Religion in the News: [USA] Bush's Remark About God Assailed

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Ask Jesus : One Thread

Washington Post(USA), Nov. 22, 2003 http://www.washingtonpost.com By Alan Cooperman

Evangelical Christian leaders expressed dismay yesterday over President Bush's statement that Christians and Muslims worship the same god, saying it had caused discomfort within his conservative religious base. But most predicted that the political impact would be short-lived.

Christianity vs. Islam Even a most cursory reading of Islam's scriptures, and a most basic understanding of Islam's teachings show that the god of Islam is incompatible with the God of Christianity

The truth about Islam: Are Muslims the spiritual brothers and sisters of Christians and Jews? Do we all worship the same God? Are the Islamic holy scriptures, known as the Koran, inspired by God? Is Islam another path to God by which one can attain eternal life?

When it comes to theology, George Bush is not a reliable guide. While he may indeed be a Christian, he repeatedly demonstrates both a lack of knowledge and a lack of discernment.

Research resources on Islam

At a news conference with Prime Minister Tony Blair in England on Thursday, a reporter noted that Bush has often said that freedom is a gift from "the Almighty" but questioned whether Bush believes that "Muslims worship the same Almighty" that he does.

"I do say that freedom is the Almighty's gift to every person," the president replied. "I also condition it by saying freedom is not America's gift to the world. It's much greater than that, of course. And I believe we worship the same god."

Bush's remarks sent immediate shock waves through Christian Web sites and radio broadcasts. A Baptist Press report quoted Richard D. Land, president of the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, the nation's largest Protestant denomination, as saying that Bush "is simply mistaken."

"We should always remember that he is commander in chief, not theologian in chief," Land said in a telephone interview yesterday. "The Bible is clear on this: The one and true god is Jehovah, and his only begotten son is Jesus Christ."

The Rev. Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, also issued a statement contradicting Bush.

"The Christian God encourages freedom, love, forgiveness, prosperity and health. The Muslim god appears to value the opposite. The personalities of each god are evident in the cultures, civilizations and dispositions of the peoples that serve them. Muhammad's central message was submission; Jesus' central message was love. They seem to be very different personalities," Haggard said.

But both Land and Haggard, who are frequent visitors to the White House, doubted that the remark would cost Bush votes in 2004.

"This president has earned a lot of wiggle room among evangelicals," Land said. "If he had said that Islam is on a par with Christianity, it would be a more serious case of heartburn. This is just indigestion."

Gary Bauer, president of American Values, a conservative public policy group, said it is unclear what the ultimate fallout will be. "But the one thing that's for certain is, it's not helpful to the president. Since everybody agrees he's not a theologian, he would be much better advised to punt when he gets that kind of question," Bauer said.

The Rev. Brenda Bartella Peterson, executive director of the Clergy Leadership Network, a new organization of left-leaning clergy that seeks to counter the Christian right, declined to say whether she believes Christians and Muslims worship the same god.

"I would rather you not quote my theology," she said. "But I have to say that I'm very pleased that President Bush wants to be so inclusive, and I think his inclusiveness in this particular comment speaks well for who we have been as a nation theologically. Not all of his policies and his actions have been as inclusive."

Sayyid M. Syeed, secretary general of the Islamic Society of North America, responded to Bush's statement with a single word: Alhamdullah, Thanks be to God.

"We read again and again in the Koran that our god is the god of Abraham, the god of Noah, the god of Jesus," he said. "It would not come to the mind of a Muslim that there is a different god that Abraham or Jesus or Moses was praying to."

-- David Ortiz (cyberpunk1986@hotmail.com), November 22, 2003

Answers

My Comment:

I don't see how that man is in power. Oh wait, yea I forgot, God put him there for some reason.

First of all, The Christians (true Christians) God is Jesus Christ. In Islam, they deny this and demote (As Elpidio does) Jesus Christ to a mere man. I don't see how people can be so stubborn and insist that We (Moslems and True christians) worship the same god. Well that's religious pluralism for you.

-- David Ortiz (cyberpunk1986@hotmail.com), November 22, 2003.


Yes, you are right, David, God put him there.

I even dreamed of anointing him in November 2001 in the White House. I had dreams, which I shared with the President and his family of him being elected, going to Afghnistan, Iraq, even his death.

Bush is right, David: The God os Muslims and the God the Jews is the same as the Father(The God of the Christians).

Notice I used the word father, since the Son is not God himself.

The moment you begin to read Hebrew and Greek Attic and Koine, besides Aramaic, then you will understand what I am talking about.

Fray Luis de Leon around 1591 and Martin Luther around 1519 were some who knew Hebrew. Their eyes were opened. One finally submitted to Rome. he other, ......is the father of Protestantism.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonval@yahoo.com), November 24, 2003.


Bush is wrong, David, in staying in Iraq too long. I warned him in February. I warned him in March. I warned him again in October.

I told him he would take the country in 3 weeks. I also told him there would be 5000 casualties from the USA if he didn't put someone in place from that country to run it within 2 months. after those 3 weeks, over 2400 casualties have ocurred where before there were 400. The USA is closing in on 5000.

He is making look good.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonval@yahoo.com), November 24, 2003.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