Really, how does this sort of thing help the world at large?

[www.christianvoice.org.uk]

What is Islam? Politicians, the police and Islamic leaders have portrayed it as a religion of peace in which terrorism is an aberration. Multi-faith diehards insist that it is one of many paths to salvation, or that the Allah of Islam and the God of Christianity are one and the same. Is any of this true?

Part of the Christian Voice response has been to publish a briefing paper entitled ‘Understanding Islam,’ available by mail. The author, Christian Voice National Director Stephen Green, said that researching the paper had been a massive undertaking. “It is not that there is not enough material now available,” he said, “but there is so much that getting to authoritative sources amongst the polemical, on both sides, was a real challenge. Nevertheless, I believe we have published as dispassionate a piece of research as possible and what is contained is a true reflection on the beliefs of Islam.

Oh joy! A christian pressure group which is being evenhanded and fair. This would be cool, if it wasn’t immediately followed by:

Islam does indeed have its peaceful side, but every true Muslim believes in Jihad, and the Islamic scriptures state that death in jihad is the only certain way to paradise.

“One thing that is absolutely necessary in the present climate is for the Church to say strongly that Christianity contains a code for living and a blueprint for how society ought to be run. Muslims have been allowed to get away with the contention that they have a monopoly on practical spirituality.

…at which words I stop believing any hope of “dispassionate” balance; I grew up in a non-observant C-of-E (ie: Anglican) household where we had frequent Muslim friends visting from Nigeria, so although I am one of the Godless students of Gower St nonetheless I have considerable respect for belief and customs of others.

Somehow I don’t expect this Green chappie to share that.

Green is also apparently one of those behind the campaign to remove the Jerry Springer, The Opera DVD from the shelves of Sainsburys and Woolworths.

Perhaps the people who write letter upon his behalf, should take a look at his website. Maybe they would be less inclined to agree with him, then.

I hope so, at any rate.