I have a concern and was wondering if others share it. Theists, whether that be Muslims (Sunni or Shiite), Christian (Catholic or Protestant), or Jewish (Orthodox or Reformed) seem to spend most of their apologetic time and effort at trying to convince each other that they are wrong. I will acknowledge that there are drastic theological differences. However, I feel that we share many things, if not most moral teachings. Why can not theists of different hues work together to create a more just world. The moral codes of all the great religions are from God, because they are natural laws. Let us uphold these moral teachings. This ecumenical moral defense strategy should be top-down and bottom-up. The top-down element is already going on. For example the Vatican just signed an agreement with the Arab League “towards cooperation on peace and stability, as well as the fostering of inter-religious dialogue”. Another example of the movement is the “Common Word” movement. I am suggesting that we also work from the bottom-up. Let Catholic meet with Reform Jews and Shiite Muslims meet with evangelicals. The purpose of these small, local meeting should be to identify common views on morality and set a local action plan to push this agenda. We do not need to compromise our own tradition-specific laws. We can agree to disagree on issues like polygyny and prayer. However, we can agree, I think, on many issues like euthanasia, homosexuality, and the general hedonism that has engulfed modern man.
I don’t think there would be such a problem with the muslims if they didn’t take our teachings, scramble them up, and then tell us that we have to believe what they believe in. There is not even an attempt by them to understand others.
When they have a Quran that tells them to kill, or subjugate, others if they don’t want to believe in islam - then that is a problem.
In their lands, they force their sharia laws on others which are laws based on their Quran, hadiths and sunna which allow NO freedoms, or rights, to others. And we are finding in our lands that mosques and madrassas are teaching hatred and the same things that cause all the strife between them and others while claiming that they are the victims.
Their Sharia laws establish slavery as an institution with no end to it, and women as 1/2 of a man. Others (non-muslims) have no rights unless they pay extortion payments and even then it is allowed to do anything to them since there is nothing to stop atrocities against them by Muslims.
They do meet with others and even the Pope said they are not serious about discussion. And why is that? Because they are intolerant, and think that Islam is the only religion therefore they should not concede anything - not even tolerance and understanding towards others.
This isn’t only a problem between Christians and Muslims, but also every other religion, and Islam.
This ‘why can’t we all get along’ Rodney King diatribe is nice but you have to have willing players.
The moral codes of Islam are not the same. In Sharia laws it is indeed ok to do whatever one wants to others. In Islam it is indeed ok to deceive us when they are in our lands that they consider the ‘lands of war’ or dar al harb until they establish sharia laws and subjugate us. When they say that they believe in the same things - they only are refering to what Muslims do to each other - NOT what Muslims do to non-muslims. They will not tell you this because that is part of the deception, or what is known as taqiyya and/or kithman. ‘War is deception’, per Muhammad.
As for me, I am willing to work with ANYONE to uphold things like the right to life.