One of the things that Christians appear to either struggle with or ignore has to be made real in the form of the Trinity! If we look to the words of Deuteronomy 6.4 (the shema) we find ourselves faced with the statement: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one'
No doubt or hint of equivocation to be found here - and we believe that God is consistently one, one substance, possessing three distinct and separate natures. There have been, and still are, people who have one God and then the other two as subjective and inferior, other have three gods. God as the Creator and the Holy Spirit and Jesus as created was dealt with in the Church Councils - Sabellius, Arius, modal stuff where there's three form - each existing like ice, water and steam - all this stuff was dealt with and lines were drawn to uphold the Trinity as something solid, sound and consistent.
The thing is that many don't understand the concept and outworking of the Trinity at all and if this is true for the Christians, how on earth do we expect Muslims and others to understand that we Christians and not a bunch of polytheistic - well tritheistic - sorts?
This was the task before me as I taught at an Islamic school yesterday. The school was good in so many respects, the children were disciplined and well-presented, generally attentive and to be honest - pretty much everything you don't always expect from a state school (in my experience).
Moving on to the classroom, the questions were though out and a dialogue was established. I did stuff in a year nine class and then a mixture of years nine and ten - boys in the first, girls in the second - and I think ( hope, pray!) that we all got something from the experience.
One of the best ways to understand your faith is to try and explain it to others and having had friends from many faith (and no faith) groups and nationalities I have often had to become an apologist for the things I believe to be true and found in Christianity.
So in all, a stimulating and most excellent afternoon was had - after an invigorating shower in the morning (indulged in whilst fully clothed in a graveyard with others) - some administration (which, like the poor, it seems will always be with us - followed by some study, some music practice and then a rather interesting Bishops Certificate course where the topic on offer was 'the Trinity' (how's that for a coincidence?).
So a day in which to give thanks for so many things.
For those I have engaged with.
For the places I have found myself.
For the conversations had.
May the things that divide us be made things that bring understanding and respect.
The things that we use to condemn others never be turned against us.
And may the love of God, and of his image made real in the person before us, never be weakened by the meanness of our hearts.
Showing posts with label Islam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Islam. Show all posts
Thursday, 18 May 2017
Friday, 8 August 2014
Iraq - 'A Christian holocaust'
In a CNN interview with Jonathan Mann, Mark Arabo, says:
"Christianity in Mosul is dead, and a Christian holocaust is in our midst . . . children are being beheaded, mothers are being raped and killed, and fathers are being hung. Right now, three thousand Christians are in Iraq fleeing to neighbouring cities,'
Mann responds with, 'You're startling me with the severity of what you're describing - You said they are --- beheading children?"
Arabo, calling on the international community to, like France, offer these people asylum continues with, 'They are systematically beheading children, and mothers and fathers. The world hasn't seen an evil like this for generations. There's actually a park in Mosul where they actually beheaded children and put their heads on a stick... this is crimes against humanity. They are doing the most horrendous, the most heart-breaking crimes that you can think of."
Mann asks the question over the ISIS letter telling Christians in Mosul to convert to Islam, pay a fine or be put to 'death by the sword', 'It's clear that they are killing people, but are Christians managing to escape by paying a fine?' To which Arabo responds: 'After Christians pay the fine, the fighters take the Christian wives and children and make them their wives - so it's really convert, or die.'
Those who have escaped the fighters by fleeing to the mountains, have died from lack of food and water there: "A quick scan of Youtube shows the truth of what Arabo is saying - there are gruesome videos of heads on spikes, and many of live beheadings (one poor Christian is forced to say the Shahada 'there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet' and then beheaded anyway.)",
Warning: don't google these things unless you have a strong stomach.
They are absolutely killing every Christian they see - This is genocide in every sense of the word. They want everyone to convert, and they want sharia law to be the law of the land.'
Please pray
Please support those in Iraq practically
Please talk about this with others (for generally all I keep hearing about is Gaza)
Please ask your politicians questions about Iraq and your nation's response (and be a pain)
You can see the whole interview below:
"Christianity in Mosul is dead, and a Christian holocaust is in our midst . . . children are being beheaded, mothers are being raped and killed, and fathers are being hung. Right now, three thousand Christians are in Iraq fleeing to neighbouring cities,'
Mann responds with, 'You're startling me with the severity of what you're describing - You said they are --- beheading children?"
