Posted on 11/05/2006 11:44:26 AM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu
A senior Anglican bishop has accused many Muslims of being guilty of double standards in their view of the world.
The Bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali, told the Sunday Times some had a "dual psychology" in which they sought "victimhood and domination".
The Muslim Council of Britain said the comments were "not very helpful".
The bishop, whose father converted from Islam, also said situations such as teaching could require Muslim women not to wear full-face veils.
Mr Nazir-Ali argued it would never be possible to satisfy all of the demands made by Muslims because "their complaint often boils down to the position that it is always right to intervene when Muslims are victims... and always wrong when Muslims are the oppressors or terrorists".
He compared Bosnia and Kosovo, where he said Muslims were oppressed, with the powerful position of the Taleban in Afghanistan, who he said had been the oppressors.
He added: "Given the world view that has given rise to such grievances, there can never be sufficient appeasement and new demands will continue to be made."
A Muslim Council of Britain spokesman said the remarks in the paper appeared "rather broad brushed".
He added: "We would normally expect a bishop to display more humility and work towards bringing communities closer together rather than contributing towards fostering greater divisions."
Veil debate
The bishop's comments on the use of full-face veils by Muslim women add to the debate sparked by Commons Leader Jack Straw, the former foreign secretary, last month.
He disclosed that he asks Muslim women to remove the veil when they attend his Blackburn constituency surgeries.
Mr Straw also suggested that Muslim women who wear veils over their faces can make community relations harder.
In the Sunday Times, Mr Nazir-Ali referred to a "huge increase" in the wearing of Muslim dress in Egypt, Pakistan and Malaysia.
He said: "I can see nothing in Islam that prescribes the wearing of the full-face veil.
"In the supermarket those at the cash till need to be recognised. Teaching is another profession in which society requires recognition and identification."
Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, entered the veil debate last month by saying people should be free to wear visible religious symbols.
He said aiming for a society where no symbols such as veils, crosses, sidelocks or turbans would be seen was "politically dangerous".
True. Now if only the cut-and-run leftist lib dems in our country would realize this.
In other news, I think Charlie's statement, reported on FR earlier in the week, that he believes islam could solve humanity's problems is a clear and unmistakable sign that he has converted to islam.
This bishop has even more credibility because his father converted from Islam (which probably angers Muslims the world over). Thus, it is more probable that he has a more intimate understanding of Islam than the ordinary Briton, and so the Muslims will have a more difficult time arguing that he doesn't know about their religion (although, as you see from the article, they try).
bump
Depends on what you want to help.
If anyone has direct communication with Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, please pass along my sincere thanks and appreciation for speaking truth in a time when truth is thought wrong.
I would like to know how his father came to convert from Islam to Christianity and what can be done to help other Muslims convert by their own accord and protect them from Islamic reprisals.
Chuck Plante
Fresno, California, USA
Anglican ping.
Anglican ping.
ping
This from a spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain?
STFU you lying raghead and get out of my country.
(Not in a good mood this morning!)
Thank you! I am writing a letter to the Bishop today.
Being interpreted: "'We would normally expect a bishop to display more humility as a Dhimmi subserviant before our superiority to the Kaffir world, as taught in the Koran."
As a leader in the Christian world, this man has great courage and integrity.
"...It's time we recognized the nature of the conflict. It's total war and we are all involved. Nobody on our side is exempted because of age, gender, or handicap. The Islamofacists have stolen childhood from the world." [FReeper Retief]
"...That the totalitarian force pitted against freedom wears a religious makes this civil war among mankind all the more difficult to engage. Loving freedom as we do, it seems reprehensible to deliberate against a religion. But this is no ordinary religion as it demands absolute obedience of all to their religion at the cost of freedom itself." [FReeper Backtothestreets]
I agree with this EXCEPT no veils! You get to see my face. I get to see yours. What if all Christians decided to start wearing masks with crosses on them?
The Dark Side of the Muslim Council of Britain
By Chris Blackburn
FrontPageMagazine.com | February 3, 2005
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=16852
(SNIP)
As the largest Muslim organization in the UK, the MCB acts as an umbrella for smaller groups. The MCB today presents itself as a credible source for human rights work; politicians consult with the group to formulate or review British government policy. To truly improve the lot of British Muslims, however, the organization must demonstrate its willingness to work with other religious and political groups. Iqbal Sacranie must be replaced with a moderate Secretary General, or the MCB will be forever tarnished as an appeaser of terrorism and genocide.
Daniel Pipes' Weblog
Downing Street's Favorite – The Muslim Council of Britain
July 7, 2005
http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/487
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.