How is Sam in any way hurting the work of the Vatican? Bashir said that! By making Bashir’s opinion known, I would think it hurts Bashir in the eyes of the world much more than it in any way effects the Vatican or the Roman Pope.
You guys are ridiculous sometimes. The one who is reporting without commentary is wrong somehow, but the fact that it is Bashir and the Sudanese state who make this about Islam is shouted down by cries of “unfairness”. Yes, yes…we, the non-Muslims of the world who are outside looking in on the Islamic societies, surely are being unfair by simply reporting that these things happen. Reality certainly has an anti-Islamic slant to it.
Hello all, may I interject
It seems like people are just slightly misunderstanding each other and this is causing a bit of anger. I just thought I’d make some comments in the hope it calms the seemingly inevitable spiral out of control.
I think the first thing that might help would be why did you start this thread Sam777? Should it be to encourage people to offer prayers for these poor people then I’m sure we all agree

You did make some comment about reminding us that there is a lack of love in the world. With respect I do not think posting these stories alone will increase love.
I think the Muslims are a little upset because they are worried that people may think because Bashir lashes women and calls it Shariah then people may think all Muslims lash women and it is Shariah. So we perhaps need to clear that up, maybe this was never Sam777’s intention? I think the unfairness that was mentioned was really why this story, why not the suffering in East Timor, for example. Whatever the intention it comes across as a bit provocative, perhaps in future you may wish to clearly state your intentions?
The Common Word thread was very interesting and yes we Muslims need to think about how we are to re-organize. Islam has the tools of authority etc, but circumstance has now created an authority crisis. It is not really bourne out of Islam, since authority has not historically been a problem, but rather the pathetic state the Muslims are now in. There are signs of improvement, but this will take time.
Do you think there is an anti-Christian slant in the media? The ‘Muslim World’ has a lot of problems, but its complicated and requires intelligent thinking and engagement. Distrust and anger and stories (they may not be fully true afterall? They may even be worse?) do not help intelligent thinking and engagement which perhpas what was meant by the undoing of the Pope’s good work.
Anyway, lets all take a step back and try again, maybe take a little longer writing our comments. Sorry for my poor effort
