We must respect all religions, mustn’t we?
Instead of burning Qurans, I have heartburn. Out of California (where else?)
As 18 doves flew into the skies over the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament Saturday night, more than 100 diverse Sacramentans blessed copies of the Quran with roses of love.
Again and again they uttered the refrain, “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me” at the entrance to the downtown church framed by white statues of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. A musician with a white guitar accompanied them.
Representatives of Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, B’hai, Mormon, Sikh, Vedic Druid and Muslim beliefs read scriptures from the great religious texts – including six verses from the Quran calling for all faiths to live in harmony.
Irfan Haq, speaking on behalf of Sacramento’s Muslims, told the rose bearing crowd outside the cathedral, “On this day September 11 – this day of infamy and darkness – what we are witnessing is a new beginning for Sacramento, for America – this is the America the world needs to see.”
I am all for respecting the beliefs of others, but even I have my limits.
No, I am not talking about the Muslims. I have very good friends who are Muslim and I respect them. I would never do anything to insult them even though I profoundly disagree with them. This respect extends to most of the rest of the crowd. I love the Jews, I love the protestants, I love the B’hai’s (after I googled them), and the Mormons, and even the Sikhs (Don’t worry, I checked to make sure they were not the bad guys from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Its a totally separate deal according to Wikipedia), but even I have to draw the line someplace. The Druids? Really?
If I thought for a second that there were actual Druids still around, I would probably do my darnedest to respect them. Probably. But modern day Druids? I don’t think so.
I suspect that most modern day Druids are …
September 13, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Wow, it sounds like something out of a Michael O'Brian novel.
September 13, 2010 at 2:15 pm
It's ironic that the article mentions St. Francis of Assisi, yet fails to mention that he risked his life trying to convert Moslems.
September 13, 2010 at 10:02 pm
You didn't know there was something like the Modern Reformed Druidic Movement? I found out about them when the Prince (England's homely one) was mentioned as being a member.
September 13, 2010 at 11:31 pm
I guess I don't understand the premise here. Why are Mohammedans, who kill more Christians than any other religious group per year "Cool" and Druids, who are most likely ultra-liberal cooks who like to play dress-up worthy of your scorn?
Odd.
September 14, 2010 at 9:22 am
Last time I looked Catholics were not allowed to worship in common with people belonging to other religions, as this creates the impression that "religions are all equal".
Which is exactly what these deluded, birkenstock-clad hippies are trying to do.
As to the peaaaaace, there is a time for peace and a time for war and if one indulges in such self-pleasing, Mama-look-at-how-good-I-am rituals he'll never see when the time for war (or, at least, opposition and conflict) has come; unsurprisingly, these people never do.
And then there is a third profile: how can one really be so "inclusive" as to lend credibility to the worst supertitions and paganism?
This is not loving peace. This is loving paganism and cosy feelings instead of loving God.
Who, let us not forget it, is a jealous one.
M