Earlier today I spoke about the controversies surrounding the 9/11 memorial this year with Father Samir Khalil Samir, the respected Jesuit and Egyptian scholar of Islam who teaches in Beirut and at the Pontifical Oriental Institute here in Rome.
Posted on 09/12/2010 3:45:41 PM PDT by NYer
What are your views on the controversy over the Ground Zero mosque, or as it’s also been described, the Islamic cultural centre in New York?
I don’t have all the facts here, but the plan is to build a 15-storey centre and this is a Muslim project, even if it’s called a Cordoba centre and it’s for everyone and not only for Muslims. It is two blocks from Ground Zero with a mosque for 2,000 people and so on. Even if you say this project aims to build a greater understanding and a new dialogue with American Christians and so on, it is evident that any normal person will fear it. Ninety percent of the population will fear this project more than be attracted by it, even if Feisal Abdul Rauf – the imam responsible for the project – says it’s not aggressive. But humanly and sociologically speaking, you are putting up something where you destroyed something; you are putting up a Muslim tower and pretending that this will be a tower of peace and so on. It is psychologically wrong.
Some would argue that the 9/11 bombers were not real Muslims, but fundamentalist ideologues and terrorists?
Yes but this is the wrong position because radical Muslims are true Muslims. I’m not saying that the true Islam is bin Laden, this is not my opinion. But I would contend that bin Laden is a true Muslim – a true Muslim. Pastor Terry Jones [the evangelical pastor who has threatened to burn the Koran] cannot say he’s truly representing Christianity because you cannot find anything in the Gospel that says that. But all the positions of radical Muslims you’ll find in the Koran and in the tradition.
(Excerpt) Read more at ncregister.com ...
So I think the reaction of Obama was a political one, and not a reasonable, humanist answer even if he tries to present it as that. The answer of the mayor of New York is also a political one to gain for himself Muslim votes but probably it’s bad politics because he will lose maybe more votes among Jews and non-Muslims. Why? Because it’s unreasonable…That’s why I say I understand the fear of many people, not only Americans, in saying it’s not reasonable. If you go to the site of a European Arab centre in Paris, you’ll see comments from Muslims from all over Europe. Six out of seven say it’s wrong. One comment from an American Muslim was very clear. It’s not a very important site, it’s official but not many people go there, but I read all the answers and they were very clear.
I think Fr Samir has summed it up.
It is amazing this man is still alive. God bless him.
“Pastor Terry Jones [the evangelical pastor who has threatened to burn the Koran] cannot say he’s truly representing Christianity because you cannot find anything in the Gospel that says that.”
Factually wrong...
“And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.” - Acts 19:19-20
wrong, fella. Any normal person would resent it as what it is: a cowardly, passive-aggressive offense, and offense all the same.
I don't think "fear" has anything to do with it, and I think all your touchy-feely psychology, which has emasculated the Church for an entire generation, ought to move on.
Gawd, you talk about low-hanging fruit! A quick google search would have prevented him from look quite so foolish.
But hey, think of his audience. It ain't about accuracy.
If there is fear it is on the side of those who are afraid of what Muslims will do if it's NOT built....not those who oppose it. Sheesh. The Eiffel Tower in Paris did not get bombed nor hit with flying Islamic terrorists....so that carries no weight at all. Muslims should be sending and writing their memos to those of their kind to stop...and in mass...not using a Muslim culture center bullitin board.....send these where it would matter....only tell their people it's time to stop Islam....and the practice of....but of course that is not going to happen... ever... until the King Of Kings tells them to hang it all up ...by faith in Him or force...but they will be done with ISlam.
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