Britain’s Oldest Christian Bookshops Remove Koran from Shelves
Britain’s oldest chain of Christian bookstores, SPCK Bookshops has announced it is to stop selling the Koran as it is “inimical” to Christianity.
by Jennifer Gold
Posted: Monday, December 4, 2006, 6:00 (GMT)
Britain’s oldest chain of Christian bookstores, SPCK Bookshops has announced it is to stop selling the Koran as it is “inimical” to Christianity, the Sunday Times has reported.
The bookshop, which was established formerly as part of the 308-year-old Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, has made the decision to stop selling all books which are non-Christian.
The rethink in policy follows the society’s sale of a majority stake to the St Stephen the Great Charitable Trust, in November 2006.
St Stephen the Great Charitable Trust is linked to the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Mark Brewer, the Texan lawyer who chairs the trust said, “Stocking books which are inimical to Christianity, which without question the Koran is, could well create the wrong impression among some that we endorse the belief systems of other religions as equal or viable alternatives,” according to the Sunday Times.
The trust will aim to bring about a return to the missionary roots of SPCK, and hopes to reverse the advance of Islam and secularism. However, it is believed that the move will offend a number within the Church of England who are working towards an easing of relationships with Muslim leaders.
However, the move seems to follow calls by the second-most senior clergyman in the Church of England, Archbishop of York, Rev Dr John Sentamu, and the Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali of Rochester to recover Christian values.
The trust says on its website that Britain has become “secularised in recent years and witnessed an explosion of Islam”. The site added that it intends to “re- establish Christianity in areas where it has been driven out”.
The organisation has also claimed, according to the Sunday Times, that England was an Orthodox country before the Norman invasion in 1066, and now plans to take over unused Church of England buildings to promote Orthodoxy across Britain.
The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, however, remains tightly linked to the Church of England and has kept a minority stake in the bookshops and two Anglicans sit on the board, one of whom has already stated his disagreement with the decision of SPCK.
Michael Perham, Bishop of Gloucester, said: “If I were in charge I would not have issued this instruction”.
Ibrahim Mogra, chair of the inter-faith committee of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: “Islam is currently under the spotlight. It is misunderstood and has been abused by some who have carried out violence in its name. Now is the time for people to have access to the Koran and the writings of Islam. This will help people understand the faith and what makes Muslims tick,” according to the Sunday Times.
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Have your say on this article
The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Wednesday, April 25, 2007, 1:32 (BST)
Why on earth would a bookshop 'propogating Christian knowledge' stock and aid dissemination of a book which contradicts and denies the fundamental Christian teaching that Jesus is the incarnate Son of God? The early martyrs died for this faith!
Chas, London, U.K.
Added: Sunday, December 17, 2006, 23:03 (GMT)
Time the church took a stand on many aspects of life today in this country.
My son has removed his children from a school in greater Manchester area due to christian children being expected to accept being given prayer mats etc,
when i was at school i was taught about other religions but this is indoctrination of this nations children, a true saying is change society by changing the minds of the youngsters.
islam protects islam it's past the time that we protect christianity in our own nation!
all this about islam is misunderstood is absolute rubbish, i follow dr soohkdeo an ex muslim, his breifings on the site for the institute for the study of islam and christianity tell a very different story, he is a voice in the wilderness not heard by the vast majority and in my opinion he should be praised!
Read the book Eurabia! what an excellent view of a europe being created behind our backs, it was very shocking but i'm the kind of person that would rather face head on no matter how unsavoury the facts are.
Reply to Andy, you are joking of course! a bible in an islamic bookstore? never!
When in smiths bookstore the qu'ran was there very prominantly on show unlike the bible.
is this the same mcb that made reference to anyone not muslim as a kaffur?
Veronica, South Yorkshire
Added: Sunday, December 17, 2006, 19:28 (GMT)
yes, andy they certainly do. i remember going to one of those islamic library, and i found all sorts of books on other relgion. however it was seperate from the islamic section.
sarah , somerset
Added: Monday, December 4, 2006, 7:27 (GMT)
I must admit I am somewhat surprised that the Society for promoting CHRISTIAN Knowledge has been stocking books on other religions at all! Certainly, we need a return to Christian values and at the same time more tolerance between faiths, but if someone wishes to buy the Koran then they'll just have to go to an Islamic book store. Out of interest, does anyone know if Islamic book stores stock the Bible please?
Andy Cain, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands
