After grenade attacks on a church in northern Kenya blamed on Islamic extremists, religious leaders said they were redoubling inter-faith peace efforts. At the same time, about 100 kilometers away, Christian relief agencies were carrying out humanitarian work in Dadaab, the world’s biggest refugee camp, despite security threats.

Two grenades were lobbed into the East Africa Pentecostal Church compound in the town of Garissa on 5 November, killing two people and injuring five others. The attack has been blamed on al-Shabab militants who are facing a Kenyan military operation in southern Somalia.

“We are alarmed by this blatant attempt by evil forces to drive a wedge between Christians and Muslims,” Sheikh Adan Wachu, general secretary of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims told a news conference on 10 November in Nairobi.

Speaking under the auspices of the Interreligious Council of Kenya, he said the militants had hoped to ignite Christians-Muslims violence, but had failed. He said the faiths were united against groups that misuse religion to cause anarchy and would be preaching that message in churches, mosques and temples.

“We have lived peacefully with one another for long. Therefore we choose not to interpret this as religious war,” the Rev. Joseph Mwasya, a clergyman from Garissa said on 8 November at a news conference.

At Dadaab, many agencies have scaled down since October when threats escalated, but the Rev. Eberhard Hitzler, the director of the Department for World Service of the Lutheran World Federation said on 8 November the organization will continue to deliver humanitarian relief at the camp.

“We have not yet the impression that the current situation in Dadaab constitutes a serious crisis, despite the security risks increasing for the organization; so we should set up a team to respond to it,” said Hitzler whose organization is responsible for housing and security in the camp. The 20-year-old settlement now contains more than 460,000 refugees who have fled war, famine and disease in Somalia.

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Both Muslim and Christian elderly residents in a housing complex in the UK are upset at a ban that was issued recently against religious artifacts from being displayed on the premises.

The ban was announced in a letter that was sent to residents of all 40 flats in St. Paul’s Court in Preston, Lancashire, which also requested that they take down any religious icons and signs that may disturb the community.

Not allowed

Both Christians and Muslims criticized the ban that was imposed on St. Paul’s Court, which is run by Places for People.

One resident told The Mirror, “Some people are very old and their faith is important to them. What harm can there be in having a small statue of Jesus or Our Lady on view?”

The resident also told The Mirror, “Last Christmas we were told to not display a crib, and decorations were discouraged.”

The letter announcing the ruling said, “The reason being that St. Paul’s Court is a sheltered housing scheme which promotes diversity amongst its residents and visitors.”

As a result, it encouraged the elderly residents to take it upon themselves to become champions of “equality and diversity,” according to The Daily Mail.

The staff members of Places for People are taxpayer funded, and their salaries are taken from housing benefits that are given to residents. A spokesman for the group could not specify to The Daily Mail what exactly was meant by “offending” items.

Residents were however asked to remove a number of religious signs and statues, even though the home is named after St. Paul, the apostle who has authored almost half of the books of the New Testament.

Dignity, respect

“I would describe this as removing people’s dignity and respect in their own age. I would ask them to put themselves in the position of their own residents,” Father Andrew Teather, minister of Preston Minster told The Daily Mail.

Teather told The Daily Mail, “I have never found any religious tension between people of different faiths, although one often finds antagonism from people who are not themselves religious towards people who are.

“Rather than having to appoint equality and diversity officers, why don’t they encourage people to speak to their next door neighbors?”

Teather’s sentiments were echoed by a Muslim leader, Salim Desai, who is a local councilor of Preston City.

Desai told The Daily Mail, “Yes, I think they should look at it again. I don’t know why they came to this decision, or what the underlying complaints are. I think they should think again.”

“We get a lot of our morals from religion and I would prefer people to follow religion, Christian or Muslim, and have morals, rather than no morals at all,” Desai told The Daily Mail, adding, “They are causing more problems than they are solving.”

Father Timothy Lipscomb told Mirror that the ruling is “ridiculous,” noting, “Political correctness is getting silly.”

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Some 18 people in Egypt will be tried through an expedited criminal court in relation to a series of attacks against Coptic Christians who were holding a sit-in last May 14 outside a government building.

The 18 people have been charged with exhibiting force, thuggery, endangering lives, attacking peaceful demonstrators, disturbing the peace, disturbing public security, and destruction of public and private property, among others, Al Masyr Al Youm
reported.

The trials will be held in Cairo on May 21. A spokesman for attorney general Abdel Meguid Mahmoud said investigation is underway and the prosecution has the testimonies of police and some 36 victims, Al Masyr Al Youm said.

Last Saturday Coptic Christian protestors demonstrating at the Egyptian Radio and Television Union building at Maspero were assaulted in three successive attacks, killing one and injuring over 100 others, Assyrian International News Agency said.

