Comments

When I watch Christian TV. I hear a lot of demands for "submission to the will of God." Are you essentially saying then, that only secularists in both Islamic and Christian populated areas can be truly "moderate?"

As someone who who raised Methodist, who hold great store in moderation, and who fancies himself as "militantly moderate" in my middle age, where does that leave me?

My background leads me to believe that God's will is pretty simple to discern; try to live up to the Golden Rule, to love not only God, but mercy, justice, charity, kindness. As someone wiser than I once wrote...A few simple rules for complex people, rather than complex rules to keep people simpleminded.

Greg, those aren't my words. They're the words of a former Muslim who grew up in a culture adherent to Sharia law. The word "Islam," translated, means what Hirsi Ali said it means. I agree with all you said about Christianity. I certainly believe that the enormous majority of Western Christians are moderate, because Christian orthodoxy is inherently so. This is not the case with Islam. Unfortunately however, secularists, when they adopt a godless form of Christianity, are nearly as dangerous as Mohammedans. So no, secularism of itself is not the answer. Indeed, I object as much to our current atheistic theocracy in which liberalism is the hegemonic state religion as I do to Islam.

Well, certainly if you talk to someone who believes their religion, past or present, is hardly "moderate," you're going to get a picture of a religion that's fairly hard-nosed. I'd like to know this Hirsi Ali's perspective and background, and how it compares to other Muslims' (or former Muslims', if you prefer). The phrase "adhering to Sharia law" still has broad implications. And frankly, if you look at the entire spectrum of positions in Islam, from Sunni to Shiite to Sufi, you get a whole rage of positions on issues like tolerance of other religions. In fact, that's pretty much the same issue with almost any religion—including Christianity.

As for the actual article, I'm sincerely overjoyed that Muslim leaders have taken this important first step, and that Christian leaders too are also responding positively.

This is very encouraging. I only wish it had been done several years ago, when so many Americans (Christian and otherwise) were wondering "Where is the voice of the moderate Muslims? Why aren't they speaking out against terrorism and oppression?"

I hope to see a statement of positve response signed by prominent Christian scholars and leaders from across the theological spectrum. Yes, "genuine and important differences between the two faiths remain," but there is no reason why the majorities in both religions who want peace should not break bread together.

Jesus never compromised on truth. The Quran is vastly different from the bible on the fundamental doctrines of the faith.

I think this is awesome! God is so much bigger than we make him out to be and he is certainly bigger than a book. I think finding common ground by just loving one another, with no baggage attached, a novel idea.

The differences will be damaging to any dialogue. Islam will simply not get off their partiocular dimes and speak honestly.

Any dialogue that leads to fruitfulness must begin with the basics"

1. Islam must renounce it claim to be 'prior' to Judiasm and Christianity - that's its beginnings upon the deserts of Arabia was only a belated genesis; that it was simpily an unfolding of what was there in the beginning. Islam will never relinquish this claim; to do so would the disinegration of the religion.

2. Islam must renounce its hatred and condemnation of the Jews; it must recognize that Israel was God's elect for the incarnation of His messianic promise. Israel must acknowledge that God has a (theologically) particular affection for Issac, and not Ishamel.

3. Islam must open its texts to the same studious pounding that the Jewish and Christian texts have endured. Islam must allow such a hard look question even the existence of Muhammad.

4. Islam must acknolwedge that it is above all a political religion: that to sever its theology from the political making of its dogmas would have consequential effects.

5. Above all, ISLAM MUST RETHINK ALLAH. That its claim to monotheism could, in the end, be poorly grounded. Islam must lay bare the consequences of an Allah who is arbitrary, whose will is beyond even the barest notion of consistency. Islam must acknowledge that an total arbitary Allah resaults in a totalitarian submiussion. (Peace is total submission to Allah's totalitarian will.)

Diana said: "God is so much bigger than we make him out to be and he is certainly bigger than a book."

Multi-cult tripe.

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