Saudi Arabia Leader Calls for Interfaith Dialogue
ByChristian Post Reporter
Tue, Mar. 25 2008 08:30 AM ET
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia called for a dialogue among monotheistic religions Monday, marking a first for the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom.
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(Photo: AP Images / Saudi Press Agency)
In this image released by the Saudi Press Agency, Saudi King Abdullah talks during his meeting with his ministerial cabinet in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Monday, March 24, 2008.
"I ask representatives of all the monotheistic religions to meet with their brothers in faith," Abdullah told delegates to a seminar on "Dialogue Among Civilizations between Japan and the Islamic World," according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
“If God wills it, we will then meet with our brothers from other religions, including those of the Torah and the Gospel... to come up with ways to safeguard humanity," he added.
Abdullah said the country’s top clerics have given him approval to pursue his idea and that he plans to get the opinion of Muslim leaders from other countries.
According to SPA, the Saudi king also intends to address the United Nations on the subject.
"We have lost sincerity, morals, fidelity and attachment to our religions and to humanity," Abdullah said Monday, deploring "the disintegration of the family and the rise of atheism in the world – a frightening phenomenon that all religions must confront and vanquish."
Abdullah's call for dialogue comes at a time of religious tensions caused by the re-igniting of a two-year-old controversy over Danish cartoons deemed by Muslims to be insulting.
Danish newspapers reprinted the controversial cartoon of the Muslim prophet Mohammed last month in defiance of Islamic extremism and to defend freedom of expression.
The republication of the cartoon in at least 17 newspapers took place a day after a Danish official foiled an alleged plot to assassinate Kurt Westergaard, the cartoonist who drew the Mohammed caricatures.
In response, Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, in a recent audio message, warned of a "severe" reaction for Europe's publication of the cartoons.
"The response will be what you see and not what you hear and let our mothers bereave us if we do not make victorious our messenger of God," said a voice believed to be bin Laden's, without specifying what action would be taken.
Abdullah’s announcement Monday also comes as the Vatican is in the process of negotiating for permission to build the first church in Saudi Arabia following this month’s inauguration of Qatar's first Christian church.
The Saudi monarchy has long banned the open worship of other faiths, even as the number of Catholics resident in Saudi Arabia has risen to 800,000 thanks to an influx of immigrant workers from places like the Philippines and India. Mosques are the only religious buildings in the country where the strict Wahhabi version of Sunni Islam dominates.
Top Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said that a Catholic parish in this key Islamic country would be "a historic achievement" in the push to expand religious freedom and foster a positive interfaith rapport, according to Time magazine.
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Most recent comments
steiner- Sat Mar 29, 2008 2:37 am
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Islam is a revealed religion and the way it was revealed must be made known, because there lays the key to understanding Islam. The following information can be easily accessed in the West with little effort and research.
When Mohammed was contacted by the spirit (Jibrail) in the cave he was convinced he had been contacted by a harmful (evil) spirit and returned very distressed to his wife Khadijah, who thought otherwise, and to reassure Mohammed, she took him to her cousin Waraqa ibn Naufal, who, allegedly, was "a very old man who knew the Scriptures of the Jews and Christians" and on this old man's OPINION , the spirit who had contacted Mohammed was declared as coming from God and that Mohammed was to become the Prophet of his people! (pages 10 and 11 of the introduction to the English translation of the Holy Quran by Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall). If this old man really knew the Christian Scriptures he would have told Mohammed that he had been contacted by an evil spirit (as Mohammed had correctly thought when the spirit had first appeared to him) on the basis of the biblical teaching found in the New Testament in the letter to the Galatians 1:8 where it is stated ..."if an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached (Jesus' gospel) let him be eternally condemned"...
To be brief... the Koran was revealed by a false spirit (a demon) as the translator Marmaduke Pickthall so unwittingly gives testimony to in his introduction of the Holy Quran page 11, 3rd paragraph: "the words which came to him (Mohammed) when in a state of trance are held sacred by the Muslims and are never confounded with those which he uttered when no physical change was apparent in him. The former are the Sacred Book (the Koran); the latter the Hadith or Sunnah...” with the above statement Pickthall is confirming that the Koran was recited by Mohammed while in a state of trace or in other words under demonic possession. Consequently, it should not surprise us that when a person starts believing in the Koran, a demonic product, he turns evil. In the New Testament in the letter to the Ephesians 4:30 ..." God's Holy Spirit... gets rid of all bitterness, passion, anger... hateful feelings of any sort... instead makes you kind and tender hearted... forgiving one another... as God has forgiven you through Christ." This Spirit is not the spirit that leads practicing muslims to become suicide bombers .