Tensions have been high in Cairo since May 7, when Christians and Muslims battled through the night in Imbaba, a working class neighborhood, leaving at least 12 dead and two churches torched, The New York Times said.

Last Saturday, assailants first struck around midnight when two Muslims wearing Salafist clothes tried to force their way through the demonstrators, but were blocked by Christian youth, according to AINA.

One of the Muslims fled, while another was apprehended and brought to the police. The Muslim was identified as Ramadan Abdallah, a high school graduate of al-Ashar, AINA reported.

The second attack occurred almost simultaneously from a bridge overlooking the protest area, where a group of Muslims arrived in a minibus and threw Molotov cocktails, empty bottles and stones at the Christian demonstrators, then fled, AINA said.

The third assault took place an hour later when Muslims from Boulak, a poor neighborhood near Maspero, surrounded the Christians, threw Molotov cocktails at them and fired guns. They also torched a boat in the Nile that belonged to a TV crew, AINA reported.

One of the Muslim attackers wielding a knife injured the leg and hand of Samuel Sobhy, one of the organizers of the rally. The attacker was captured and handed over to the police, AINA said.

Threats of attack

Father Filopateer Gameel told AINA that he had received threats of a pending attack against the protesters. When he informed the police they said he should call the army as they could do nothing about it.

During the melee, Gameel read the absolution of sins for all Christian demonstrators, fearful that they may be killed, AINA said.

Gameel also told AINA that he blames Interior Minister el-Essawy for the chaos because the minister said on TV that the protests of the Christians should be ended by any means. In essence, Gameel said, this gave a green light to Muslim extremists.

Father Botros of Moqattam Church said, “These are not thugs. They are criminals hired by security authorities and the army to break up the Coptic sit-in. The army and the security should be held accountable. We have rights and we will take them.”

The Christians, who have been protesting since May 7, are seeking the release of 17 Christians who were sentenced to three years imprisonment on March 16, as well as 400 others who are also still in prison, AINA said. They also are demanding that Muslims who torched the churches in Soul, Moqattam, Abu Qorgas, Embaba and Alexandria are brought to justice.

There has been a rise in sectarian violence and crime in general in Cairo post revolution. A number of policemen have deserted the police force because they may be punished for past abuses before the revolution, The New York Times said.

There are also suspicions that a counterrevolutionary conspiracy is in the works that seeks to create disorder, and in this way bring down the military council, according to The New York Times.

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A new Barna study examined how Americans’ faith beliefs have changed in a pluralistic society, and attempted to discern if more people are embracing a universalism view of life.

The study, entitled What Americans Believe about Universalism and Pluralism, also tried to see if there were shifts in belief between younger Americans and adults in terms of faith being affected by pluralism and likeliness to embrace a universalism view, the study said.

Definition of terms

Three terms are defined. First, “universalism” is the belief that everyone will be saved. Second, “pluralism” refers to the presence of multiple religions in American society. Third, “born again,” refers to those who believe they will go to heaven because they have accepted Jesus as their savior and are committed to Him, the Barna website said.

Findings

Regarding salvation and beliefs, the Barna study showed:

• Some 40 percent of Americans believe that all people will eventually be saved no matter what they do, because God loves them. Some 50 percent disagreed.
• Some 43 percent believe all religions teach the same lessons, while 54 percent disagree.
• Some 40 percent believe everyone will share the same outcome after death regardless of their religion, while 55 percent disagree.

Regarding belief of good and evil, the Barna study indicated:

• Some 69 percent believe you either side with God or the devil; there is no in-between, while 27 percent disagree.
• Some 48 percent believe a good person who does good for others will go to heaven, while 44 percent disagree.

Regarding interrelating with other faiths, the Barna study showed:

• Some 51 percent of evangelists feel “a responsibility to tell other people their religious beliefs.”
• Some 62 percent of adults value having “active, healthy relationships with people of other faiths.
• Some 59 percent of adults believe Christians and Muslims fundamentally worship the same God.
• Some 43 percent say the Bible, the Koran and the Book of Mormon have the same spiritual truths, although stated differently.

Interesting findings in the Barna study were:

More born again Christians believe in sharing their faith, and desire active, healthy relationships with people of other faiths. There is however some creeping universalism in that 25 percent believe all will eventually be saved, 26 percent feel all religions teach the same lessons, and 40 percent believe Christians and Muslims worship the same God, the website indicated.

