria's teaching and end up learning more about Jesus Christ.

[Myrddin]

I have heard that there was no Arab literature to speak of before Mohammed.

There was early Arabic literature in the form of memorized poetry from around 500 AD. You should be aware that it is standard practice for muslims to suppress all existing culture after "conquering" a civilization. To suggest that there was no literature prior to Mohammed raises the probability that it was destroyed or suppressed. Muslims routinely refer to the period before a civilization was conquered as a "period of ignorance".

[kalee]

In a nutshell..."Islam cannot stand in front of intellectual questions."

[ELS]

I know about a Coptic Church in Jersey City, NJ. A friend of mine had spoken to some of the Coptic Christians shortly after the "reaction" to Benedict XVI's lecture in Germany and they were hoping that the Pope wouldn't back down from what he said.

[ELS]

Absolutely. I had the opportunity to meet a Sudanese Christian who suffered much under the Muslims

And there is/was Fr. Elijah who used to post on FR. He went to Sudan and we haven't heard from him since.

[cynwoody]

Please explain what this is for those who don't know.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copt

[zot]

Prayers for a brave priest.

[ELS]

Which of the Catholic charities and the Orthodox are engaged in this work?

Aid to the Church in Need is an international pastoral aid organization under the authority of the Holy See, [which] yearly offers financial support to more than 8,000 projects worldwide. We try to help Christians in need wherever they are repressed or persecuted.

[RobbyS]

I do know that Arabic gradually supplanted the Syriac that was the lingua franca of the Fertile Crescent. They claim that most of the accomplishment credited to Arabic culture from 650-1000 were owing to them, that the Arabs appropriated their culture and that of the Persians, while gradually suppressing theirs.

[Myrddin]

I do know that Arabic gradually supplanted the Syriac that was the lingua franca of the Fertile Crescent. They claim that most of the accomplishment credited to Arabic culture from 650-1000 were owing to them, that the Arabs appropriated their culture and that of the Persians, while gradually suppressing theirs.

Spot on. Most of what muslims claim as accomplishments are simply things appropriated from places they have conquered. In general, once islam is established the arts and sciences come to a screeching halt. The use of dhimmitude grinds the population into submission. The most vigorous opponents are killed immediately.

[RobbyS]

The irony being that the "progressives" of the West are now the tacit allies of the world's least progressive religion.

[Myrddin]

The irony being that the "progressives" of the West are now the tacit allies of the world's least progressive religion.

Progressive is a code word for communist. Islamists and communists are both totalitarian/authoritarian approaches to government. Bolsheviks and islamists both kill their opponents, then subjugate the remaining population. In the final analysis, both approaches produce populations in abject poverty ruled by a small group of tyrants. The Red Terror and Muhammad's campaigns aren't very different.

[supremedoctrine]

It's the perfume part that gets me......you know what that means.....the Jihadists are REALLY gonna be tied up in knots now! Especially if someone does a cartoon featuring Chanel No. 5 and Mohammed.

[supremedoctrine]

Apparently he is still alive, which is surprising because nearly a year ago he appeared on Egyptian TV and the HOST of the interview show threatened his life ON THE AIR. Yes, the HOST! And then he opened the phone lines to callers, some of whom threatened Boutros with the usual "we know where you live, we will find you" stuff. Boutros of course is a Coptic CHristian from Egypt. This article was not very comprehensive, since you really have to figure out a lot
of basic details yourself, and look up whatever backstory there is, which I did.

[Quix]

Great doc.

Thanks.

Been waiting for more to step up to the plate and tell such truths forcefully.

Great.

[JDoutrider]

bump for later

[supremedoctrine]

Yeah, that is the same article I was referring to: from FrontPage mag. (david horowitz's mag) It looks like you posted it also today. I was unaware of that. There is so much that goes on in the Middle East/Muslim world in general that we are still completely unaware of----it comes to us in little bits and pieces, if at all. Reminds me of what someone said about truth, or awareness, or revelation----that we couldn't take it if it came to us all at once, so it comes in small doses. Maybe it was Emily Dickinson.

[presently no screen name]

Even more shameful are those denominations which wish to 'dialog' with Muslims, ecumenize with them, or side against Israel and align themselves with the Pali terror state.

So well said, "W". No PC in his speech!!