Arabo, calling on the international community to, like France, offer these people asylum continues with, 'They are systematically beheading children, and mothers and fathers. The world hasn't seen an evil like this for generations. There's actually a park in Mosul where they actually beheaded children and put their heads on a stick... this is crimes against humanity. They are doing the most horrendous, the most heart-breaking crimes that you can think of."
Mann asks the question over the ISIS letter telling Christians in Mosul to convert to Islam, pay a fine or be put to 'death by the sword', 'It's clear that they are killing people, but are Christians managing to escape by paying a fine?' To which Arabo responds: 'After Christians pay the fine, the fighters take the Christian wives and children and make them their wives - so it's really convert, or die.'
Those who have escaped the fighters by fleeing to the mountains, have died from lack of food and water there: "A quick scan of Youtube shows the truth of what Arabo is saying - there are gruesome videos of heads on spikes, and many of live beheadings (one poor Christian is forced to say the Shahada 'there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet' and then beheaded anyway.)",
Warning: don't google these things unless you have a strong stomach.
They are absolutely killing every Christian they see - This is genocide in every sense of the word. They want everyone to convert, and they want sharia law to be the law of the land.'
Please pray
Please support those in Iraq practically
Please talk about this with others (for generally all I keep hearing about is Gaza)
Please ask your politicians questions about Iraq and your nation's response (and be a pain)
You can see the whole interview below:
Monday, 28 July 2014
Mosul - An issue of ethic cleansing?
I've been asked whether the title to this blog should have the word 'ethnic' rather than 'ethic' and I have to respond that the use of the word 'ethic' is both right and fitting.
The noise generated by Israel and the Palestinian conflict and the downing of MH17 in Ukraine have conspired to assist the governments of the world, and us the punters, to put aside what should have been a measure of outrage at this obvious breach of human rights.
I would have expected people to engage in thinking ethically and defending what is right stand up and denounce that which is clearly wrong - and yet what do I see?
Not a lot!
Ethic cleansing at its very best :-(
Take a look at this piece from the Assyrian International News Agency and tell me whether you're still sitting comfortably after it:
The last Christian reportedly left Iraq’s second largest city of Mosul at 12:00pm on Saturday, ending over 6,000 years of Assyrian history in the city.
Assyrians have lived in Mosul for over 6,000 years, converting to Christianity over 2,000 years ago. This all came to an end on Saturday, when the last Assyrian Christian left the city. On Thursday, July 17th, the Islamic State (IS) – formerly the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) – released a statement demanding the Christians in Mosul either to convert to Islam, paying the jizya (tax on non-Muslims), leave the city, or be killed.
The threat was to be implemented on Saturday. It is being reported locally that by noon yesterday, every Christian had chosen to leave.
Here in Erbil, about an hour an half [sic] away from Mosul by car, I have spoken with families who were forced to flee. They describe how ISIS invaded their homes, taking whatever they wanted, and threatening to kill them.
The estimates are that over 500,000 refugees have fled Mosul after Islamists took control on June 10th, and the few remaining Christians left yesterday.
Another local told me he thought it was strange and nonsensical that the U.S. and European countries were opposed to IS in Iraq, but supporting IS groups in Syria and other violent groups against local governments. They warned of the danger such groups pose to the West. “These jihadists will eventually go home to their countries, to Canada, England and the U.S.” said one.
Please pass this information on and contact the press, the politicians and as many church members (and leaders) as you can. This needs to be noted, prayed about and acted upon politically too!
Emphasis in bold is mine
Pax
The noise generated by Israel and the Palestinian conflict and the downing of MH17 in Ukraine have conspired to assist the governments of the world, and us the punters, to put aside what should have been a measure of outrage at this obvious breach of human rights.
I would have expected people to engage in thinking ethically and defending what is right stand up and denounce that which is clearly wrong - and yet what do I see?
Not a lot!
Ethic cleansing at its very best :-(
Take a look at this piece from the Assyrian International News Agency and tell me whether you're still sitting comfortably after it:
The last Christian reportedly left Iraq’s second largest city of Mosul at 12:00pm on Saturday, ending over 6,000 years of Assyrian history in the city.
Assyrians have lived in Mosul for over 6,000 years, converting to Christianity over 2,000 years ago. This all came to an end on Saturday, when the last Assyrian Christian left the city. On Thursday, July 17th, the Islamic State (IS) – formerly the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) – released a statement demanding the Christians in Mosul either to convert to Islam, paying the jizya (tax on non-Muslims), leave the city, or be killed.
