It has been an interesting few weeks. Pastor Terry Jones of Gainesville, Florida threatened to burn the Quran on 9/11. His threat spread throughout the world and Muslims responded with threats, burning of the American Flags and large protests. The world was aghast that someone would even think of doing such a thing. The media jumped on this story like sharks in a feeding frenzy. TV, radio, newspaper - you couldn’t turn around without hearing about this story.
There were many different responses to Pastor Jones plan. One response came from First-St. Andrews United Church. On Sunday Sept 12th they read from the Quran during their Sunday worship service. It was reported that this was their way of showing respect to the Muslim community and their holy book.
In the United Church we have gone to extremes to show our solidarity with the other religions of the world. This raises a question for me and I invite you to respond on the presbytery blog. I have talked with Christian people who have lived in Muslim dominated countries about how they were treated as Christians while living in these countries. For the most part they reported that they could not publically live out or share their faith with others.
I have not heard the Muslim community showing solidarity with the Christian community in these countries. I have not heard of a Mosque reading the Christian Scriptures during their worship services to show respect to Christians and our “holy book”. I have not heard of this being done within bounds of our Presbytery.
I may be wrong about this and I invite people to correct me.
Rev. Dr. Arthur Hiley
Many Muslim dominated countries are totalitarian regimes. Muslims in those countries do not have the opportunity to show public respect to Christians for fear of reprisal. Some individuals help Christians privately,just as a few Christians secretly helped the Jews in Germany during the Nazi period.
ReplyDeleteChristian dominated countries have been totalitarian as well.Many of our ancestors came to North America to escape religious persecution by Christians states. During that time, Muslim countries offered religious freedom and had to protect themselves from the Christian Crusades. Even Canada waged a religious war against the natives that they are still recovering from and which few Christians denounced at the time.
A quick look at the web site of the Canadian Muslim Congress, the largest Muslim organization in Canada whose president is a woman, shows that Canadian Muslims support Canada as a multi-faith state. They oppose the fringe fundamentalists. Every would be Muslim terrorist arrested in Canada has been turned in by the Muslim Community. The Muslim community in Canada shares our values and aspirations.
They need our help and solidarity in their struggle and our understanding that no religion in history is exempt from being co-opted by the powers that oppose diversity and freedom of religion.
We are saddened that a presbytery-sponsored newsletter, like e-Link, would publish the personal views of someone when they so clearly oppose those of our denomination. The United Church of Canada has been a world-leader in inter-faith cooperation and understanding. Our gesture of solidarity with Muslims in the climate of aggression towards them is completely consistent with our commitment to Jesus Christ. There is no place for comments such as those of Rev. Hiley in e-Link." Kate Crawford and Susan Shelstad, ministry team at First St Andrew's United Church, London."
ReplyDeleteA Response by editor or E-Link
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how we read other peoples comments.
Kate wrote in her response, "We are saddened that a presbytery-sponsored newsletter, like e-Link, would publish the personal views of someone when they so clearly oppose those of our denomination"
As the author of the comments, I have reread what I wrote. Nowhere do I state opposition to the views of our denomination about solidarity with other world religions. No where do I denigrate the actions of First-St. Andrews or the Muslim Faith. I was simply pondering whether the same kind of solidarity ie the reading of Christian scriptures happens in Muslim worship services. I have not heard of it happening.
I would appreciate it if Kate would point out the "clearly opposed views" that are stated.
Since I did not write in such a fashion I am interested in knowing the exact wording that shows these opposing views. Since none was intended or inferred then the opposition may well be the conjecture of the writer.
If I have written any untruth - it needs to be pointed out.
Rev Jones did threaten to burn the Quran.
First-St. Andrews did read the Quran during a Sunday morning worship service.
Christians in Muslim dominated countries cannot publicly talk about their faith.
And I have not heard of any Imam reading the Christian scriptures during a service.