Reader Mail, 11/21

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November 21, 2002

(Page 3 of 9)

Cathy Young's missive on the religious intolerance of Christianity is the type of writing I expect from a newbee reporter at the New York Times. The Bible is the authority for Christian behavior, and no where does it demand that Christians kill non beleivers and the Koran does. Do not smear Christianity because politicians who claim to be Christians made war on others. Pedophile priests and bloodthirsty princes are not the authors of the faith, and they do not speak for the church. Mohammed clearly does speak for Islam. As for the intolerance of Christianity preaching one method of salvation--is it not just as intolerant to preach that murder is wrong? After all Stalin thought murder of his enemies was right and prudent. How can you call yourself a believer in anything if your do not hold to core principals? Even you probably believe in freedom of the press. What a religious extremist you are!

randall harrell

Praise Allah, Mrs R, where do we convert?

Christian Evangelists such as Falwell and Robertson(and Bush & co) are extreme ignorant members of the human race. They live in an insular world with no true knowledge of the outside world beyond their own suffocating and intolerant version of Christianity which is an utter insult to Christ's honourable teachings. Unlike Christ, they are racist and bigotted and do not represent the kind of world Christ would have wanted and he would have avowed to them NOT IN MY NAME!

Contrary to what many ignorant American Christians believe, Islam is NOT a pagan religion. Its founder was not the prophet Mohammed, but Almighty God Himself. Allah is not the name of a pagan God - it is the Arabic/aramaic word for God just as Dieu is in French or Dio in Italian, Dios in Spanish!!!

These ill informed Christians are so thick and obviously they have not read the KORAN properly otherwise they would have realised that Islam actually incorporates the Old Testament, that it reveres God's prophets such as Abraham, Moses, Christ and Mohammed. Jesus Christ is revered by all Muslims and held in great esteem and respect. Unlike Jews who do not even recognise him and got him killed.

Read the bible again and you will come across many verses in the old testament where violence is encouraged by Moses and others, such as in Deuteronomy!!!!!!

The words in the Koran were spoken by Almighty God and written down word for word, unlike the bible which has so many variations and corruptions that it has in fact deviated from the true message of God through His messenger, Jesus Christ.

Christians already break God's first commandment when they create images and have idols which is forbidden: "Do not create graven images of thy Lord thy God" which is also forbidden in Islam.

In some Arab countries Islam has been corrupted by man's cultural practices that existed pre monotheistic. Islam is an honourable religion when practiced in its pure form just as Christianity is. Interpretation is the key word here. Cultural practices have been wrongly allowed to mingle with religious adherences. This is also the case in Christianity where pagan practices have merged with it , as in Christmas trees, the date of Christmas etc... which used to be pagan rituals.

Before judging Islam, judge your own Christian religious practices and observe how Christians are not honouring God or Christ. One can criticise corrupt Arab leaders who in fact are not really religious at all, but you cannot criticise most innocent Muslims who believe in God and God alone, not Mohammed, his prophet, who is of secondary importance, but GOD - Almighty God, creator of our world for ALL our Human Family, and not just for the so called chosen few!! regards and peace be with you

Mrs R

Re: You Can Call Me Al Qaeda (11/7)

More credible by the day

Thanks for your piece on the dubious origins of the Indonesia bombing claim.