http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/08/05/carnegie-foundation-offers-grant-to-explore-religion-issues-in-islamic-world/ Thinking Ahead Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:46:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/08/05/carnegie-foundation-offers-grant-to-explore-religion-issues-in-islamic-world/#comment-20688 John A. Henderson Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:29:21 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/08/05/carnegie-foundation-offers-grant-to-explore-religion-issues-in-islamic-world/#comment-20688 Ray, You know that Dr. Marc Gopin has written some books on the Middle East problem that suggest that a more full knowledge of the Torah/Prophets, the Old Testament/New Testament , and the Koran, etc. can create leverage points , toeholds and footholds to get at reconciliation and restoration. As we understand fear recedes and are less reactionary, more responsive; less scarcity thinking and more abundance thinking. However , as you know, just bringing Jews, Christians and Muslims together in Chicago is a near impossible task. Christianity has had its aberrances throughout its history, as has Judaism and Islam. An honest acknowledgement of those failures can lead to a new found understanding between Christian and Jew. During the Passion of the Christ marketing campaign I discovered that both liberal and conservative/ religious and secular Jews were vehemently against Mel Gibson suggesting that his blaming of the Jews for Jesus' death would create pogroms around the world against the Jews. They were wrong, acting out of fear...but I found out through a few genuine friendships with Jews that in the past.. it was Christians who did more things against the Jews than the Muslims ever did. It is 'in their genes' to expect that Christians blame the Jews' for the murder of Jesus , when they were just fulfilling prophecy about the suffering Messiah, Isaiah 53, so believe Christians..so they aren't mad , it had to happen.. However , many immature Christians, and frankly secular people , in the past, hijacked Christianity to do their deeds under the cloak of Christianity. I see parallels with Al Qaeda today. So, if Christians can just come out and admit the evil, stupidity and utter foolishness of the past, then maybe they can set an example for Jews and Muslim, going forward. Or, the Jews and Muslims can go first It was immaturity that led to behaviors that 'did unto others before they did unto them'. As Christians grow up, and Jews and Muslims leaders grow up to full maturity we may have more Muslims who act like Salahodin and Christians who act like the Apostle Paul and Jews who act like , well Beni Katz, our friend in Jerusalem. Godspeed Ray,
You know that Dr. Marc Gopin has written some books on the Middle East problem that suggest that a more full knowledge of the Torah/Prophets, the Old Testament/New Testament , and the Koran, etc. can create leverage points , toeholds and footholds to get at reconciliation and restoration. As we understand fear recedes and are less reactionary, more responsive; less scarcity thinking and more abundance thinking. However , as you know, just bringing Jews, Christians and Muslims together in Chicago is a near impossible task. Christianity has had its aberrances throughout its history, as has Judaism and Islam. An honest acknowledgement of those failures can lead to a new found understanding between Christian and Jew. During the Passion of the Christ marketing campaign I discovered that both liberal and conservative/ religious and secular Jews were vehemently against Mel Gibson suggesting that his blaming of the Jews for Jesus’ death would create pogroms around the world against the Jews. They were wrong, acting out of fear…but I found out through a few genuine friendships with Jews that in the past.. it was Christians who did more things against the Jews than the Muslims ever did. It is ‘in their genes’ to expect that Christians blame the Jews’ for the murder of Jesus , when they were just fulfilling prophecy about the suffering Messiah, Isaiah 53, so believe Christians..so they aren’t mad , it had to happen.. However , many immature Christians, and frankly secular people , in the past, hijacked Christianity to do their deeds under the cloak of Christianity. I see parallels with Al Qaeda today. So, if Christians can just come out and admit the evil, stupidity and utter foolishness of the past, then maybe they can set an example for Jews and Muslim, going forward. Or, the Jews and Muslims can go first
It was immaturity that led to behaviors that ‘did unto others before they did unto them’. As Christians grow up, and Jews and Muslims leaders grow up to full maturity we may have more Muslims who act like Salahodin and Christians who act like the Apostle Paul and Jews who act like , well Beni Katz, our friend in Jerusalem. Godspeed

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