As Christians in the West we have a great opportunity and obligation to lovingly approach our Muslim neighbours with the Good News of the true Jesus so that their eyes may be opened and step from darkness into light.
When Mohammed was contacted by the spirit (Jibrail) in the cave he was convinced he had been contacted by a harmful (evil) spirit and returned very distressed to his wife Khadijah, who thought otherwise, and to reassure Mohammed, she took him to her cousin Waraqa ibn Naufal, who, allegedly, was "a very old man who knew the Scriptures of the Jews and Christians" and on this old man's OPINION , the spirit who had contacted Mohammed was declared as coming from God and that Mohammed was to become the Prophet of his people! (pages 10 and 11 of the introduction to the English translation of the Holy Quran by Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall). If this old man really knew the Christian Scriptures he would have told Mohammed that he had been contacted by an evil spirit (as Mohammed had correctly thought when the spirit had first appeared to him) on the basis of the biblical teaching found in the New Testament in the letter to the Galatians 1:8 where it is stated ..."if an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached (Jesus' gospel) let him be eternally condemned"...
To be brief... the Koran was revealed by a false spirit (a demon) as the translator Marmaduke Pickthall so unwittingly gives testimony to in his introduction of the Holy Quran page 11, 3rd paragraph: "the words which came to him (Mohammed) when in a state of trance are held sacred by the Muslims and are never confounded with those which he uttered when no physical change was apparent in him. The former are the Sacred Book (the Koran); the latter the Hadith or Sunnah...” with the above statement Pickthall is confirming that the Koran was recited by Mohammed while in a state of trace or in other words under demonic possession. Consequently, it should not surprise us that when a person starts believing in the Koran, a demonic product, he turns evil. In the New Testament in the letter to the Ephesians 4:30 ..." God's Holy Spirit... gets rid of all bitterness, passion, anger... hateful feelings of any sort... instead makes you kind and tender hearted... forgiving one another... as God has forgiven you through Christ." This Spirit is not the spirit that leads practicing muslims to become suicide bombers .
As Christians in the West we have a great opportunity and obligation to lovingly approach our Muslim neighbours with the Good News of the true Jesus so that their eyes may be opened and step from darkness into light.
Intrigued- Fri Mar 28, 2008 2:44 pm
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akonda,
No doubt your beliefs and answers are well thought out. A couple of questions for you;
In light on your beliefs concerning grace and santification, how would you interpret our Lord's response to Zacchaeus in the 19th Chapter of Luke, specifically verses 8-9? Could there be a distinct difference in Zacchaeus' "works" and those Paul speaks of Romans 4?
Also, your comments on baptism are interesting. Do you believe that act is at all necessary as a component for Christian life?
No doubt your beliefs and answers are well thought out. A couple of questions for you;
In light on your beliefs concerning grace and santification, how would you interpret our Lord's response to Zacchaeus in the 19th Chapter of Luke, specifically verses 8-9? Could there be a distinct difference in Zacchaeus' "works" and those Paul speaks of Romans 4?
Also, your comments on baptism are interesting. Do you believe that act is at all necessary as a component for Christian life?
akonda- Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:06 pm
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2027 No one can merit the initial grace which is at the origin of conversion. Moved by the Holy Spirit, we can merit for ourselves and for others all the graces needed to attain eternal life, as well as necessary temporal goods.
when one is justified he is promised eternal life. john 3:16. we do NOT need any other grace(s) to attain it because the free gift of God is itself eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
when one is justified he is promised eternal life. john 3:16. we do NOT need any other grace(s) to attain it because the free gift of God is itself eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
akonda- Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:52 am
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2010 Since the initiative belongs to God in the order of grace, no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification, at the beginning of conversion. Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification, for the increase of grace and charity, and for the attainment of eternal life. Even temporal goods like health and friendship can be merited in accordance with God's wisdom. These graces and goods are the object of Christian prayer. Prayer attends to the grace we need for meritorious actions
2011 The charity of Christ is the source in us of all our merits before God. Grace, by uniting us to Christ in active love, ensures the supernatural quality of our acts and consequently their merit before God and before men. The saints have always had a lively awareness that their merits were pure grace.
as per the RCC there is a distinction between initial grace and sanctifying grace. while we cant merit the initial grace we can however merit sanctifying grace. grace according to scripture is the free gift of God to us and that gift is our forensic justification in Christ. As such, to be justified means to be legally declared righteous not to actually be made righteous. And baptism has nothing to confer this grace of God upon us. romans4 tells us that by putting our trust in Christ just as Abraham did we are justified before God not because we did something to merit it but because we put our faith in Christ.
