Edited on Wednesday, November 30, 2011, written up November 30, 2010
As a society we have faltered in blaming the group or the religion for the acts of individuals. The words of Pastor Jeffress generates fear, anxieties hate and ill-will, it is him and not the reflection of his Church, even if the congregation sheepishly claps and gives a standing ovation when the pastor calls out, “Islam is an evil evil religion and Quraan is a book written by a false prophet” with full passion.
Please remove any bias you may have against Baptist Church because you’ll find bigotry in every denomination and every religion and no one can cast the first stone. In a short span of 7 years, in my own town Dallas, just one Baptist Pastor’s ignorance is overwhelmed by many Baptist pastors, just to name a few who reflect the inclusive teachings of Jesus with substantial backing are Late Pastor Roy Harrell of Thanksgiving Square, who led the Christian Coalition prayers representing several denominations at the Unity day USA program in 1985.
Pastor George Mason of the Wilshire Baptist Church who was the first one to agree to be on the panel of demystifying the myths about Quraan in the Quraan conference and Pastor Bob Roberts who has led many expeditions in exploring common grounds among faiths, including a joint commemoration of 9/11 by Muslims and Baptist. By the way, both the gentlemen were recipients of the “Pluralist Award” in 2009 for their work in living with no bias towards others.
Myths are manufactured about others without any substantiation; it is an old business of maligning others to have a momentary gain. Quraan is challenged by Pastor Robert Jeffress, Pat Robertson, Terry Jones and others who have not made any effort to find the truth, let alone understand the book.
The Quraan conference, Understanding GLBT, Quraan, Anti-Semitism, race, gender and other issues are American issues and not Jewish, Muslim or African American issues. We understand that a few are committed to pitting one American against the other for their own gains.
Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day to the media and the public. He is a speaker thinker and a writer on the topics of pluralism, cohesive societies, Politics, Islam, interfaith, India and Peace. Over a thousand articles have been published on the topics and two of his books are poised to be released on Pluralism and Islam. Mike’s work is reflected in 4 website’s and 27 Blogs indexed athttp://www.mikeghouse.net/ and you can find all of his current articles at www.TheGhousediary.com
- Dr. Jeffress Tells The Truth About Islam – At the end of the video, his congregation claps for the hateful remarks by Jeffress. Uploaded by firstbaptistdallas on Aug 23, 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfb9p3qSRqA
- First Baptist’s Robert Jeffress Won’t Be Winning Muslim Converts This Way. By Patrick Williams Thursday, Sep 2 2010 http://www.dallasobserver.com/2010-09-02/news/first-baptist-s-robert-jeffress-won-t-be-winning-muslim-converts-this-way/
- Unedited: Dr. Robert Jeffress statements on Islam (same as above) http://www.wfaa.com/video/raw/Dr-Robert-Jeffress-statement-on–101772118.html
- Dr. Jeffress Responds to Dallas News Columnist http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4dHHbO7Slw&feature=player_embedded#!
- Uploaded by firstbaptistdallas on Sep 5, 2010 http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/09/dallas_pastor_islam_promotes_pedophilia_video.php
- Dallas Pastor Defends Claim That Islam ‘Promotes Pedophilia’ (VIDEO)http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/09/dallas_pastor_islam_promotes_pedophilia_video.php
- An Open Letter to Rev. Robert Jeffress, FBC Dallas http://www.chicktalkdallas.com/blog/?p=4631
- Sunday Morning on Fox http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/christians-and-muslims-meetPublished: Sunday, 12 Sep 2010, 10:55 PM CDT
- Monday Morning on Foxhttp://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/091310-pastor,-muslims-meet-to-discuss-quran Posted by Richard Ray: Monday, 13 Sep 2010, 4:52 PM CDT
- Muslims, Jews and Hindus are going to hellhttp://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/091310-pastor%2C-muslims-meet-to-discuss-quran
- Dallas Morning News Responds – In defense of Islam, pursuing a civil dialogue: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/sblow/stories/DN-blow_19met.ART.West.Edition1.356a575.html
- Mike Ghouse Challenges Quraan Translation with Pastor Robert Jeffress – 1 of 2 –http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMN8Zy1kc64
- Mike Ghouse Challenges Quraan Translation with Pastor Robert Jeffress – 2 of 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZOFLQSAOhA&feature=related
- Mike Ghouse challenges Robert Jeffress Article:http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2010/09/rev-robert-jeffress-challenged-on.html
- Islam is a false religion by a false prophet, unraveling the difficulties – Americans Togetherhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_slI-CwnW7g&feature=related
- Americans have been challenged time and again – Americans Together –http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcW84KjXsqo
- Americans need not live in fear of others – Americans together http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E832SErFzJk&feature=related
- We have to build, rebuild and continuously build the social cohesiveness of our nation. Details at:http://dallasquraanconference.blogspot.com/
- Perry’s Values Voters Endorser: Islam is an “Evil, Evil Religion”http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/10/perry-values-voters-endorser-robert-jeffress-islam-evil
- Jeffress Says Satan Is Behind Roman Catholicism http://www.rightwingwatch.org/category/individuals/robert-jeffress
- Jeffress on Mormons http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mht8Vq8aDs Uploaded by daveweigel81 on Oct 7, 2011
- The Reverend Jeffress and Mormonshttp://www.rightwingnewswatch.com/2011/10/08/the-reverend-jeffress-and-mormons/
- Jeffress: Mormonism from Pit of Hell http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xl8D7zEm_jI
- Jeffress Calls Mormonism A Cult – Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism are all false religions http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/jefress-stands-by-calling-mormonism-a-cult
- Read more on myFOXdfw.com:http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/jefress-stands-by-calling-mormonism-a-cult#ixzz1aM0DqHyH
- Jeffress: Jews, Mormons, Muslims And Gays Are Going To Hell http://www.rightwingwatch.org/category/individuals/robert-jeffress
The challenge is simple; I will present the right translations of the Qur’aan to Rev. Robert Jeffress in his congregation and challenge him to find 3 evil things about Quraan, if he does, I will go work for his ministry, if he does not, I ask of him to retract the thoughtless cavalier statements he made about Islam and Quraan, and take up the challenge of becoming a peace maker.
