Comments on: God, Allah – What’s in a Name? http://fillup.wordpress.com/2007/08/15/god-allah-whats-in-a-name/ Casual Contemplations on Christ and Culture Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:16:50 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: tyler http://fillup.wordpress.com/2007/08/15/god-allah-whats-in-a-name/#comment-824 tyler Sun, 19 Aug 2007 05:04:34 +0000 http://fillup.wordpress.com/2007/08/15/god-allah-whats-in-a-name/#comment-824 This story, more than any other this past week, had me wondering where some people get off opening their mouths. This man is a bishop so it's only fair to assume he knows a thing or two about theology. That being the case, he's left with even more cake on his face than if a layperson who doesn't know the first thing about Islamic theology (or Christian theology for that matter) had blessed us with this soundbite. Doubly upsetting is the continuing placation of the Islamic world. This is the kind of suicidal hyper-tolerance that Mark Steyn writes about in "America Alone." Everyone seems to be sleepwalking while the Muslim world slowly terrifies them into obedience. Frederick Hess was exactly right Tuesday on National Review Online when he said that the problem with this breed of tolerance is that it rewards zealotry. However, we cannot afford to tolerate this sort of rubbish. What the bishop proposes is hostile to the gospel. You got it nailed Philip when you point out that the god of the Qu'ran is not the God of the Bible, he's not even cut from the same mold. Calling God "Allah" is not an issue of mere translation here. By suggesting any such thing you broadcast to the world that you're glib, afraid, and uninterested in truth. This story, more than any other this past week, had me wondering where some people get off opening their mouths. This man is a bishop so it’s only fair to assume he knows a thing or two about theology. That being the case, he’s left with even more cake on his face than if a layperson who doesn’t know the first thing about Islamic theology (or Christian theology for that matter) had blessed us with this soundbite.

Doubly upsetting is the continuing placation of the Islamic world. This is the kind of suicidal hyper-tolerance that Mark Steyn writes about in “America Alone.” Everyone seems to be sleepwalking while the Muslim world slowly terrifies them into obedience. Frederick Hess was exactly right Tuesday on National Review Online when he said that the problem with this breed of tolerance is that it rewards zealotry.

However, we cannot afford to tolerate this sort of rubbish. What the bishop proposes is hostile to the gospel. You got it nailed Philip when you point out that the god of the Qu’ran is not the God of the Bible, he’s not even cut from the same mold. Calling God “Allah” is not an issue of mere translation here. By suggesting any such thing you broadcast to the world that you’re glib, afraid, and uninterested in truth.

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