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Saudi Arabia inter-faith conference drawing influential religious leaders

by Joshua Goldberg, Christian Post
Posted: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 7:43 (BST)
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Christians, Jews and Muslims will gather in Madrid later this month for could be one of the highest profile inter-faith meetings in recorded history.

The three-day conference, hosted by Saudi Arabia, aims to highlight the shared heritage of the leaders as children of Abraham and lists many prominent figures of faith including evangelist Franklin Graham, Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, and former Vice President Al Gore.

Also amongst the 200 prominent religious leaders will be major Jewish leaders including Rabbi David Rosen, the former chief rabbi of Ireland and head of the inter-faith committee of the American Jewish Committee.

Although Israel and Saudi Arabia do not currently have formal diplomatic ties, Rosen said that he believes the conference will do much to promote peace and understanding.

"I think that will be a great achievement," he told The Associated Press.

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah said he hopes that the conference will help facilitate relations between the world's three major religions while helping to improve the world's perception of Islam.

The conference, which will be hosted in Madrid, will be held July 16-18.



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Added: Sunday, July 20, 2008, 18:46 (BST)

The comments by Chris Maguire, Ventnor, IoW

Quote
Islam itself states that whatever happens in the affairs of man is 'Allah's will' and he will not interfere, either way, in the outcomes of any actions, good or bad, so it is up to their spiritual leaders to decide what 'Allah's will' is, leaving decisions open to abuses of/and own political/personal desires.
Unquote

The interpretation by Chris Maguire is not true. Muslims are given responsibilities to call bad a bad. Prophet (peace be upon him) said the best among you is the one you stops bad things by hand, if cant do so by hand than do so by verbal and even if he cant stop by verbal than atleast consider it bad in the heart and this is the weakest form of the faith...... it clearly means if something wrong it shouldnt be accepted as Allah's will. Secondly, it is not the religious leaders decide what is right and what is wrong, it is provided in Islam ..... who religious leaders says which is contradicted to Islam is not enforceable at all. Hope this would clearfy some assumptions.

Kashif, Toronto, Canada

Added: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 20:26 (BST)

This meeting brings us ever closer to Jesus return. For that I am grateful. However, sad to see Christian leaders joining up with Mohammedans. By doing so they give Mohammedanism credence and value. Everyone who is of rational mind desiring truth and facts knows full well that Mohammedanism is not, never was, never will be a religion/faith. It is simply another fascist philosophy in the same pocket with Communism, Nazism, etc. Mohammedanism has spread by force, violence, and deceit. It also maintains an iron grip on all its slaved, deceived conquered peoples-odd isn't it how everyone seems unable to see the facts and act accordingly?????

Duncan Aker, Vanceburg, Kentucky, USA`

Added: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 17:27 (BST)

Judaism = worship of YHWH > Creator God, Father of all, King of the universe, created covenant with Abraham

Christianity = worship of Yeshua > Son of Man, Son of God, called Faithful and True, Messiah, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counsellor, Lord of Hosts, King of kings; Christians joint heirs in Christ in the Abrahmic covenant by His Blood by His sacrifice on the cross, the only proven person to do this in the whole of recorded history

Islam = worship of Allah > Al'Llah (southern arabic name, before Mohammed subsumed it into Islam) > Dagan (Philistine god - Philistine = early form of Palastine) > BAAL (Babylonian, Assyrian (?), Sumerian god) and your basic demon worship.

Are these of equal value? The first two are, as God is a God who actively intervenes in human affairs, blessing and correcting those who call on His Name, and forgives sin - rejection of Him - for the sake of His Son.

Islam hijacked tenets from both Judiac and Christian beliefs and writings to cover up its true intent, which is to, by any means possible, force, and enforce, its own creed upon people at the edge of a blade, gun muzzle or suicide bomb, wrapping it up in political anguish and agitation, blaming everyone else for their own, self-imposed, injustices (Yasser Arafat kept much of the aid given by the West to help the Palastinians, kept them in poverty and used it as propaganda against Israel and the West).

Islam itself states that whatever happens in the affairs of man is 'Allah's will' and he will not interfere, either way, in the outcomes of any actions, good or bad, so it is up to their spiritual leaders to decide what 'Allah's will' is, leaving decisions open to abuses of/and own political/personal desires.

Christianity was like this once, but we managed to learn otherwise - by and large. Islam doesn't want to, for it's own designs. The Jews were more stringently dealt with by God for doing the same, but He stood by His covenant with them, forgiving them when they repented, all through history.

However, although He made a promise to Hagar concerning Ishmael, He never promised the land He gave to Abraham, as it went down through Isaac and his descendents, long before the arabs ever came about, though Ishmael's people became the Philistines.

So, is Islam of equal value to the first two-stated Abrahamic religions? Only very tenuously, through Abraham's step-fatherhood, something God didn't want to happen, but allowed - and He has a Holy concern for Ishmael's people. But the greed, malevolence and selfishness of the Islamic leaders, even to their own people, even to fighting over who has the 'right' form of Islam - has corrupted the people, and God's judgement is upon them as a result.

The Interfaith movement is, by the way, the precursor of the One World Religion that John spoke about in Revelations, and is dangerous. It will happen, but we Christians can ameliorate it by prayer, while we are still in this world.

Still, this has all been prophesied by Daniel and John, and a host of other biblical prophets, the signs of the End Days are all there - Christians need to look up and pray, as our redemption draws near.

Chris Maguire, Ventnor, IoW

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