The threat was to be implemented on Saturday. It is being reported locally that by noon yesterday, every Christian had chosen to leave.
Here in Erbil, about an hour an half [sic] away from Mosul by car, I have spoken with families who were forced to flee. They describe how ISIS invaded their homes, taking whatever they wanted, and threatening to kill them.
The estimates are that over 500,000 refugees have fled Mosul after Islamists took control on June 10th, and the few remaining Christians left yesterday.
Everyone I have spoken with has expressed their frustration with the international community’s lack of response to the crisis facing the people of Iraq (I'd call this a failure in ethics - wouldn't you?)
They blamed the United States for creating the current situation and for leaving the country so quickly and so creating the vacuum for IS to exploit.
Many also think that it was a serious mistake for the U.S. to “give Iraq to Iran,” allowing Tehran to have a major influence in the Iraqi Parliament.
Another local told me he thought it was strange and nonsensical that the U.S. and European countries were opposed to IS in Iraq, but supporting IS groups in Syria and other violent groups against local governments. They warned of the danger such groups pose to the West. “These jihadists will eventually go home to their countries, to Canada, England and the U.S.” said one.
Please pass this information on and contact the press, the politicians and as many church members (and leaders) as you can. This needs to be noted, prayed about and acted upon politically too!
Emphasis in bold is mine
Pax
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
A bit of a hop
Having taken the 'first step' we find ourselves having to 'hop' in that, as was pointed out extremely well (and with some good examples), the society in which we find ourselves leans towards some people being, "More equal than others!"
I was given examples of some groups being afforded more concessions than others through fear of appearing, or worse still being labelled, 'racist' or 'anti-Islamic, had they said 'No' to something. The other side of this coin is that to say 'No' to members of our 'own' society (or to member of the national faith i.e. Christian) would just be being honest and 'normal'.
And so it transpires that when concessions are made to (as a 'for instance') Islamic groups, those who make the concessions are being racist (a situation which in today's society needs to be addressed), those who make the decisions are acting against the natural sense of justice and fair play. The antonym of Xenophobia is, of course, tolerance and this is what freedom of speech and choosing how we live is all about.
Being a member of a faith, gender, orientation or any of people group often leads the members of it to assume that they have some 'god-given' right to be treated differently and this is no the case. The fact that any of us might have a faith, or no faith, does not confer upon us the right to become a 'special case'. The problem is two-fold in that where a religious group is also considered to be 'ethnic' (whether this be because of country of origin or because of the observance practices) we find the ghetto mentality (and reality) becoming established and because of the concentrations of one people groups (ethnic, religious or whatever) we find temples, mosques and the like peppering the area and establishing 'no go zones'.
As a Cockney I have experienced this on a number of occasions and in a number of places, here's just a few:
The Jewish community in Stamford Hill (and the more well off cousins in Hendon and Ilford)
The Bangladeshi community around the Bethnal Green area
Brick Lane, Slough, Southall and the like.
I have been in places where caste wars were to be found, where a Sikh speaker was shot dead over the Punjab issue, where various sects within Islam were often to be found fighting and more besides.
Why, because people didn't want 'them' living next door and so supported the establishment of the very communities they now fear as being ghettos.
People are free to take a pop at what I believe. They are free to put banners denying what I consider to be true and labelling it as cobblers! This is what freedom of speech is about. When Jesus was portrayed in a way that upset many Christians, it was 'art'. When the same thing happened with the religion being Sikh, the theatre pulled the performance immediately because of the (much smaller) demonstration and complaints form 'community' leaders.
I happen across books that proclaim Christ and Christianity to be a load of BS every day. Do the writers have to go into hiding? Do the Christians pronounce death threats? No, of course not. But when other religions do so, we tut and make excuses for them. Why, because we're being racist! "They' don't know any better! "They're' just a bunch of ignorant savages with an ignorant and primitive, uncultured faith.
I have a right to be Christian. Another has a right to be Islamic. Still another has a right to be a humanist, or secularist or whatever they so wish. I have a right to practice my faith, other have a right to practice their lack of it. How we work this out, how we debate, dialogue and challenge the attitudes and belief (or non-belief) of others is part of the journey and the hallmark of a balanced and tolerant society.
