News-Record.com

Nice little 6-page story there, Nancy. It appears to be a multi-dimensional problem that has no easy answers. First, there is the mere story of a teacher trying to encourage students of different cultures to understand each other by learning each others' languages. That is a terrific idea, taken at face value. But the opponents of this teacher have a much wider range of complaints that have varying levels of validity.

One point that struck me is the fear that even allowing moderate Muslims to integrate into American society would pave the way for violent extremists. I wonder how Christian moderates would view the same concept if it were directed at them.

But overarching this whole issue is the conflict between social groups. America used to be happy to be a "melting pot" where all groups could live together in peace, so long as they agreed to abide by a shared set of common values, like obeying the laws of the land. Perhaps that never really happened. That may have been a myth that I grew up hearing and never saw fit to question it.

Now, we hear a lot of rhetoric from people who are determined to live in isolation from alien groups, particularly from Islamic groups. Since the 9/11 attack, the idea of an unlimited war has become quite common. The enemy that attacked us has a myth of universal Islamic domination, and too many of us have created a mirror image in our minds of trying to spread an Americanized version of Christianity/Democracy around the world.

Neither of these notions will ever come to pass. And the attempts to make them happen drive us farther and farther away from the real need we have to figure out how to cooperate for a peaceful future. Maybe the world needs to be balkanized, with individual lands set aside for each distinct group of people to live in and trade between each other. Maybe societies can be built where religious groups can live in peace next door to each other without squabbling between each other or treating each other unfairly.

Whatever the end solution becomes, it'd be a good idea to actually get it done, and hopefully stop the self-destructive wars that are doing more harm than pretty much anything else we are doing these days.

"Maybe societies can be built where religious groups can live in peace next door to each other without squabbling between each other or treating each other unfairly."

ULTIMATELY, This is sheer wishful thinking, Nam. To put it succinctly (which I have a hard time doing) the great ideolgical systems that are vying for power and influence today - Christianity, Islam and secualr humanist Marxism - have ONE goal and raison d'etre: to gain power in oder to fully implement thier cosmic vision for mankind. One doesn't compromise on such a vision. They are mutually exclusive, polar opposites. And any hope that they can peacefully coexist over the long term is naivete of the first magnitude. Either Jesus is truly the King of kings and Lord of lords or He is not. The Word delcares Him to be, and that the the "kingdoms of this world WILL become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ."

I am well able to live at peace with my religious neighbors, Nikos, and I enjoy their company as often as I can. If this can work in the microcosm of my neighborhood, or of this city, why can't it work more universally? Didn't even your head honcho, Jesus, order his followers to love their neighbors and treat others as they would like to be treated? It just puzzles me constantly to hear American Christians taking up this war-like rhetoric, while they always talk about following "the Prince of Peace." Are you expecting peace to come about only when you're removed all competitors from the field, and not before?

"Are you expecting peace to come about only when you're removed all competitors from the field, and not before?"

It is one thing to speak of peaceable coexistence on the personal or neighborhood level, but on the cosmic (world-wide) level the great confrontation of the Kingdom of God, His Messiah, Word and Church - and the rest of the fallen Satanic world system will produce tension, conflict and confrontation. They are totally opposite worldviews: the biblical God is a "jealous God" and must receive all the honor and glory, allowing no rivals.

The great plan of slavation and restoration, revealed and carried out in the Scriptures, has no equal whatsoever. All other religions and ideological systems are born of human speculation, legalistic effort, partial insights and erroneous views of man. And, as such, are alien to God's grace solution implemented in and through the Gospel, in which God provides the Lamb (Yeshua) for sacrifice (atonement).

There is NO other solution to the human dilemma, and God will bring all other rival systems to naught. This is the grand scheme that MUST transpire, according to the prphetic teachings of Scripture.

In the personal, day-to-day arena of human interaction, the Gospel is offered to individuals in the context of normal human interactions, the Chruch grows, witnesses to the Truth, and teaches. Therefore, God allows life to continue until the Kingdom "comes," and the final judgment occurs - fifty years or a thousand years - only God knows.

So yes, I can live without violence and animosity with all who will allow until cosmic events prevent (hostile government oppression, etc) Such relationships are not absolute, but redemptive in nature; because there can be no true peace on earth anywhere, at any time, without saving grace and the Presence of the Holy Spirit. Even that is not perfect, but only an intimation of immortality, or heaven. Anything other than Christ;s peace is incomplete and counterfeit.

While the interpersonal dynamic can be realtively peaceful, the cosmic aspect can be highly confrontational - as in Communist countries and Muslim areas like Darfur. Jesus' relationships were often very calm and peaceful, but the cosmic nature of His life and teachings inevitably provoke the conflict which led to the Cross. He told his disciples, "If they hate Me, they will hate you." Spiritual light and darkness are utterly irreconcilable, and Light will cast out the darkness, ultimately and finally. "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." AMEN

Nikos wrote:
"...While the interpersonal dynamic can be realtively peaceful, the cosmic aspect can be highly confrontational - as in Communist countries and Muslim areas like Darfur. "

Let's not forget the murder rate and mortality/morbidity caused by guns in the US- you know, the place you like to call a "Christian nation." Talk about cosmically confrontational people. What's that percent of Christians in US jails and prisons - isn't it like 90+ % of inmates?

Jesus probably isn't very proud of his followers.

Alice ever recall seeing the bumper sticker that reads something like this; "It's not Jesus that I don't like, it's his followers!"

That can sum up the feelings of a great many people who do not connect with the Christian faith. Maybe a closer look within might help the situation on the outer.

Shalom

As the saying goes, be the change you want in the world. I do my best to get along peacefully and fairly with all my neighbors. Maybe they'll reciprocate, rather than trying to act out some cosmic struggle for dominance. I can only hope so.

Back to the article at hand: this woman and her program were smeared with lies by a christian and a jew- and those brainless folowers whom they riled up. Torches and pitchforks must have come back in style in NYC.
And that particular commandment about , you know- not lying...- how conveniently the leaders of the campaign against her seem to have ignored it.

It never ceases to amaze me how naive and utterly vulnerable you atheists and humanists are when it comes to Islam. It is a FALSE and voracious system of religious legalism that is cunning, stealthy, and relentless in its efforts of dominate and replace ALL other systems.

It is NOT the business, or calling, of Christians to bring God's gracious Gospel of peace and reconciliation to the world by violent, deceptive or strictly political means. Ultimately it is God alone who will bring about the peaceable Kingdom and world-wide submission to the Messianic King. It is a spiritual process, effected by spiritual means to a spiritual end. It is all of grace and none of legalism (Islam).

The duty of every Christian is simply to be what we are called to be, and to witness and share the Good News of reconciliation to God with all we are with - not by a harsh, coercie or intrusive MO, but by love and truth-saying. There ARE implications on the societal and political level, but that is really God's teritory to control and guide. We simply act in obedeince to His will, the best we can, sharing the Gospel and procliming His Truth.

The MO of these folks in NY may not have been ideal; but they see the truth of Islam and are corageous enough to do something, however imperfectly.

Islam is another animal altogether. It is too bad we have given it even a foothold in this country. The Europeans agree! You will see more and more efforts to impose Sharia law on themselves and US. Your "can't we alljust get along" pipedream is utterly wasted on Muslims. It is all or nothing for them. Wake up folks, do your homework. They make no bones about thier goals. Neither should we.