It has been sixteen years since my mother went home to be with the Lord; yet, her memory is still very fresh and very precious to me. It has been nine years since the Massacre at the World Trade Center; yet, the memory of lost loved ones and of lost fellow Americans is still very fresh and very precious to the families and friends of all those lost on September 11, 2001 -- and to all Americans. These memories not only should be honored, they MUST be honored -- if America is to remain the beacon of hope for the poor and persecuted of the world.
The article below is not written from a Christian's point of view; for Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post is not a Christian believer. It is written from the point of view of a sensitive, sincere, conservative American who tells us to honor our dead and to not allow their memory to be desecrated.
Read this article, form you own opinion, and then be sure to let your elected leaders, and Mayor Bloomberg, know how you feel.
The White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
Find your Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Find your Congressman: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml
Mayor Bloomberg: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html
Please share this with ALL your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Just as we honor and protect the memory of Gettysburg, Pearl Harbor, Auschwitz, etc. -- let us continue to honor and protect the memory of those lost on September 11, 2001.
No Mosque Near Ground Zero!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
WHY A MOSQUE DOES NOT BELONG NEAR GROUND ZERO
Charles Krauthammer, The Washington Post Writers Group
Published: August 17. 2010 4:00AM PST
http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100817/NEWS0107/8170332
A place is made sacred by a widespread belief that it was visited by the miraculous or the transcendent (Lourdes, the Temple Mount), by the presence there once of great nobility and sacrifice (Gettysburg), or by the blood of martyrs and the indescribable suffering of the innocent (Auschwitz).
When we speak of ground zero as hallowed ground, what we mean is that it belongs to those who suffered and died there — and that such ownership obliges us, the living, to preserve the dignity and memory of the place, never allowing it to be forgotten, trivialized, or misappropriated.
That's why Disney's early-'90s proposal to build an American history theme park near Manassas Battlefield was defeated by a broad coalition fearing vulgarization of the Civil War. (The coalition was wiser than me. At the time I obtusely saw little harm in the venture.) It's why the commercial viewing tower built right on the border of Gettysburg was taken down by the Park Service. It's why, while no one objects to Japanese cultural centers, the idea of putting one up at Pearl Harbor would be offensive.
And why Pope John Paul II ordered Carmelite nuns to leave the convent they had established at Auschwitz. He was in no way devaluing their heartfelt mission to pray for the souls of the dead. He was teaching them a lesson in respect: This is not your place, it belongs to others. However pure your voice, better to let silence reign.
Even New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who denounced opponents of the proposed 15-story mosque and Islamic center near ground zero as tramplers on religious freedom, asked the mosque organizers "to show some special sensitivity to the situation."
Yet, as columnist Rich Lowry pointedly noted, the government has no business telling churches how to conduct their business, shape their message, or show "special sensitivity" to anyone about anything. Bloomberg was thereby "inadvertently" conceding the claim of those he excoriates for opposing the mosque, namely, that ground zero is indeed unlike any other place and therefore unique criteria govern what can be done there.
Bloomberg's implication is clear: If the proposed mosque were controlled by "insensitive" Islamist radicals either excusing or celebrating 9/11, he would not support its construction.
But then, why not? By the mayor's own expansive view of religious freedom, by what right do we dictate the message of any mosque? Moreover, as a practical matter, there's no guarantee this couldn't happen in the future. Religious institutions in this country are autonomous. Who is to say the mosque won't one day hire an Anwar al-Aulaqi — spiritual mentor to the Fort Hood shooter and the Christmas Day bomber, and onetime imam at the Virginia mosque attended by two of the 9/11 terrorists?
An Aulaqi preaching in Virginia is a security problem. An Aulaqi preaching at ground zero is a sacrilege.
Location matters. Especially this location. Ground zero is the site of the greatest mass murder in American history — perpetrated by Muslims of a particular Islamist orthodoxy in whose cause they died and in whose name they killed.
Of course, that strain represents only a minority of Muslims. Islam is no more intrinsically Islamist than present-day Germany is Nazi — yet despite contemporary Germany's innocence, no German of good will would even think of proposing a German cultural center at, say, Treblinka.