What the RCC says is that though no one deserves to be saved yet once God initiates it (initial grace which we dont deserve) we can cooperate with Him and merit additional grace. Scripture makes no such distinctions in grace. It clearly differentiates justification and sanctification. Both dont mean the same thing. Justification is a one time deal whereas sanctification goes on for a lifetime. The only thing that we can do is point to Christ. not what our hands have done but what Christ has done is what is going to save us.
2011 The charity of Christ is the source in us of all our merits before God. Grace, by uniting us to Christ in active love, ensures the supernatural quality of our acts and consequently their merit before God and before men. The saints have always had a lively awareness that their merits were pure grace.
as per the RCC there is a distinction between initial grace and sanctifying grace. while we cant merit the initial grace we can however merit sanctifying grace. grace according to scripture is the free gift of God to us and that gift is our forensic justification in Christ. As such, to be justified means to be legally declared righteous not to actually be made righteous. And baptism has nothing to confer this grace of God upon us. romans4 tells us that by putting our trust in Christ just as Abraham did we are justified before God not because we did something to merit it but because we put our faith in Christ.
What the RCC says is that though no one deserves to be saved yet once God initiates it (initial grace which we dont deserve) we can cooperate with Him and merit additional grace. Scripture makes no such distinctions in grace. It clearly differentiates justification and sanctification. Both dont mean the same thing. Justification is a one time deal whereas sanctification goes on for a lifetime. The only thing that we can do is point to Christ. not what our hands have done but what Christ has done is what is going to save us.
Intrigued- Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:00 pm
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akadona, you haven't fully quoted either of those paragraphs from the Catechism. Could you please supply the full text and scripture references noted within each paragraph?
FYI, the Catechism does define grace as follows:
"Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life" Paragraph 1996
FYI, the Catechism does define grace as follows:
"Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life" Paragraph 1996
ILJ- Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:11 pm
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Christian, Jew, or Muslim anyone who talks of 'vanquishing' other people over their beliefs is not 'tolerant'.
pastorjohn- Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:09 pm
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The question I posed yesterday about "Is there a difference between Catholics and Christians" was a rhetorical question. Of course there is a difference. Having said that I believe that the Catholic church started out wanting to do what was right, but somewhere along the way, strayed away from the clear teachings of Jesus. A lot of what I have a problem with is the same thing that started the Reformation. Least you think I disagree with Catholic beliefs and therefore think less of the people that adhere to these teachings, know that in the town we are in the Catholic church is in the majority. Do I accept these folks and share the same love of Christ that I do to those who believe as I do? Yes I do. Just because we don't agree, doesn't mean we can't be nice to one another.
Let me be clear I do have a problem with a works based salvation, and therefore can't call that Christianity. I would not ostracize someone over this belief, but I don't think that we could really consider ourselves on the same page theologically.
Let me be clear I do have a problem with a works based salvation, and therefore can't call that Christianity. I would not ostracize someone over this belief, but I don't think that we could really consider ourselves on the same page theologically.
Gen1_28- Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:50 pm
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I can't blame these Muslims for not allowing people to worship another faith. After all, The Bible commands that a Godly nation will follow God's laws and apply the same law to the believer and the unbeliever.
I REALLY hate to say this- but Christians can actually learn something from these Muslims... They are passionate about their faith and (mostly not in America) many follow it. How many Christians can be counted who are as adamant on following the precepts of God? Not many since most Christians send their children to public school and are stuck in a 30 year mortgage, both of which are grossly frowned on, considered curses, or outright agaist scripture.
I encourage all here to let this news article spur us on to a greater obedience to God and the Bible.
I REALLY hate to say this- but Christians can actually learn something from these Muslims... They are passionate about their faith and (mostly not in America) many follow it. How many Christians can be counted who are as adamant on following the precepts of God? Not many since most Christians send their children to public school and are stuck in a 30 year mortgage, both of which are grossly frowned on, considered curses, or outright agaist scripture.
I encourage all here to let this news article spur us on to a greater obedience to God and the Bible.
akonda- Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:29 pm
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anyone who says that they have merited their salvation cant be christians. catholics dont believe that grace is an unmerited gift but rather they believe that have to work with Gods grace to merit his favor.
