Posted on 05/05/2006 8:35:26 AM PDT by Dark Skies
LONDON - Prince Charles on Thursday officially opened London's most unlikely new landmark - a large Bedouin tent that will be used to promote peace and reconciliation.
Created of out goat hair, the structure stands in the garden of the former St. Ethelburga's Church which was destroyed by an Irish Republican Army bomb in 1993.
The church reopened as a center for peace and reconcilication in 2002 and the tent - built in Saudi Arabia and designed to withstand London's regular rain showers - will be used for events promoting interfaith dialogue.
Addressing leaders from nine faiths, Charles on Thursday argued for greater understanding between the faiths.
"We are all trying to explain the nature of mystery and in a sense it is almost impossible to explain, he said.
"If only we could understand each other's groupings to understand the mystery, not try to overdo the way in which we decide that we know everything, we might perhaps reduce the level of conflict and violence and misunderstanding."
The opening received messages of support from international figures including the Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former U.S. President Bill Clinton and rock star Bono.
Academic Keith Critchlow designed the tent according to the tenets of geometry, algebra and astrology rather than on traditional religious lines.
It is carpeted with rugs woven in conflict zones.
A tent was chosen because it is associated with the nomadic origins of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
St. Ethelburga's attracts up to 5,000 visitors a year from conflict areas as far apart as Northern Ireland and Tibet.
Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Zoroastrians, Sikhs and members of the Baha'i faith were represented at Thursday's ceremony.
In his message, Clinton praised the center.
"As the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 in my country and the devastating attack on the church at this site so painfully demonstrated, there are still those who place their difference above our common humanity, who prefer to demonise people who are unlike them rather than learn from one another," he said.
The King could decree a new church. Wouldn't be the first time.
" "We are all trying to explain the nature of mystery and in a sense it is almost impossible to explain, he said.
"If only we could understand each other's groupings to understand the mystery, not try to overdo the way in which we decide that we know everything, we might perhaps reduce the level of conflict and violence and misunderstanding." "
In breaking news from Britain, the Prince of Wales, apparently in an effort not to appear to know everything, has opted for the more politically acceptable position of appearing to know nothing. And, a jolly good show of it, I might add!
The bored Fop-In-Waiting finds another hobby.
Gag me. I'm reading a book now for my Christian Book Club from the point of view of Palestinian Christians who were forcibly removed from their land when Israel became a nation. Yes, it has opened my eyes to some things I didn't know before. But even this man who writes from a viewpoint of "peace" whines about the Jews--the Zionist ones--and gives excuses for Palestinian violence, although he doesn't practice it himself. I've gotten to be just so incredibly suspicious of Arab/Muslim points of view on anything. I was never like this a few years back. And I'm way more suspicious of would-be Western leaders who can't see clearly--like this would-be King who should never sit on the throne for Great Britain. What an embarrassment he's turned out to be.
What is this mumbo jumbo?
You'd have to ask the Prince...but then again why bother? He seems incapable of speaking sensibly.
It has been quietly reported for years that the Prince's preferred dress is "Muslim".
This is the ONE REASON he will never be KING!
The KING or QUEEN is the head of the CHURCH!
It wont be allowed!
I hope there is a secret legal document somewhere saying that when the queen goes, her heir is Prince William.
Poor prince will never be King, so he's trying to become Laawrence of Arabia. As if.
If bonnie Prince Charles converts he is by law is out of the line of succession.
Thanks.
The Prince of Wales found himself smothered with praise by a British Muslim leader yesterday as he launched an initiative to promote greater tolerance between cultures.Source: The Guardian, April 30, 2002Prince Charles, surrounded by 23 religious figures, called on members of different religious faiths to help each other in launching the plan, called Respect, during a visit to Birmingham.
But he seemed taken aback when Zaki Badawi, principal of the Muslim College, described him as "the most popular world leader in the Muslim community throughout the world".
Incredible.
I remember the conspiracy theory that Diana was killed before she could marry a muzzie (Dodie) and give birth to little muzzies - that would make the future King of England (William) half brother to a wog.
Amazing.
Blood Brothers by Elias Chacour. I haven't finished it yet. It's good, but his sources, the few that there are, are limited and biased. But his own personal story does raise eyebrows.
I think Charles must be fairly eclectic as far as religion goes. I've heard that he also has an interest in Orthodox Christianity and frequently visits Mt. Athos.
ok he is officially an inbred moron.
Any comments?
His father was born in Greece and the Greeks have an obsene word that discribes Prince Charles. It starts with M and ends with A.
Perhaps he needs to focus on being the monarch of england rather than the monarch of the desert.
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