Which makes you wonder about the good will behind Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's proposal. This is a man who has called U.S. policy "an accessory to the crime" of 9/11 and, when recently asked whether Hamas is a terrorist organization, replied, "I'm not a politician. ... The issue of terrorism is a very complex question."
America is a free country where you can build whatever you want — but not anywhere. That's why we have zoning laws. No liquor store near a school, no strip malls where they offend local sensibilities, and, if your house doesn't meet community architectural codes, you cannot build at all.
These restrictions are for reasons of aesthetics. Others are for more profound reasons of common decency and respect for the sacred. No commercial tower over Gettysburg, no convent at Auschwitz — and no mosque at ground zero.
Build it anywhere but there.
The governor of New York offered to help find land to build the mosque elsewhere. A mosque really seeking to build bridges, Rauf's ostensible hope for the structure, would accept the offer.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Think about it! Pray about it! Then, do something, contact your leaders!
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill Gray
Showing posts with label Infidels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Infidels. Show all posts
Monday, September 6, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
What Does The Qur'an Say Regarding Infidels?
While we, as Christian believers, are called by our Lord Jesus Christ to love everyone; we must realize that not all people are called by their religions to love us. Though I would never advocate hatred against any person or any group of people; we must be aware that there are a vast number of people in the Muslim world who hate us -- as both Christians and as Americans. This is a fact which will not change until our Lord returns to bring true peace to earth.
On the Religion Forum, my liberal, atheist, secular, and vanilla-flavored non-believer Friends will always challenge me, as a Conservative Christian, on most issues. In this case, it is because I have written that Islam is truly not a "religion of peace." That is not an indictment against all of the people in the Islamic religion; nor is it an indictment against Islam. It is just a statement borne out by the actions of the Islamic nations and the words of the Qur'an.
Yet, we are called to share the Word of God with our Muslim friends -- for many of us have seen faithful witnessing bear fruit in bringing friends out of Islam and into the arms of Jesus Christ. I know that my dear Friend, Pastor Sam Lacanienta, has led several Muslims to Jesus Christ; I have missionary Friends who are working with Muslim communities and I have no doubt there will be fruit from their endeavors.
The best example, to my knowledge, of faithful witnessing bearing great fruit is Dr. Ergun Caner, President and Dean of the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and Graduate School, and his brother, Dr. Emir Caner, President of Truett-McConnell College, a Baptist school in Georgia. Both were Sunni Muslims who converted to Christianity as teenagers in high school. These two brothers are great examples of the result of faithful and persistent witnessing. Ergun Caner's teenage high school friend, a Baptist, is responsible for this blessing.
This article is not to knock our Muslim friends; only to respond to questions on the Religion Forum and to present facts which may be helpful to you. Please feel free to share this with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sharing the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all the world -- until He returns.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill Gray
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi to my Forum Friends,
In the discussion I began titled "Reports Say Obama Admitted He's a Muslim" -- Hay responds, "Mostly your information comes from one point of view and is only defended from the sources that give that one point of view. And in the end, what does it matter if Obama is a Muslim? Open your eyes and see that every Muslim isn't a terrorist, they are law abiding citizens just looking to practice their religion beliefs. We don't lump all Christians in with Fred Phelps or the many cults that continually pop up, do we?
You can sit here and say 'my religion is right, you have to be mine' all you want, but in the end, you have no more say about what is correct than anyone else. Just because you grew up a Christian, or were exposed to Christianity (more) than any other religion doesn't mean it is the 'end all, be all' of religions"
Hay, first, I did not grow up a Christian. I wish I had; but, unfortunately, I did not become a Christian believer until I was fifty.
Regarding Islam being a "religion of peace" -- you need to study it a wee bit more. No "religion of peace" will tell its followers to convert all the infidels (by the way, that is you and me) or destroy them.
Then, my Friend, Logical, asks me, "Have you actually read any of the Qur'an?"
Logical, while I do not make a practice of studying the Qur'an, I do have a copy sent to me by CAIR. In recognizing false religions or teachings, I prefer to use the FBI standard on how they recognize false currency. How are they taught to recognize false currency? By studying real currency until they know it like the back of their own hand; then, a false currency will stand out like a sore thumb.
The same with faith; study the Written Word of God, the Bible, until you know it like the back of your hand -- and, then, false religions and teachings will stand out like a sore thumb.
