'Let's call God Allah'

Von Tonner · 08-16-07, 03:54 AM

I could do along with this guy on the hungry stealing bread IF it was ONLY bread and a last resort between that and starvation. Condoms and aids is a given. But calling on Christians to call God Allah? I think that is pushing the envelope too far imo.

'Let's call God Allah' - Bishop
15/08/2007 23:05 - (SA)
The Hague - A Dutch Catholic bishop who once said the hungry were entitled to steal bread and advocated condom use to prevent Aids has made headlines again, this time by saying God should be called Allah.
"Allah is a very beautiful word for God. Shouldn't we all say that from now on we will call God Allah?" Bishop Tiny Muskens said in an interview broadcast this week. "God doesn't care what we call him."
In this nation where religious tolerance has been eroded in recent years by a rise in radical Islam, the comments drew little support.
Muskens, bishop of the southern Diocese of Breda, previously created a stir by suggesting the hungry could steal bread to feed themselves.
He also supported the use of condoms as a way of reining in the spread of Aids and suggested popes have term limits of 10-15 years and an age limit of 85.
In an interview broadcast on Monday's edition of current affairs show Netwerk, Muskens said he had worked in Indonesia where God is referred to as Allah in Christian services.
But a spokesperson for one of the capital's leading mosques said he was not happy with the statement.
"We didn't ask for this," a spokesperson for the Moroccan Mosque in Amsterdam told De Telegraaf. "Now it is as if we have a problem between Muslims and Christians."
Gerrit de Fijter, chairperson of the General Synod of the Dutch Protestant Church, also rejected Muskens' suggestion.
"I applaud every attempt to encourage dialogue with Muslims, but I doubt the sense of this manoeuvre," De Fijter told De Telegraaf.
Neither De Fijter nor Muslim community leaders returned calls seeking comment on Wednesday.
Speaking to a local television network on Wednesday, Muskens said he was pleased his comments had sparked debate.
"That they are interested in how to get along with God, that is a positive result," he told Omroep Brabant.

08-16-07, 03:54 AM	#1
Von Tonner Seasoned Skipper Join Date: May 2005 Location: South Africa Posts: 711 Downloads: 44 Uploads: 0	'Let's call God Allah' I could do along with this guy on the hungry stealing bread IF it was ONLY bread and a last resort between that and starvation. Condoms and aids is a given. But calling on Christians to call God Allah? I think that is pushing the envelope too far imo. 'Let's call God Allah' - Bishop 15/08/2007 23:05 - (SA) The Hague - A Dutch Catholic bishop who once said the hungry were entitled to steal bread and advocated condom use to prevent Aids has made headlines again, this time by saying God should be called Allah. "Allah is a very beautiful word for God. Shouldn't we all say that from now on we will call God Allah?" Bishop Tiny Muskens said in an interview broadcast this week. "God doesn't care what we call him." In this nation where religious tolerance has been eroded in recent years by a rise in radical Islam, the comments drew little support. Muskens, bishop of the southern Diocese of Breda, previously created a stir by suggesting the hungry could steal bread to feed themselves. He also supported the use of condoms as a way of reining in the spread of Aids and suggested popes have term limits of 10-15 years and an age limit of 85. In an interview broadcast on Monday's edition of current affairs show Netwerk, Muskens said he had worked in Indonesia where God is referred to as Allah in Christian services. But a spokesperson for one of the capital's leading mosques said he was not happy with the statement. "We didn't ask for this," a spokesperson for the Moroccan Mosque in Amsterdam told De Telegraaf. "Now it is as if we have a problem between Muslims and Christians." Gerrit de Fijter, chairperson of the General Synod of the Dutch Protestant Church, also rejected Muskens' suggestion. "I applaud every attempt to encourage dialogue with Muslims, but I doubt the sense of this manoeuvre," De Fijter told De Telegraaf. Neither De Fijter nor Muslim community leaders returned calls seeking comment on Wednesday. Speaking to a local television network on Wednesday, Muskens said he was pleased his comments had sparked debate. "That they are interested in how to get along with God, that is a positive result," he told Omroep Brabant.