Dozens of bishops from the Middle East and Africa expressed concern during the three-week synod which ended Sunday over the threats extremist Islam poses to Christianity and spoke of the difficulties of preaching the Gospel in majority Muslim countries.
Others raised the delicate topic of converting Muslims to Christianity on the back of the Arab Spring revolutions, saying there was a small but growing demand from Muslims to convert, though the risks to their safety were high.
The debate intensified after the bishops were shown an alarmist YouTube video on the spread of Islam in the West by Cardinal Peter Turkson, head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, who had found it on the internet.
The anonymous video, entitled “Muslim demographics”, which says France would become majority Muslim within the next four decades, was heavily criticised by many participants who warned against fuelling inter-religious hostility.
One German bishop, however, insisted that the video raised important issues that the Church is refusing to see or address.
Catholic Copte bishop Kyrillos William said Egypt in particular was seeing a growing Islamisation of the state and “Christians are considered second-class citizens” and are targets of hate campaigns in schools.
Many participants said Islam was “exploited” by extremists who twisted the religion’s values, while the majority of Muslims are tolerant of Christians.
African bishops from Nigeria, Mali, and even the south of the continent — where Islam is a minority — said they were worried that peaceful coexistence with Muslims is being threatened by Salafists receiving funds from abroad.
During a trip to Lebanon last month, Pope Benedict XVI called for mutual respect between Christians and Muslims across the region in a period of particular unrest as the political face of the Middle East changes radically.
The Arab Spring uprising has opened a window for conversions among dissatisfied young Muslims in particular, some of the bishops said.
While the issue of converting Muslims had been raised at previous synods it is the first time that bishops have been speaking publicly about it.
“Something’s happening that is linked to the Arab Spring. People are asking questions, no longer satisfied by the common message in the mosques,” said Paul Desfarges, who has lived in Algeria for 38 years and became a bishop in 2009.
However, he acknowleged that the risks for those doing so are high: abandoning your faith to embrace Christianity is severely punished and those found guilty can face the death penalty in some countries.
Others, such as the Syrian Archbishop Joseph Absi, warned that many Muslims were confusing Christians with Westerners, blaming them for their ills.
Others raised the delicate topic of converting Muslims to Christianity on the back of the Arab Spring revolutions, saying there was a small but growing demand from Muslims to convert, though the risks to their safety were high.
The debate intensified after the bishops were shown an alarmist YouTube video on the spread of Islam in the West by Cardinal Peter Turkson, head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, who had found it on the internet.
The anonymous video, entitled “Muslim demographics”, which says France would become majority Muslim within the next four decades, was heavily criticised by many participants who warned against fuelling inter-religious hostility.
One German bishop, however, insisted that the video raised important issues that the Church is refusing to see or address.
Catholic Copte bishop Kyrillos William said Egypt in particular was seeing a growing Islamisation of the state and “Christians are considered second-class citizens” and are targets of hate campaigns in schools.
Many participants said Islam was “exploited” by extremists who twisted the religion’s values, while the majority of Muslims are tolerant of Christians.
African bishops from Nigeria, Mali, and even the south of the continent — where Islam is a minority — said they were worried that peaceful coexistence with Muslims is being threatened by Salafists receiving funds from abroad.
During a trip to Lebanon last month, Pope Benedict XVI called for mutual respect between Christians and Muslims across the region in a period of particular unrest as the political face of the Middle East changes radically.
The Arab Spring uprising has opened a window for conversions among dissatisfied young Muslims in particular, some of the bishops said.
While the issue of converting Muslims had been raised at previous synods it is the first time that bishops have been speaking publicly about it.
“Something’s happening that is linked to the Arab Spring. People are asking questions, no longer satisfied by the common message in the mosques,” said Paul Desfarges, who has lived in Algeria for 38 years and became a bishop in 2009.
However, he acknowleged that the risks for those doing so are high: abandoning your faith to embrace Christianity is severely punished and those found guilty can face the death penalty in some countries.
Others, such as the Syrian Archbishop Joseph Absi, warned that many Muslims were confusing Christians with Westerners, blaming them for their ills.
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Samuel P. Huntington could not be more correct in his masterpiece book titled: The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order.
ReplyDeleteIt is a MUST read!
Shut up anonymous 9:12 , everybody is preaching peaceful co existence and you are talking about the time christian will start attacking Muslim.
ReplyDeleteTake issue of BK for example , when there is bumble blast both Christian and Muslim are affected ,up till today statics shows that Muslim are much more affected than Christian .
I will advise everyone to continue pray to God to solve all our problem.
A man without Job is prone to temptation of Satan ( vices ).
God will surely give us peace in this world.
there can never be peace cos these are the sign of the end time that king jesus is talking about.for rapture to take place all this must happen.the begining of the end.
ReplyDeleteYes, Beloved we're in d end-time. Are these not all d things Jesus, our Lord and Master told us of. Pse let's take time in going thru Mathew chp 24 vs 1- d end. Believers in d Lord be sensitive. Body of Christ wake-up. Any moment from now d trumpets will sound. No more time!!!
DeleteYes. We are at the end time indeed. Examine yourself and be ready for the coming of the Lord. It is imminent and may happen any moment from now.
ReplyDeleteY shld u ask dt sm1 2 shut up, its truth, y shld d chrch b d target point, lets cal a spade a spade, i think u r yet 2 luz ur lovd 1 in any o4 d blast...my friend whre did u gt dt statistics frm? U said muslims die most in d recent bomb blast, who are d boko harams, wht do dey want, ask urslf n find an ansa..they av 2 bcrfl, 1day d xtains too wil try d reprisal
ReplyDelete