But, back to the Qur'an. In my Qur'an, Surah 9:5, I read, "And so, when the sacred months are over, slay those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God (Allah for them) wherever you may come upon them, and take them captive, and besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every conceivable place. Yet if they repent, and take to prayer (Islamic prayer), and render the purifying dues, let them go their way: for, behold, God (Allah) is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace." Parenthetical emphasis is mine.
As you can see, when the Qur'an was translated to be distributed by the CAIR, they were careful to use the name God, and not Allah. However, in the online version below, you will see that it is still Allah and not God. And, contrary to liberal, secular, and atheist teachings, Allah and God are definitely not the same.
The verse below is from the web site: Interpretation of the Meanings of The Noble Quran, Published by Dar-us-Salam Publications http://www.dar-us-salam.com/TheNobleQuran/index.html
Surah 9:5, "Then when the Sacred Months (the Ist, 7th, 11th, and 12th months of the Islamic calendar) have passed, then kill the Mushrikan (see V.2:105) wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and prepare for them each and every ambush. But if they repent and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat, then leave their way free. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
In my copy of the Qur'an, there are footnotes which tell us, "There shall be no coercion in matters of faith" and "war is permissible only in self defense." If you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I will sell you very cheap.
Consider the history of Mohammed and his ravaging of trade caravans to fund his army -- consider the history of Islam's spread -- consider 9-11 -- consider the pubic beheading of the American journalist and many other kidnapped captives -- ask anyone who has heard the rantings of many Islamic holy men on television -- ask anyone who has heard Iran's president and many Arab leaders call for the annihilation of Israel and the Great Satan, America. Then, tell me that Islam is a "religion of peace."
Should we, as Christian believers, turn away from our Islamic friends? No. We should pray for them; we should, when possible, share the true Word of God with them. But, we must never be deceived into believing that the vast Islamic community, in America, in Britain, in Europe, across the Middle East -- wants to be friends with America or with Americans.
As I said, in those communities, even if it is not spoken publicly -- America is still the "Great Satan" -- the friend of Muslim's long hated enemy, Israel. If it were only a small minority of Muslims who feel this way; why do those who do not -- stay silent in support of the Militant Islamic Terrorists?
No, my Friend, this is the relationship between the descendants of Ishmael and the descendants of Isaac which will not be resolved in peace -- until our Lord Jesus Christ returns and establishes His Millennial Kingdom on earth. Then, for the first time since Ishmael and Isaac -- there will be peace upon the earth, ruled by the hand of Jesus Christ from the throne of David in Jerusalem, the holy city of God.
Until then, we share the Word of God with our Islamic friends, and all our friends -- but, we do not destroy our weapons of war, our means of self defense against terrorism and those who view us as the Great Satan to be destroyed, until Jesus Christ returns to give us true peace.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
On the Religion Forum, my liberal, atheist, secular, and vanilla-flavored non-believer Friends will always challenge me, as a Conservative Christian, on most issues. In this case, it is because I have written that Islam is truly not a "religion of peace." That is not an indictment against all of the people in the Islamic religion; nor is it an indictment against Islam. It is just a statement borne out by the actions of the Islamic nations and the words of the Qur'an.
Yet, we are called to share the Word of God with our Muslim friends -- for many of us have seen faithful witnessing bear fruit in bringing friends out of Islam and into the arms of Jesus Christ. I know that my dear Friend, Pastor Sam Lacanienta, has led several Muslims to Jesus Christ; I have missionary Friends who are working with Muslim communities and I have no doubt there will be fruit from their endeavors.
The best example, to my knowledge, of faithful witnessing bearing great fruit is Dr. Ergun Caner, President and Dean of the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and Graduate School, and his brother, Dr. Emir Caner, President of Truett-McConnell College, a Baptist school in Georgia. Both were Sunni Muslims who converted to Christianity as teenagers in high school. These two brothers are great examples of the result of faithful and persistent witnessing. Ergun Caner's teenage high school friend, a Baptist, is responsible for this blessing.
