Religious differences must be discussed
Janet Daley is Jewish but I was willing to listen
There is an interesting article in today’s Daily Telegraph from Janet Daley which tells us of her conversation with a Muslim taxi driver and her childhood memories in Boston surrounded by Protestant and Roman Catholic children. The main thrust of her argument, with which I am in total agreement, is that religious and cultural differences are there to be discussed and understood as a way of enriching our humanity and increasing tolerance of each other.
Her final passage has great validity and shines like a beacon after events of the last week:
The lesson is almost lost: the more we see of each other’s beliefs and customs, the less we can imbue them with the demonic qualities which suit the demagogues and bigots on all sides. Geert Wilders made a rather ugly film about Islam which should have been the subject of a proper debate about the Koran, but throwing him out of the country served to reinforce the idea that arguing about the meaning of religion is too dangerous for a liberal society to permit. Evangelical Christians are now treated like pariahs in a society which is still officially Christian. What is being lost in all this cowardice and turmoil is the sense of common humanity that might have seen us through.
You can read her full article here
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Interesting post. I have just posted something on interreligous dialogue, with comments representing very different positions. Here is the link in case you are interested: http://deligentia.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/messiah-moon/
A Free Spirit
October 14, 2009 at 3:51 am
Interesting Curly,
I finally made a documentary. It actually is in response to Geert Wilders film “Fitna”.
Yes, I agree we should have a debate about Fitna, but I do support the fact he was thrown out, we can still debate hime online!
Anyway, it’s been ages since i posted on here, and I love trying to debate you on these issues
Lalon Amin
October 16, 2009 at 2:31 am
I cannot, will not, nor ever will support any exclusion policy that appears to lean towards censorship as used by the last Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. Apart from the fact that she was an awful minister, her stand has been utterly destroyed by the Immigration Appeals Panel and people will now be able to debate the issues with Wilders. Far better we have reasoned sensible arguments than a blanket ban which does not allow two sides to discuss important issues with each other.
The Dutch MP’s visit to the UK today hardly lit the blue touch paper of hatred, violence, and threats to national security that Jacqui Smith envisioned, 40 protesters were hardly what one might call a “threat”.
curly
October 16, 2009 at 7:02 pm