The fear shown by some in challenging something because it's 'Islamic' or 'ethnic' or 'Gay' or 'Christian' (well actually there's no fear in challenging Christians, they appear to be an easy target and fair game for all) is actually destroying our nation's balance, culture, tolerance and exhibiting injustice and prejudice.
Prejudice is wrong, whether it is positive or negative. It is wrong!
making decisions through fear of reprisal is wrong, this is capitulation and we have seen too much of it in our nation. Equal values, level playing fields, respect for all and accountability and tolerant, honest challenging, and decision making is the only way this nation will be saved from slipping into the mire.
Oddly, this is the message of the God of the Christians and the Jews.
Pax
I was given examples of some groups being afforded more concessions than others through fear of appearing, or worse still being labelled, 'racist' or 'anti-Islamic, had they said 'No' to something. The other side of this coin is that to say 'No' to members of our 'own' society (or to member of the national faith i.e. Christian) would just be being honest and 'normal'.
And so it transpires that when concessions are made to (as a 'for instance') Islamic groups, those who make the concessions are being racist (a situation which in today's society needs to be addressed), those who make the decisions are acting against the natural sense of justice and fair play. The antonym of Xenophobia is, of course, tolerance and this is what freedom of speech and choosing how we live is all about.
Being a member of a faith, gender, orientation or any of people group often leads the members of it to assume that they have some 'god-given' right to be treated differently and this is no the case. The fact that any of us might have a faith, or no faith, does not confer upon us the right to become a 'special case'. The problem is two-fold in that where a religious group is also considered to be 'ethnic' (whether this be because of country of origin or because of the observance practices) we find the ghetto mentality (and reality) becoming established and because of the concentrations of one people groups (ethnic, religious or whatever) we find temples, mosques and the like peppering the area and establishing 'no go zones'.
As a Cockney I have experienced this on a number of occasions and in a number of places, here's just a few:
The Jewish community in Stamford Hill (and the more well off cousins in Hendon and Ilford)
The Bangladeshi community around the Bethnal Green area
Brick Lane, Slough, Southall and the like.
I have been in places where caste wars were to be found, where a Sikh speaker was shot dead over the Punjab issue, where various sects within Islam were often to be found fighting and more besides.
Why, because people didn't want 'them' living next door and so supported the establishment of the very communities they now fear as being ghettos.
People are free to take a pop at what I believe. They are free to put banners denying what I consider to be true and labelling it as cobblers! This is what freedom of speech is about. When Jesus was portrayed in a way that upset many Christians, it was 'art'. When the same thing happened with the religion being Sikh, the theatre pulled the performance immediately because of the (much smaller) demonstration and complaints form 'community' leaders.
I happen across books that proclaim Christ and Christianity to be a load of BS every day. Do the writers have to go into hiding? Do the Christians pronounce death threats? No, of course not. But when other religions do so, we tut and make excuses for them. Why, because we're being racist! "They' don't know any better! "They're' just a bunch of ignorant savages with an ignorant and primitive, uncultured faith.
I have a right to be Christian. Another has a right to be Islamic. Still another has a right to be a humanist, or secularist or whatever they so wish. I have a right to practice my faith, other have a right to practice their lack of it. How we work this out, how we debate, dialogue and challenge the attitudes and belief (or non-belief) of others is part of the journey and the hallmark of a balanced and tolerant society.
The fear shown by some in challenging something because it's 'Islamic' or 'ethnic' or 'Gay' or 'Christian' (well actually there's no fear in challenging Christians, they appear to be an easy target and fair game for all) is actually destroying our nation's balance, culture, tolerance and exhibiting injustice and prejudice.
Prejudice is wrong, whether it is positive or negative. It is wrong!
making decisions through fear of reprisal is wrong, this is capitulation and we have seen too much of it in our nation. Equal values, level playing fields, respect for all and accountability and tolerant, honest challenging, and decision making is the only way this nation will be saved from slipping into the mire.
Oddly, this is the message of the God of the Christians and the Jews.
Pax
Monday, 4 April 2011
First step
One of the biggest shocks to shape the ministry in the place I find myself today is the realisation that I am not called by God to drag people into the church building but to get the Church out of it. I am not called to 'bring people back' to church, because they've never been there and so return is impossible. I am called to bring God's blessing where it is already to be found, merely pointing the recipients to what is already there and effecting an introduction between the two parties.