# We can therefore hope in the glory of heaven promised by God to those who love him and do his will. In every circumstance, each one of us should hope, with the grace of God, to persevere 'to the end' and to obtain the joy of heaven, as God's eternal reward for the good works accomplished with the grace of Christ," (Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 1821).
# "Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification," (CCC, par. 2010).
# "If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema." (Canon 9, Council of Trent).
# "If any one saith, that man is truly absolved from his sins and justified, because he assuredly believed himself absolved and justified; or, that no one is truly justified but he who believes himself justified; and that, by this faith alone, absolution and justification are effected; let him be anathema." (Canon 14, Council of Trent).
http://www.carm.org/catholic/saved.htm.
the catechism and the the council of trent denounce all protestants who believe that we are saved by grace alone (unmerited gift) through faith alone in christ alone (romans 3,4, eph 2:8-10). the differences between catholics and protestants arent just a matter of semantics. catholics believe in a different gospel altogether. those who had a good laugh at the link i gave yesterday would be better off addressing the issues at hand starting with the differences in how one is saved. it is loving and not bickering to show someone who is lost what the bible really says about salvation. so before u accuse me of being dishonest or ignorant read the link i gave (http://www.carm.org/catholic.htm). open up ur bibles and verify if what i am saying is true.
# We can therefore hope in the glory of heaven promised by God to those who love him and do his will. In every circumstance, each one of us should hope, with the grace of God, to persevere 'to the end' and to obtain the joy of heaven, as God's eternal reward for the good works accomplished with the grace of Christ," (Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 1821).
# "Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification," (CCC, par. 2010).
# "If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema." (Canon 9, Council of Trent).
# "If any one saith, that man is truly absolved from his sins and justified, because he assuredly believed himself absolved and justified; or, that no one is truly justified but he who believes himself justified; and that, by this faith alone, absolution and justification are effected; let him be anathema." (Canon 14, Council of Trent).
http://www.carm.org/catholic/saved.htm.
the catechism and the the council of trent denounce all protestants who believe that we are saved by grace alone (unmerited gift) through faith alone in christ alone (romans 3,4, eph 2:8-10). the differences between catholics and protestants arent just a matter of semantics. catholics believe in a different gospel altogether. those who had a good laugh at the link i gave yesterday would be better off addressing the issues at hand starting with the differences in how one is saved. it is loving and not bickering to show someone who is lost what the bible really says about salvation. so before u accuse me of being dishonest or ignorant read the link i gave (http://www.carm.org/catholic.htm). open up ur bibles and verify if what i am saying is true.
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When Mohammed was contacted by the spirit (Jibrail) in the cave he was convinced he had been contacted by a harmful (evil) spirit and returned very distressed to his wife Khadijah, who thought otherwise, and to reassure Mohammed, she took him to her cousin Waraqa ibn Naufal, who, allegedly, was "a very old man who knew the Scriptures of the Jews and Christians" and on this old man's OPINION , the spirit who had contacted Mohammed was declared as coming from God and that Mohammed was to become the Prophet of his people! (pages 10 and 11 of the introduction to the English translation of the Holy Quran by Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall). If this old man really knew the Christian Scriptures he would have told Mohammed that he had been contacted by an evil spirit (as Mohammed had correctly thought when the spirit had first appeared to him) on the basis of the biblical teaching found in the New Testament in the letter to the Galatians 1:8 where it is stated ..."if an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached (Jesus' gospel) let him be eternally condemned"...
To be brief... the Koran was revealed by a false spirit (a demon) as the translator Marmaduke Pickthall so unwittingly gives testimony to in his introduction of the Holy Quran page 11, 3rd paragraph: "the words which came to him (Mohammed) when in a state of trance are held sacred by the Muslims and are never confounded with those which he uttered when no physical change was apparent in him. The former are the Sacred Book (the Koran); the latter the Hadith or Sunnah...” with the above statement Pickthall is confirming that the Koran was recited by Mohammed while in a state of trace or in other words under demonic possession. Consequently, it should not surprise us that when a person starts believing in the Koran, a demonic product, he turns evil. In the New Testament in the letter to the Ephesians 4:30 ..." God's Holy Spirit... gets rid of all bitterness, passion, anger... hateful feelings of any sort... instead makes you kind and tender hearted... forgiving one another... as God has forgiven you through Christ." This Spirit is not the spirit that leads practicing muslims to become suicide bombers .
As Christians in the West we have a great opportunity and obligation to lovingly approach our Muslim neighbours with the Good News of the true Jesus so that their eyes may be opened and step from darkness into light.