August 27, 2010
By The Rev. Canon Julian Dobbs
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| Canon Julian Dobbs |
As the debate continues regarding the proposed building of a mosque and Islamic center in lower Manhattan, the Rt. Rev. Mark Sisk, bishop of New York released a letter to the people of his diocese.
The bishop begins his letter by quoting Roman Catholic Archbishop Timothy Dolan who has called for "a civil, rational, loving, respectful discussion," regarding the building of the proposed mosque and Islamic center in lower Manhattan.
I would also agree that at this juncture, respectful dialogue is critical, so that the issues surrounding the building of the proposed mosque are clearly identified and discussed.
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| Bishop Mark Sisk (Diocese of NY Photo) |
However, Bishop Mark Sisk exposes his ignorance about the Islamic faith from this point on.
1.He says, "We must not let our emotions lead us into the error of persecuting or condemning an entire religion for the sins of its most misguided adherents. The worldwide Islamic community is no more inclined to violence that any other."
It would be easy for us in the United States to believe that Islam is a religion of peace. By far the majority of Muslims in the US are law abiding citizens who seek to live out their lives without recourse to violence, but less than a days aircraft flight from our borders, a classical form of Islam challenges peace and defiantly rejects tolerance of other religions. Even within our borders we are witnessing a rise in honor killings and the persecution of converts. The mantra ‘Islam is peace' is almost 1,400 years out of date. It was only for about 13 years that Islam was peace and nothing but peace. From 622 onwards it became increasingly aggressive, albeit with periods of peaceful co-existence, particularly in the colonial period, when the theology of war was not dominant.
2.The bishop says, "At the Episcopal Diocese of New York we know the leaders of this project, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and his wife Daisy Khan. We know that they are loving, gentle people, who epitomize Islamic moderation."...
Read the entire post here.
Read Bishop Sisk's original statement here.