What I, and those with whom I stand, am called to is to be light in the darkness of everyday reality and salt which brings flavour to be bland and bleak consumer society. I do this in the privileged surroundings of a nation whose Christian history has made it tolerant, and welcoming, of people from other nations and faiths. It is good and right that we have always, in the main, exercised religious tolerance, save a 'bit of a problem' with Rome exacerbated by some of our bloodier monarchs and will hopefully continue in this trend.
What would be a great sadness is for us to lose our birthright, nationally and as Christians, through the abuse of our welcome or the fear of legislators and those in authority. The guide is that all who inhabit our land, do so within the laws of this land and whilst there is warrant for people to have their own legal bodies for such issues as divorce (as an arbitration body ie. sharia and beth din), the law of this land is supreme and has absolute authority.
The means by which this is enabled is for those who are Christians to make proper, balanced and informed stands.
When I lived in West London, it wasn't the 'ethnics' who called for Christmas to be cancelled and the money that would have been used for decorations to be sent to a women's cooperative in South Africa. It was the council who wanted to promote their own agenda (non-Christian) and used to support this, the misinformation that the reason was the 'other faiths'.
Oddly, it was the Sikhs, Hindus and other non-Christian faith groups who pushed the council into funding the lights and saved Christmas. It was other faiths who spoke out about the importance of Christ and Christmas. The Christians were silent. Christians (weak, nominal or dechurched) showed themselves to be weak and impotent and to generally be people of 'no faith'.
When, as a member of a SACRE (Standing Advisory Committee on Religious Education) we were asked to approve the dropping of formal religious assemblies within the borough's schools, the CofE (having the casting block vote) supported this every time. The voices of dissent for such action came from, yes - you have guessed - the member of the 'other faith' groups but of course, their voices went unheeded.
Where we find ourselves today is the heritage from such realities as this. From the legacy of people who were willing to have a 'meek shall inherit the earth approach' that was modelled on the doormat!
There is still time to embrace people of other faiths as just that. People who have other beliefs. We don't have to do services together (for as I understand it, all gods do not lead to the one same God) and we don't have to agree (another of the curses of multifaith and ecumenical gatherings). We are different faiths and so, although we will find areas of ethical behaviour that coalesce the reality remains that we are very different - and this is right!
When a church wanted to build a new building to accomodate them and their community work, restrictions were placed by the council on parking, noise from the building, light polution and a host of other issues. When the same council was asked to approve the building of a mosque in the very same area, no such restrictions were applied. It is this obvious bias and lack of equality which causes some to claim that other faiths and other tongues are afforded more rights that our native tongue and faith.
The reason for the decisions? The council didn't want to appear as if they were 'prejudiced' and so exhibited to all the fact that they were.
Lesson the first - open-handed, open-hearted, seeking equality and equity for all, regardless. Jew or Gentile, Muslim or Sikh, Secular Humanist or Theist. This is living biblically and is the way by which the kingdom (of God) will be won and the state of our country maintained.
Ex 22: 21 "You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt."
Lev 19:33 "When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him."
Zec 7: 10 "Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other."
God's words, not mine. If you don't agree, take it up with Him!
Pax
What I, and those with whom I stand, am called to is to be light in the darkness of everyday reality and salt which brings flavour to be bland and bleak consumer society. I do this in the privileged surroundings of a nation whose Christian history has made it tolerant, and welcoming, of people from other nations and faiths. It is good and right that we have always, in the main, exercised religious tolerance, save a 'bit of a problem' with Rome exacerbated by some of our bloodier monarchs and will hopefully continue in this trend.
What would be a great sadness is for us to lose our birthright, nationally and as Christians, through the abuse of our welcome or the fear of legislators and those in authority. The guide is that all who inhabit our land, do so within the laws of this land and whilst there is warrant for people to have their own legal bodies for such issues as divorce (as an arbitration body ie. sharia and beth din), the law of this land is supreme and has absolute authority.
The means by which this is enabled is for those who are Christians to make proper, balanced and informed stands.
When I lived in West London, it wasn't the 'ethnics' who called for Christmas to be cancelled and the money that would have been used for decorations to be sent to a women's cooperative in South Africa. It was the council who wanted to promote their own agenda (non-Christian) and used to support this, the misinformation that the reason was the 'other faiths'.
