tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19384577.post115875332681866931..comments2024-03-20T19:23:09.857+02:00Comments on Notes from underground: Bah! Humbug!Steve Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11283123400540587033noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19384577.post-1159673310346950562006-10-01T05:28:00.000+02:002006-10-01T05:28:00.000+02:00I used to have a good friend who is a Muslim, and ...I used to have a good friend who is a Muslim, and we would discuss our core religous beliefs over lunch at our workplace canteen.<BR/><BR/>When we searched for things we had in common, we found them. Just as people bent on finding differences will find those too.<BR/><BR/>Christianity and Islam happen to be the only religions that have spread their beliefs by the sword. It's just few Christians are warriors any more. Remember the hymn, "Onward Christian Soldiers"?<BR/><BR/>While we in the west might claim to live in a Christian society, we are deceiving ourselves. Most westerners are only "Christian" because our parents or grandparents once went to church... perhaps only for their Christening, wedding or funeral. (Those used to be called "Four-Wheeler" Christians, but now I think they are the majority.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19384577.post-1159030775889540692006-09-23T18:59:00.000+02:002006-09-23T18:59:00.000+02:00I think you're probably right about what radicalis...I think you're probably right about what radicalises Muslim youth in places like Lebanon, Syria, Iran or Iraq. <BR/><BR/>But I was referring specifically to <I>British</I> Muslim youth, where I think the Home Secretary's speech is likely to be counterproductive, and radicalise Muslim youth in Britain even more. It was far more provocative than anything said by Pope Benedict, and downright patronising. <BR/><BR/>Concerning Pope Benedict, I made some comments on the demands for apologies in <A HREF="http://methodius.livejournal.com/54890.html" REL="nofollow">my other blog</A>, with links to a couple of very good articles on the topic -- the best I've seen, in fact. <BR/><BR/>And thanks for the comment -- it's encouraged me to chek my Blogroll links again!Steve Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283123400540587033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19384577.post-1159027268560020642006-09-23T18:01:00.000+02:002006-09-23T18:01:00.000+02:00I think what radicalizes Muslim youth is faithfuln...I think what radicalizes Muslim youth is faithfulness to their religion. There was a piece in the Wall Street Journal's "Opinion Journal" (consistently some of the best social commentary out there today) recently talking about this in light of Benedict XVI's recent remarks. Taking as a starting point the irony of Muslims throughout the world reacting violently in response to being called violent, the author went on to say, yes, Christianity and Islam have been spread through violence in the past, but when you get to the core of the two faiths, Jesus was non-violent, while Mohammed was an earthly warrior. <BR/>Check out the whole article at http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110008973<BR/><BR/>Radicalism therefore, in Chistianity takes the form of William Wilberforce and his ilk, while in Islam it is Ayatollah Khomeni and his. Both sides have firebrands, sure, and Robertson and Falwelll make their headlines with inflammatory comments occasionally, but by and large, they are inconsistent with classical Christianity. Violent Islam is consistent with classical Islam. Recognizing that, and being able to say it publicly, is the beginning of honest interfaith dialogue.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07288330419297657142noreply@blogger.com