Religion Today Summaries – September 25, 2003
Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world. In today's edition:
- Islam Inherently Dangerous to West
- Two Episcopal Dioceses Disassociate From Sexuality Decisions
- Men in Bible Study Nab Murder Suspect
- Another State Recognizes Christian Heritage
Islam Inherently Dangerous to West
Agape Press
An expert on Islam says incidents such as the recent arrest of Muslim chaplain James Yee serve as reminders of the real nature of that religion and the danger it poses. Robert Spencer of the Heritage Foundation says westerners can peacefully coexist "only with Muslims who truly, thoroughly, explicitly and honestly renounce jihad ideology in all the forms in which it appears in Islamic law as a mandate for violence against non-Muslims." But Spencer says that obviously does not happen often, if at all, so any Muslim is a potential threat. He believes that there is always the possibility that some followers of Islam will take up jihad as a rallying cry and use the Koran and Islamic tradition to recruit others for strikes against the West on that basis. The incident with Chaplain Yee is the latest episode involving Muslims in the military, but many critics of Islam fear it will not be the last. Michael Waller, a researcher at the Center for Security Policy in Washington, says the arrest of Yee -- as well as that of an Arabic translator who also worked with terrorist suspects at Guantanamo Bay -- should be sounding alarms at the Pentagon. The Center's Michael Waller believes that, while some Muslims in the U.S. armed forces may be assets in the war on terrorism, others may be undercover agents for al-Qaida. Waller wonders how the Pentagon ever assigned Yee, who studied Islam in Syria, to the most "highly classified base on Earth." And New York Senator Charles Schumer is also criticizing the Pentagon for not looking into the Islamic organization that certified Yee as a chaplaincy candidate.
Two Episcopal Dioceses Disassociate From Sexuality Decisions
Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service
The Episcopal dioceses of Central Florida and Albany, N.Y., have formally disassociated themselves from the actions of the Episcopal Church, after it confirmed the election of an openly gay bishop and implicitly recognized same-sex blessings. The Orlando-based diocese declared in one resolution that "by these erroneous actions the 74th General Convention has separated itself from the Anglican Communion." In another resolution, the diocese said it will only send money to the Episcopal Church from congregations that specifically request that action. As of Nov. 1, the diocesan board will determine where to redirect money normally forwarded to the Episcopal Church. The primates have called a special meeting to consider these matters Oct. 15-16. "Bishop (John) Howe has said emphatically and repeatedly we are not leaving the Episcopal Church," Joe Thoma, spokesman for the Central Florida diocese, told Religion News Service. The Albany diocese passed a resolution affirming that "marriage is intended by God to be the faithful lifelong union of one man and one woman." There was no immediate response to the votes from Episcopal Church headquarters, but Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold held a meeting Sept. 10-11 with 10 bishops who have a range of views on the sexuality debate. "Regardless of our points of view, all of us recognized the polarization that was caused by our having to make an either/or decision with no possibility of any other mode of response," Griswold wrote in a Sept. 12 letter to the House of Bishops about the meeting. "This has clearly caused pain, confusion and disbelief in many parts of the church, and a sense of rightness in other parts."
Men in Bible Study Nab Murder Suspect
Charisma News Service
Six men holding a Bible study in an Arizona community recently captured a murder suspect who interrupted their discussion. Phoenix police said Brandon Kent Henderson, 24, was nabbed last Tuesday while trying to steal a car from a home where the six were holding their weekly Bible class, The Arizona Republic reported. "We thought he was just a two-bit crook," said Tony Smith, 26, one of the six. During a discussion on biblical prophecies, the six heard a noise coming from the garage and found a man trying to back out in a sports car belonging to homeowner Jim Cook, 28. The man, later identified as Henderson, tried to flee, but was tackled in the street and held down while the six waited a few minutes for police to arrive. "The good guys won," Sgt. Randy Force, a police spokesman, said, the Republic reported. (http://www.charismanews.com/)
Another State Recognizes Christian Heritage
Agape Press
West Virginia is the latest state to recognize America's Christian Heritage Week. The 12th annual event is scheduled for the week of Thanksgiving, November 23-29. Bruce Barilla, nationwide promoter of the event, recently shared in a photo opportunity with West Virginia Governor Bob Wise. Part of that state's official proclamation states, "Thanksgiving week is an appropriate time to center attention on our thanks to Almighty God for His great and good Providence and for the Christian faith, which is part of West Virginia's and America's history." People around the nation are urged to ask their state's governor and their city's mayor to issue proclamations recognizing the week as America's Christian Heritage Week.
Originally published September 25, 2003.