Oddly, it was the Sikhs, Hindus and other non-Christian faith groups who pushed the council into funding the lights and saved Christmas. It was other faiths who spoke out about the importance of Christ and Christmas. The Christians were silent. Christians (weak, nominal or dechurched) showed themselves to be weak and impotent and to generally be people of 'no faith'.
When, as a member of a SACRE (Standing Advisory Committee on Religious Education) we were asked to approve the dropping of formal religious assemblies within the borough's schools, the CofE (having the casting block vote) supported this every time. The voices of dissent for such action came from, yes - you have guessed - the member of the 'other faith' groups but of course, their voices went unheeded.
Where we find ourselves today is the heritage from such realities as this. From the legacy of people who were willing to have a 'meek shall inherit the earth approach' that was modelled on the doormat!
There is still time to embrace people of other faiths as just that. People who have other beliefs. We don't have to do services together (for as I understand it, all gods do not lead to the one same God) and we don't have to agree (another of the curses of multifaith and ecumenical gatherings). We are different faiths and so, although we will find areas of ethical behaviour that coalesce the reality remains that we are very different - and this is right!
When a church wanted to build a new building to accomodate them and their community work, restrictions were placed by the council on parking, noise from the building, light polution and a host of other issues. When the same council was asked to approve the building of a mosque in the very same area, no such restrictions were applied. It is this obvious bias and lack of equality which causes some to claim that other faiths and other tongues are afforded more rights that our native tongue and faith.
The reason for the decisions? The council didn't want to appear as if they were 'prejudiced' and so exhibited to all the fact that they were.
Lesson the first - open-handed, open-hearted, seeking equality and equity for all, regardless. Jew or Gentile, Muslim or Sikh, Secular Humanist or Theist. This is living biblically and is the way by which the kingdom (of God) will be won and the state of our country maintained.
Ex 22: 21 "You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt."
Lev 19:33 "When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him."
Zec 7: 10 "Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other."
God's words, not mine. If you don't agree, take it up with Him!
Pax
Can anyone else hear a banging noise?
A while back I realised I could hear a banging noise coming from my church building. I popped in and guess what?
It was Jesus banging His head against the cross!
The question is, can anyone else hear it?
I have had more than a few emails regarding my post last night and apparently 'they' started it, "After all, they burn our flag!" and they "Take our jobs". Not only that, but 'they' have taken over our country and so they deserve exactly what they get!
Apparently 'they' call white people names and I wouldn't know about that because I don't live in an area where there aren't any of 'them'.
Ours schools are under siege, our communities have been taken over by 'them' and the laws protect them, not the white population bringing in 'one rule for 'them' and another for for 'us' so that 'we' have to walk around 'them' on eggshells.
Some people say they daren't comment in case they cause offence (isn't that a sign of being offensive in itself?).
The issue of race and religion is a minefield of political correctness, sheer bloody ignorance, stupidity, Christians who should know better, Daily Fascist readers, NIMBYs, intolerance, cowardice and wicked people who wish to see their interpretation of their own religion prosper (regardless of what the faith they claim to represent believes and teaches).
I think we, our faith and the communities in which we find ourselves would be well served if we sought to unravel this ball of wool in some sort of sensible way such that we can develop for ourselves a way of dealing with people of other faiths, nationalities and even people of differing denominations.
What do you think?
Pax.
It was Jesus banging His head against the cross!
The question is, can anyone else hear it?
I have had more than a few emails regarding my post last night and apparently 'they' started it, "After all, they burn our flag!" and they "Take our jobs". Not only that, but 'they' have taken over our country and so they deserve exactly what they get!
Apparently 'they' call white people names and I wouldn't know about that because I don't live in an area where there aren't any of 'them'.
Ours schools are under siege, our communities have been taken over by 'them' and the laws protect them, not the white population bringing in 'one rule for 'them' and another for for 'us' so that 'we' have to walk around 'them' on eggshells.
Some people say they daren't comment in case they cause offence (isn't that a sign of being offensive in itself?).
The issue of race and religion is a minefield of political correctness, sheer bloody ignorance, stupidity, Christians who should know better, Daily Fascist readers, NIMBYs, intolerance, cowardice and wicked people who wish to see their interpretation of their own religion prosper (regardless of what the faith they claim to represent believes and teaches).
I think we, our faith and the communities in which we find ourselves would be well served if we sought to unravel this ball of wool in some sort of sensible way such that we can develop for ourselves a way of dealing with people of other faiths, nationalities and even people of differing denominations.
What do you think?
Pax.
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