Thanks to the Islam bashers for telling me what is it that bothers them, they have time and again given me a list of about 60 verses, and I have made serious effort to address them most directly at: http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/ I have dealt with some of the Islamophobes who have made their business by maligning others including Islam, in this case. Look at their websites; they shamelessly ask for money, people should seriously debate if their money is going to bring peace or chaos.
Whether it is Pastor Jones, Jeffress, Phelps or Robertson, the media has failed to nail down the exact words or phrases that cause them to make such divisive declarations, and the unfinished business is frustrating the public.
America needs peacemakers who can boldly clarify the un-truths and myths about each other for the sake of peace. We owe peace and security to each one of the 301 Million Americans, our efforts ought to be directed so everyone us can live without fear, without harassment and without prejudices. My question to Pastors Jeffress, Jones, Phelps, Robertsons and their likes is this; Didn’t Jesus pray and worked to create the kingdom of heaven on the earth, so all of us can live freely?
Some 2000 years ago, Jesus delivered the sermon “Blessed are the peace makers” on Mt. Beatitude, I was there and felt the power of that statement. I walked where Jesus walked on via Dela Rosa; I was baptized in the river Jordan where Jesus was baptized. Symbolically, I accepted Jesus’ message to become a peace maker by drenching myself in the holy water.
The role of people of religions is to mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill. I ask Rev. Robert Jeffress, Rev. Pat Robertson, Rev. Fred Phelps and Rev. Terry Jones to walk the journey of peace with me.
Pastor, Muslims Meet to Discuss Quran
Published : Monday, 13 Sep 2010, 4:52 PM CDT
Richard Ray
FOX 4 News
Adapted for Web by Tracy DeLatte, myFOXdfw.com
DALLAS – First Baptist Church of Dallas Pastor Robert Jeffress said he has no regrets about calling Islam an evil religion. But on Sunday he gave a warm welcome to a group of Muslims visiting his church.
It was an unusual meeting of the minds. A pair of Muslim leaders showed up unexpectedly wanting to talk to the pastor, not sure what kind of reception they’d get.
“We have some very special guests here this morning. Leaders, members of the Islamic faith in Dallas and I want you to join me in giving them the warmest First Baptist welcome you can,” Jeffress said to his congregation.
Muslim Mike Ghouse was part of that small delegation and afterward met with Jeffress to discuss the Quran.
“He asked us to stand up and there was a good welcome. It was beautiful. I really liked that,” Ghouse.
He is convinced that Jeffress and most Americans have only read mistranslations of the Quran, where ugly language about Christians and Jews has been incorrectly inserted.
“What he said about the Quran and Islam I agree with him. He has read the wrong translation. To find the truth, to be peacemakers, we have to find the truth for the sake of a secure America. His statements are divisive and offense,” Ghouse said.
A study last month by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found that over the past five years the percentage of Americans with a positive view of Islam has dropped dramatically from 41 to 30 percent.
Jeffress said he enjoyed his meeting with Ghouse and the others, but still believes he has read an accurate translation. He expresses no regret for what he’s said about the religion.
“I have to regrets at all. I think some of my statements have been mischaracterized simply because the whole statement wasn’t given. I don’t believe most Muslims are terrorists. I don’t think most Muslims oppress women. But there is something within the religion of Islam itself that I believe incites violence,” he said.
Jeffress said he thinks he can disagree in a loving and kind way.
“I think we need to quit walking on egg shells. I think we do need to tell the truth. We tell it in love. But we still tell the truth,” he said.
Ghouse and the others involved in the meeting said they’d like to meet with Jeffress again in the future to have a deeper discussion.
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