[Forest Keeper]

I THINK that the reason Islam was held to be a heresy rather than just out there is that Mohamed claimed to be worshiping the God of Abraham. IF we grant that, then he is sho' 'nuff doing it wrong, therefore heretic.

OK, but I would think it would take all of three seconds to debunk such a claim by a Muslim. You and I know that Christ IS God, and Muslims deny that identity. To me at least, that is automatically disqualifying. It is simply impossible to worship the God of Abraham while denying Christ.

Try this: in our disagreements, many of us are saying, "We're in the same family but You're one of the black sheep.." So at least we're acknowledging kinship. It could be worse ....

Yes, and I would say the above is very civil. It's sure a lot more civil than that updating of "Dominus Iesus" in, I think, the summer of '07. Boy did that thing get my nose out of joint. :)

And just to flog it again, and because evidently some find it offensive, "separated brethren" DOES acknowledge the family relationship. It's not ALL bad.

I agree and do not find that term offensive at all. If we are brothers in Christ, and are separated by profound differences in theology, then the term is perfectly fitting.

[ArrogantBustard]

It is simply impossible to worship the God of Abraham while denying Christ.

Hmmmm ... who or what do you suppose Jews worship?

[Cronos]

It is simply impossible to worship the God of Abraham while denying Christ.

A flaw in your argument -- Jews DO that and we can't deny that they worship the God of Abraham.