I have been extremely concerned over the romantic and unrealistic euphoria associated with proponents of the Tri-Faith Center to be built in Omaha, NE on Faith Plaza at Hell’s Creek. I do not understand why people don’t get it. Either they are ignorant or naive but, truth be told, it is impossible for Jews, Christians and Muslims to form an alliance or even a friendship. Why? Because the Qur’an and Sharia (Islamic) law forbid it. Jews and Christians are considered infidels, kufar or dhimmi (non-Muslims living under the will of Islam, in submission and humiliation). Here are just a few examples taken from the Qur’an.
Qur’an 5:1,”Believers, take not Jews and Christians for your friends. They are but friends and protectors to each other.”
Qur’an 5:72, “Infidels are those who declare God is the Christ, [Jesus] son of Mary,
Qur’an 2:61 “Humiliation and wretchedness were stamped on the Jews and they were visited with Allah’s wrath.”
Qur’an 60:1 ”Believers, take not my enemies and yours as allies, offering them love, even though they have rejected the truth that has come to you, and have driven out the Prophet and you because you believe in Allah! If you have come out to struggle [fight jihad] in My Cause, and to seek My Pleasure, (take them not as friends), holding secret converse of love with them: for I am aware of all you conceal. And any of you that does this has strayed from the Straight Path. If they were to get the better of you, they would be your foes, and stretch forth their hands and their tongues against you with evil (designs).”
(For more examples from the Qur’an and the Hadith…Go to the Prophet of Doom Islamic Sayings)
As a fellow chapter leader in Texas put it:
“They [Muslims] can only pretend [to be friends]. Pretending friendship is repulsive to me. You can argue semantics with me over the word, you might want me to water it down, but I can’t think of a better description for a situation in which an American pastor so loses his focus on his entire reason for being a pastor that he is able to blindly sit down to laughing and playing with those who have sworn to bring us down while they pretend to be just like us. D.
I might add, I am equally appalled to think that Jewish people have forgotten the trials of their grandparents and generational persecution. Perhaps Jewish Americans never knew that the Islamic leader of Jerusalem, the Grand Mufti, conspired with Hitler on the “final solution?” Perhaps no one learned that the yellow Jewish star of humiliation and identification came from the concept of Islamic dhimmitude?
I am afraid the Tri-Faith/Interfaith movement is a reincarnation of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain who in 1938 after meeting with Hitler proudly, triumphantly waved the useless piece of paper proclaiming, “Peace in our time!”
Omaha, Nebraska and Americans engaged in “interfaith dialogue” please wake up! My prediction, efforts to build the bridge of peace between the faiths and create the “Interfaith Capitol of the world” will be flooded over by Hell’s Creek!
And I, on the other hand, have been extremely concerned over the caustic and vitriolic reaction to the creation and formation of the TriFaith community. (Yes, a creek called “Hell Creek” runs through the new property… However, the TriFaith Community is not adverse to irony or any other form of humor, unlike some.) I believe your concerns about a flood would be received with much appreciation, but I also believe you should address said concerns more properly to the Army Corp of Engineers (who have already worked with the developer). As the angels say, “Fear not!”…
It is interesting that you forgot to mention the very hateful and incendiary bits of verse from the other two faiths – both Hebrew scripture as well as the New Testament. I won’t waste your time by listing them here, but I would be curious to find out if all Act! members refrain from eating shellfish, wearing clothes made of two different types of materials, adorning themselves with gold rings or keeping any of their personal income rather giving it all to the collected community in which all true followers of Christ should live. For better or worse, today we do not adhere to every admonishment found in our canon of scripture. And… neither do our Muslim contemporaries.
Of course there are people on this earth who have chosen America as their target. Many of them are Muslims. Many of them are not. These people exist for many, many reasons, but mostly because they have bought into the stereotype that all Americans (without exception) are the same, and we are the world’s bullies, over-consumers of the world’s goods and willfully ignorant of other people’s cultures and customs. The current religious and cultural tension in the world is the result of this adherence to a one-sided view of the world. You and I both know that all Americans do not live up to this reputation. Let’s apply this logic in reverse…
In choosing this myopic course, you steer yourself in the same direction. Can we at least agree that not all Muslims are mass-produced in identical cookie cutter batches? (Just as all Americans are not mass-produced in identical cookie cutter batches.) Can you even consider the possibility that there are Muslims in the world who seek to make the world a better place and dream of peace for their children?
And to balance the cliché Hitler story: please research the brave actions taken by the people of the Paris Mosque during the same era. Bravery and cowardice alike can be found in all cultures throughout the long arc of history.
So, to paraphrase… Omaha, Nebraska – Americans fearful of your Abrahamic brothers and sisters – please wake up! My prediction: you will understand too late what actions you inspire in others. Do not let your fear consume you lest you yourself become the creators of terror.
I agree there are exceptions to every rule and in every generalization. I agree there are innocent people who really want to “give peace a chance” involved in the Tri-faith, but there are also wolves in sheep’s clothing. I encourage you to research the history of Islam, the writings of the faith and ISNA, the organization of which Ingrid Mattson, speaker at the Abraham’s Tent dinner, was President. You will find only one faith that has within its doctrine growth by the sword. As one studies Islam and its writings, one discovers that it is blasphamey to criticize or reform Islam. When the research is complete at least then one can go into this effort with one’s eyes wide open instead of blinded by pure idealism.