tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758552631193356408.post4045284776359023971..comments2023-04-05T04:55:09.891-04:00Comments on On The Mark™: “Christians Reading the Koran”: Movement and Facebook GroupMark Koltko-Riverahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11173090767545559729noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758552631193356408.post-6264449076198703852010-09-20T10:02:19.706-04:002010-09-20T10:02:19.706-04:00@freehugs: I understand your concerns here. Howeve...@freehugs: I understand your concerns here. However, what I am focused on here is trying to deal with Christians and the way they deal with Islam--which, currently, is mostly through profound ignorance. <br /><br />I have said nothing to encourage tolerance of violence, sexism, or homophobia. Good fortune to you as you try to work against these evils.<br /><br />Anonymous "A": Thank you for your kindness. I lived at Rhoads, Fall 1975 through Spring 1978 -- perhaps our time at the BiCo community overlapped.<br /><br />Anonymous "B": What I hear you saying is that you have made up your mind, which is of course your prerogative. <br /><br />What I'm trying to do here is spread some light. I think that reading someone else's holy book increases the knowledge in the world. Anyone who is up for that--welcome aboard.Mark Koltko-Riverahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11173090767545559729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758552631193356408.post-82573382013078626832010-09-16T19:26:52.454-04:002010-09-16T19:26:52.454-04:00I have become well-versed in islam over the past t...I have become well-versed in islam over the past ten years, thank you, and I do not need any "context" to help me understand that it is a totalitarian ideology operating under the guise that the Koran is the literal word of God.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758552631193356408.post-84594039306219522672010-09-11T18:27:22.534-04:002010-09-11T18:27:22.534-04:00Mark as a Haverford parent and Bryn Mawr alum, and...Mark as a Haverford parent and Bryn Mawr alum, and a Muslim who went to Catholic school and read the Bible as part of our curriculum I am so pleased to see your initiative.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758552631193356408.post-19069459551516974232010-09-11T11:06:01.767-04:002010-09-11T11:06:01.767-04:00Congratulations for your initiative. And, in addit...Congratulations for your initiative. And, in addition, I'm waiting to see any initiative to promote things like:<br /><br />1) Eliminate violence (stoning) against women Arab states.<br />2) Remove the murder of homosexuals in the Arab states (dead penalty).<br />3) Request the radical muslims to don't burn more flags of any country, and please, if not too much trouble, do not follow burning the Bible in Afghanistan or destroying Buddhist figures. Buddhists never have done anything against Islam.<br />4) Promote among all cultures the notion that liberty is above all, and therefore burning the Koran or the Bible are acts of "bad taste", but can't be prohibited because everyone is free to burn what he pleases. <br /><br />I would like someday to see some of these proposals. But I think we will not see it ever, because some persons have learned a valuable lesson: Westerners need only a threat to throw their freedom to garbage. It happened with the cartoons of Muhammad, It happened with the mosque at Ground Zero and is happening with the International Burn a Koran Day. When Iran killed a gay, or when a woman was stoned in the same country, I didn't see any group pressing from Facebook for stop that madness. <br /><br />PLEASE, Do not tell me that we must be tolerant with this. It's really insulting.Freehugshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03363692495609100028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758552631193356408.post-62845017688598151232010-09-07T21:31:08.629-04:002010-09-07T21:31:08.629-04:00@anonymous(2): Thank you for your kind comments. I...@anonymous(2): Thank you for your kind comments. It's great to see both Christians and Muslims comment on this post.<br /><br />@kathie mm: w/r/t Your idea of Christians reading the New Testament along with the Koran: I could not possibly agree more. Thank you for contributing your thoughts here.Mark Koltko-Riverahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11173090767545559729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758552631193356408.post-84820626862157170592010-09-07T21:20:01.197-04:002010-09-07T21:20:01.197-04:00Mark, I also want to thank you for this suggestion...Mark, I also want to thank you for this suggestion. It is so easy to be outraged at the anti-Muslim feelings that have been emerging recently--whipped up by people with their own agendas. I find myself editing this message even as I write it in order to be consistent with Christ's message of love and brotherhood. I think perhaps Christians should read their New Testament along with reading the Koran to get a better understanding of both.kathie mmhttp://engagingpeace.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758552631193356408.post-86025154415077155062010-09-07T20:25:21.976-04:002010-09-07T20:25:21.976-04:00I congratulate you for taking this initiative. I a...I congratulate you for taking this initiative. I am a muslim (but not a scholar) and I will be happy to try to answer any question anyone may have. Islam is a religion which promotes peace, total submission to god, tolerance and justice for all. It is very easy to practice and any type of extremeism has no place in Islam.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758552631193356408.post-75383643126501441302010-09-07T20:02:22.559-04:002010-09-07T20:02:22.559-04:00An excellent idea, Mark! I hope it goes far.An excellent idea, Mark! I hope it goes far.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758552631193356408.post-13757894436671692772010-09-07T16:31:59.996-04:002010-09-07T16:31:59.996-04:00@Anonymous: Thank you for your kindness. I wish it...@Anonymous: Thank you for your kindness. I wish it were the case that there were <i>always</i> something good that comes out of the terrible, but I am trying--along with many other people--to see to it that something good comes out <i>here</i>. As the late John F. Kennedy said (possibly quoting someone else): "It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness." Be well, my friend.Mark Koltko-Riverahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11173090767545559729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758552631193356408.post-18771981820298691502010-09-07T15:56:20.832-04:002010-09-07T15:56:20.832-04:00As a Muslim, I truly respect your concern and will...As a Muslim, I truly respect your concern and willingness to learn. There is always something good that comes out of a terrible event.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758552631193356408.post-1044957552704381182010-09-07T14:20:04.019-04:002010-09-07T14:20:04.019-04:00@islomane: Thank you for your kind comment. It is ...@islomane: Thank you for your kind comment. It is unfortunate that so many people cannot get beyond the very imperfect way, even horrifically cruel way that a given religion is implemented (and who is not guilty of that?) to an appreciation of the admirable core values that each religion does have. Thank you for joining in the discussion.Mark Koltko-Riverahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11173090767545559729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758552631193356408.post-31343772180381324172010-09-07T05:38:55.997-04:002010-09-07T05:38:55.997-04:00Mark, thank you for undertaking this courageous an...Mark, thank you for undertaking this courageous and consuming purpose at this time. I was just engaged in a Facebook dialogue with an old friend of mine who teaches psychology, and has, I take it, veered somewhat from our common LDS indoctrination to more of a "mystical" view of spirituality. <br /><br />The topic of our exchange was the tragic case you have written about on the Muslim widow in Iraq soon to be stoned to death. Sadly, my friend and I could not get beyond his repeatedly calling Islam "the worst religion on the face of the planet."<br /><br />In the midst of this ensuing misunderstanding between myself and my friend, another Facebook buddy posted links to this page and your Facebook group. The coincidental timing couldn't have been better.<br /><br />I am already staunch in my respect for orthodox Muslims and their faith, but I look forward to joining you and others on here in a full reading of the Qu'ran.islomanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08564055401217487145noreply@blogger.com