Debate is respectful

Submitted by Abdul Rahman Reijerink (Australia), May 26, 2006 at 04:29

Dear Anne,

I agree that many comments made in this thread are useful debate

However, people who debate should respect each others opinions and in this case religions. Much of what I have read does not show a fundamental respect to difference, at least for the Muslims this I believe is positively sinful. Allah says many times in the Qur'an that we should use good words and not talk harshly, this does not just apply to Muslims but when talking to anyone, we should not insult each other's understanding of Godself. There are comments from Christians in here claiming that Muslims worship idols, this is just insulting and blasphemous. The worst a Christian should say is that we worship God, but not Jesus and are like the Jews in this respect. I have read comments that God favours the promised people of the covenant and this explains the trouble we see in Israel/Palestine today.. interestingly it was a Christian not a Jew, bizare really. Surely the covenant made with Abraham passed to the Christians?

What I eperience in my Theology lectures and tutorials in a Christian institution qualifes as respectful debate, what I see going on in here is Muslim and Christian chauvanism/supremecism that serves little purpose but to bolster the biggoted ideas of those who write them.

As peoples of the book, and with Jews as well, all three people's of these faiths have something beautiful in common, we should be looking to our common heritage and unting against the ugliness in the world, not becoming a part of it. Yes we have differences, I for one am against wishywashy relativism that rules so much of the consmuer cult society that seems like the idolatory of self and possessions that goes hand in hand with relativism, and we should talk about these differences, but respectfully, in the knowledge that none of us know what the truth about God is, what we have is faith, and we will not know untill we meet the Creator if what we do is pleasing to our Lord, therefor we should strive in the best way to get this satisfaction, through good deeds... smart and insulting comments will never conveert the ignorant or mislead, they serve to harden ideas and hearts.

In peace and the service of the Creator,

Abdul Rahman.

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