Embracing Dialogue and Debate
Rodwan Saleh, President of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston, had the following comments in the Houston Chronicle:
While discussing the pope’s recent comments about Islam, I said, “His comments were really wrong.” The unfortunate quote that the Pope Benedict XVI used is historically inaccurate and even irresponsible, yet I do understand why my remark angered my companion. He was viewing the issue from another perspective. He needed to hear my deep dismay at the violent response of some Muslims
Because, like it or not, those rioting, killing, burning down churches and burning effigies claim to be acting on behalf of your religion, and non-Muslims want to know if you agree with them. Many Muslims don’t like it, but this is the reality that we face of having to distance ourselves from the actions of the irrational maniacs they see on television.
Far too many of my brethren in faith feel dehumanized and unvalued on the world stage. These masses are easily stirred up, and they do not posses the skills and resources needed to respond constructively.
No less, these are no excuses for violence and acts of hatred. If Muslims are offended when accused of “being of the sword,” then we must not resort to the sword, but to dialogue and debate. Words must be met with better words [MORE...]
Filed under: Muslim Isolation, Practical Solutions, The Culture of Denial and Pretense
Just wanted to wish you a blessed Ramadan
If one has been taught to think for oneself, rather than believe what a community leader (Pope, whoever) tells one, one would wait for an understanding of what happens or is said on any given occasion. That is the whole point of the move (in the past 4 centuries in the West) to add science to education so that theism is a PART of education, not its whole. Leaders can innocently mislead, having themselves been misled. If free thought is frowned upon, how shall the error be discovered? The answer is that time and tolerance will heal all misunderstanding, and clear away all misrepresentations.