After the arrogant and contemptuous way Mohler and other fundamentalist takeover leaders treated the Mainstream and moderate Baptists in their own denomination, I have exceedingly low expectations for civility from any of them. But, lives are at stake in the Middle East and around the world when people like Mohler persist in fomenting a clash of civilizations.
Mohler would not consider it respectful to him as a person if an Imam had said:
"We can respect Christian people for their contributions to human welfare, scholarship, and culture. We can respect the brilliance of Christian scholarship in the Roman era and the wonders of Christian art and architecture. But we cannot respect a belief system that denies that Mohammad was a prophet, insists that he was a demon-possessed pedophile, and encourages soldiers to evangelize millions in occupied lands." (Note: This is a hypothetical quotation, not an actual quotation)Why would he think that any Muslim feels respected when he says:
We can respect Muslim people for their contributions to human welfare, scholarship, and culture. We can respect the brilliance of Muslim scholarship in the medieval era and the wonders of Islamic art and architecture. But we cannot respect a belief system that denies the truth of the gospel, insists that Jesus was not God's Son, and takes millions of souls captive. (Note: This is an actual quotation)Frankly, in my experience, I find Muslims more respectful of Christianity than I find Evangelical Christians respectful of Islam.
When will Evangelicals learn that it is possible to respectfully disagree?
4 comments:
I have found a number of evangelicals who know how to respectfully disagree on serious issues--e.g., Jim Wallis, Ron Sider, Tony Campolo, Jimmy Carter, et. al.
The problem is that Mohler is a fundamntalist in its historic sense. I know of none of them that practice respectful disagreement on serious issues. They think of themselves as having a corner on the truth, and an assurance that what they believe is the only possible way to get "saved."
author to become a reliable indeed difficult, but I already see that you are very powerful in a any posts
What do you expect of Mohler? He's contemptuous of committed christians also if they don't bow down to him.
Dr Prescott,
Yes, I would consider whether the imam respected ME AS A PERSON as open question if he had said that, b/c he is discussing my position, not me. Why even bring this up? Can we not just talk about the position? YOU'RE the one who brought up the non-respect of persons. Mohler even says at the end:
In the end, Christians must show respect for Muslims by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the spirit of love and truth. We are called to love and respect Muslims, not Islam.You ask whether it is possible to learn to respectfully disagree? What about "must show respect for Muslims" and "love and respect Muslims" don't you understand in Mohler's post?
Take a look at Tauratinzwe's comment just above - how respectful is he of Mohler AS A PERSON? Looks like it's not just Evangelicals who have trouble respectfully disagreeing.
Peace,
Rhology
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