I have core differences of belief with the North Austin Muslim Community Center.
I disagree on a core level that submission is the primary path to holiness. I disagree on a core level that Prophet Mohammed is the final teacher from God. I disagree on a core level that their religion is the only true faith. I disagree on a core level that a theocracy is the ideal government.
I disagree on a core level that only men can be Imams. I disagree on a core level that men are front and center during the community prayers and that women must pray behind a partition out of sight. I disagree on a core level that women must have their heads covered at all times in public.
Why then did I encourage my church, Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church to make a special offering to help NAMCC build their Mosque? Why am I pictured in this video proudly presenting a check to them?
Simply and clearly stated, there is a greater principle at stake.
In the "Preacher's line" after the church service where we gathered the contribution for the Mosque one of my members vigorously opposed our course of action. The parishioner asked, "Would you help build a Catholic or Mormon church? We should be tolerant of other religions but we should not be building their churches!"
My answer to her and you is this.
Normally I wouldn't be in favor of helping another religious group build a house of worship, especially one that I have such core differences with. But the Muslim religion is under siege in America. The overwhelming multitudes of their adherents are here seeking a life of opportunity and liberty in the "land of the free and the home of the brave."
They strive to be good citizens and make a positive contribution to their cities. They are seeking a place to peacefully practice their faith. The least we can do is live up to who we say we are. The fact that we have substantial core religious differences makes our reaching out in support even more profoundly principled.
I can easily cite the first amendment to our Constitution as the bedrock greater principle I am seeking fidelity to. But, I want to go back a few thousand years to a teaching of Rabbi Jesus who surely inspired Jefferson in crafting the cornerstone of our Bill of Rights.
Jefferson wrote that in the person of Jesus "a system of morals is presented to us which is...the most perfect and sublime that has ever been taught my man."
This teaching of Jesus undergirds our inheritance of religious freedom.
"If you love only those who love you what reward can you expect? Surely the tax gatherers do as much as that. (They were vilified as traitors working for the Roman empire.) And if you greet only your brothers, what is there extraordinary about that? Even the heathen do as much. There must be no limit to your goodness, as your heavenly Father's goodness knows no bounds." *
* Matthew 5:46-48, The New English Bible
Far from being under siege, Islam seems to be the only religion that cannot be criticized without disapproval from, curiously, many of the same people who say the vilest things about Christianity. Islam is so protected, in fact, that an American on American soil was effectively prevented from exercising his First Amendment rights because his opinion did not meet with the approval of Muslims worldwide. That Florida preacher may have been hateful and wrong and everything you want, but he did have the legal right to burn the book of a religion he disagreed with. Except he was bullied into, well, submission.
OUR MOTTO: ¨Non violence sometimes works but not in our neighborhood can you do that!¨
With that said Rev. Chuck, I am not opposed to them building their temple, but use your Christian church collections and fundraisers to the glory of our God. Austin was my territory for several years, there are homeless, there are children and elderly in need. Get your priorities staight.
Secondly, you may have been raised to think it's appropriate to call Muslims "dogs" and "pigs" which is what you did in your quotation, but it certainly now how decent people were raised. WWJD? I don't think so. I was raised to have some manners by a good Christian woman who would have washed my mouth out with soap if she heard me referring to Muslims as 'pigs' and 'dogs' and abusing Holy Scripture to do as much. Really, where's your head? Failing that, where's your manners? Did your momma raise you to be like that?
Decency is not the reference in which Jesus talks no more than pearls means pearls. The reference is testifying the truth of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to hardened unbelievers, people who have made the choice not to have their faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. These are Jesus' own words, are you also chastising Jesus?, and his mother Mary?
There are many good people who do not believe in Christ as their Lord and Savior, and I do respect them and their beliefs, but one does not get to the kingdom of God by his works, only through repentance and the belief in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
My message to Rev. Chuck and all other Christians stand, put your priorities, your time and resources into ministering those in need of either food, clothes, shelter, and most important the inerrant word of the gospel so they may come to know Christ.
Unbelievers that he is god? Unbelievers that he is one of a trinity? Unbelievers that God would not punish one innocent man for the sins of all mankind? If so, we choose to remain unbelievers. It is good to see people like the Rev. who believe in coexistence, in spite of difference in understanding of the nature of God.