January 20, 2005
911 THESES BRING THE REFORMATION:
Haj faithful urged to reject terrorism (Robin Gedye, 21/01/2005, Daily Telegraph)
As the faithful prepared to end the festival with the stoning of the devil, a ritual which has cost hundreds of lives during past stampedes, the state-appointed preacher at the Grand Mosque spoke of the "putrid" phenomenon of using the Koran to justify terrorist attacks.Posted by Orrin Judd at January 20, 2005 8:37 PMMilitants were using "misguided and void" interpretations to justify their acts, said Sheikh Abdulrahman al-Sudeis. "Because Muslims have strayed from moderation, we are now suffering from this dangerous phenomenon of branding people infidels and inciting Muslims to rise against their leaders to cause instability.
"The reason for this is the delinquent and void interpretation of Islam based on ignorance. Faith does not mean killing Muslims or non-Muslims who live among us, nor does it mean shedding blood, terrorising or sending body parts flying."
King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah issued a message to mark the climax of the religious calendar calling on Muslims to embark "on a course that disavows terrorism, which spreads mayhem and seeks destruction and was forbidden by Islam".
Only a really, really sick religion could spawn such a sermon.
Posted by: Harry Eagar at January 20, 2005 10:59 PMIt's healthy, like reading racism out of Darwinism in the late 40s.
Posted by: oj at January 20, 2005 11:55 PMBut we're converting them, you see. It's being done with Beecher's Bibles.
Posted by: Lou Gots at January 21, 2005 5:54 AMThe Saudis themselves don't exactly refrain from killing Christians in their midst, just not generally the White ones.
Posted by: Bart at January 21, 2005 9:25 AM