This article is not to knock our Muslim friends; only to respond to questions on the Religion Forum and to present facts which may be helpful to you. Please feel free to share this with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sharing the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all the world -- until He returns.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill Gray
Hi to my Forum Friends,
In the discussion I began titled "Reports Say Obama Admitted He's a Muslim" -- Hay responds, "Mostly your information comes from one point of view and is only defended from the sources that give that one point of view. And in the end, what does it matter if Obama is a Muslim? Open your eyes and see that every Muslim isn't a terrorist, they are law abiding citizens just looking to practice their religion beliefs. We don't lump all Christians in with Fred Phelps or the many cults that continually pop up, do we?
You can sit here and say 'my religion is right, you have to be mine' all you want, but in the end, you have no more say about what is correct than anyone else. Just because you grew up a Christian, or were exposed to Christianity (more) than any other religion doesn't mean it is the 'end all, be all' of religions"
Hay, first, I did not grow up a Christian. I wish I had; but, unfortunately, I did not become a Christian believer until I was fifty.
Regarding Islam being a "religion of peace" -- you need to study it a wee bit more. No "religion of peace" will tell its followers to convert all the infidels (by the way, that is you and me) or destroy them.
Then, my Friend, Logical, asks me, "Have you actually read any of the Qur'an?"
Logical, while I do not make a practice of studying the Qur'an, I do have a copy sent to me by CAIR. In recognizing false religions or teachings, I prefer to use the FBI standard on how they recognize false currency. How are they taught to recognize false currency? By studying real currency until they know it like the back of their own hand; then, a false currency will stand out like a sore thumb.
The same with faith; study the Written Word of God, the Bible, until you know it like the back of your hand -- and, then, false religions and teachings will stand out like a sore thumb.
But, back to the Qur'an. In my Qur'an, Surah 9:5, I read, "And so, when the sacred months are over, slay those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God (Allah for them) wherever you may come upon them, and take them captive, and besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every conceivable place. Yet if they repent, and take to prayer (Islamic prayer), and render the purifying dues, let them go their way: for, behold, God (Allah) is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace." Parenthetical emphasis is mine.
As you can see, when the Qur'an was translated to be distributed by the CAIR, they were careful to use the name God, and not Allah. However, in the online version below, you will see that it is still Allah and not God. And, contrary to liberal, secular, and atheist teachings, Allah and God are definitely not the same.
The verse below is from the web site: Interpretation of the Meanings of The Noble Quran, Published by Dar-us-Salam Publications http://www.dar-us-salam.com/TheNobleQuran/index.html
Surah 9:5, "Then when the Sacred Months (the Ist, 7th, 11th, and 12th months of the Islamic calendar) have passed, then kill the Mushrikan (see V.2:105) wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and prepare for them each and every ambush. But if they repent and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat, then leave their way free. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
In my copy of the Qur'an, there are footnotes which tell us, "There shall be no coercion in matters of faith" and "war is permissible only in self defense." If you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I will sell you very cheap.
Consider the history of Mohammed and his ravaging of trade caravans to fund his army -- consider the history of Islam's spread -- consider 9-11 -- consider the pubic beheading of the American journalist and many other kidnapped captives -- ask anyone who has heard the rantings of many Islamic holy men on television -- ask anyone who has heard Iran's president and many Arab leaders call for the annihilation of Israel and the Great Satan, America. Then, tell me that Islam is a "religion of peace."
Should we, as Christian believers, turn away from our Islamic friends? No. We should pray for them; we should, when possible, share the true Word of God with them. But, we must never be deceived into believing that the vast Islamic community, in America, in Britain, in Europe, across the Middle East -- wants to be friends with America or with Americans.
As I said, in those communities, even if it is not spoken publicly -- America is still the "Great Satan" -- the friend of Muslim's long hated enemy, Israel. If it were only a small minority of Muslims who feel this way; why do those who do not -- stay silent in support of the Militant Islamic Terrorists?
No, my Friend, this is the relationship between the descendants of Ishmael and the descendants of Isaac which will not be resolved in peace -- until our Lord Jesus Christ returns and establishes His Millennial Kingdom on earth. Then, for the first time since Ishmael and Isaac -- there will be peace upon the earth, ruled by the hand of Jesus Christ from the throne of David in Jerusalem, the holy city of God.
Until then, we share the Word of God with our Islamic friends, and all our friends -- but, we do not destroy our weapons of war, our means of self defense against terrorism and those who view us as the Great Satan to be destroyed, until Jesus Christ returns to give us true peace.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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