Generational Changes
There was no significant change regarding universalism and pluralism between older and younger (aged 18-39) generations, but some patterns were found in the Barna study:

• Younger generation Christians are less likely to believe that in life you either side with God or the devil; there is no in-between.
• Young people are less inclined to share their religious beliefs.
• More young people believe Christians and Muslims worship the same God; believe all will eventually be saved no matter what they do; and believe that all faiths teach the same lessons.
• Adults (over forty) are more inclined to desire healthy relationships with people of other faiths.
• Young born again Christians are much less open to inclusive or universalist views of eternity. They are also less certain of their own future in the afterlife.

Surveys were conducted by telephone and cell phones in the OmniPollSM and drawn from Barna Group’s theolographicTM database dating from 2005 through 2011. There is a 3.2 percent margin for error, the website said.

WWPD-What Would Pagans Do? 

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Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi is trying to get himself out of the hot seat by stirring up the present war and portraying it, amid intervention from coalition forces, as another religious crusade of Christians in the West against all Islamic armies.

Gaddafi is hoping, in doing so, to provoke anger and reign in support not only from Muslims in Libya, but also from Muslims outside of the country, according to Barnabas Fund.

Coalition forces have reigned in Gaddafi and are keeping him under pressure with continued air strikes, and he is responding with religious rhetoric. Over the weekend Gaddafi declared that he was the defender of Libya and the country’s dignity against France, the U.S. and Britain, according to Barnabas Fund.

Gaddafi said in his government controlled media, “The Christians…are in a pact against us,” and said he would wage a “long-drawn war,” adding, “We have Allah with us, you have the devil on your side,” Barnabas Fund reported.

Last Tuesday Gaddafi made a public appearance—his first since the coalition declared Libya a no-fly zone. Gaddafi told supporters that there is a “new crusader battle launched by crusader countries on Islam,” according to Barnabas Fund.

Gaddafi added, “Long live Islam everywhere. All Islamic armies must take part in the battle, all free [people] must take part in the battle. In the short term, we will beat them. In the long term, we will beat them,” Christian Today reported.

Divisive

According to Christian Today, there have been some elements of division caused by the coalition’s intervention, threatening support from the Arab League, which expressed concern that it may have exceeded the boundaries of the UN resolution.

The US, according to Christian Today, has taken great effort to lay responsibility on Europe. After a series of talks, France, the U.K. and the U.S. agreed that NATO will take charge of the no-fly zone.

Amid all this, the U.K. Evangelical Alliance stated that the coalition must focus on protecting civilians. In a statement, it warned against the conflict escalating to the point where Libya becomes “another Iraq,” Christian Today said.

The Evangelical Alliance said the coalition should limit its operations to destroying Gaddafi’s capability to harm his own people, and ensuring a return of the country to normalcy as soon as possible, Christian Today said.

Steve Clifford, general director of the Evangelical Alliance said in a statement, “We ask that the current UN campaign does not go beyond its mandate and that civilian lives are protected in every possible way,” Christian Today reported.

Christians in Libya

Gaddafi’s newest strategy puts Libya’s vulnerable Christian community in harm’s way, as they may become targets of revenge for anti-Western wrath by Gaddafi supporters, according to Barnabas Fund.

The church in Libya is mainly comprised by expats, mostly coming from sub-Saharan Africa. It is likely many of them will leave due to the country’s unrest. Of greater concern is the safety of Libyan Muslims who converted to Christianity, Barnabas Fund  said.

Libyan converts live in isolation and are fearful of having contact with foreigners. They also fear meeting among themselves due to government infiltrators, according to Barnabas Fund.

Invoking al-Qaeda

Gaddafi has also responded to the international intervention by threatening to join al-Qaeda, saying, “If they [the West] behave with us as they did in Iraq, then Libya will leave the international alliance against terrorism. We will then ally ourselves with al-Qaeda and declare a holy war,”  Barnabas Fund reported.

Gaddafi has long dreamed of making Africa into a single Muslim government, ergo a United Islamic States of Africa. Now he is appealing to radical Islamists to help him overcome the coalition, according to the Barnabas Fund.

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International leaders of Christian and Muslim faiths met recently in Switzerland to try to forge an organization geared to thwarting any future crisis that may occur regarding conflict between Christians and Muslims.

The meeting was held from Nov. 1-4 at Geneva’s Ecumenical Center, which houses the World Council of Churches (which organized the meeting) and other Christian organizations, Ecumenical News International said.

Other sponsors of the conference were the Royal Aal Bayt Institute (from Jordan), the World Islamic Call Society (Libya), and “A Common Word” a consortium of Muslim scholars globally, ENI said.

In 2007, “A Common Word” became the title of a revolutionary statement by the consortium of 138 senior Muslim Scholars, which delineated the shared principle of Muslims and Christians of defending the oppressed regardless of religion, the Associated Baptist Press said.

The delegates in Geneva crafted a joint statement on the global rash of conflicts between both faiths, and declared that they would collaborate to try to prevent their recurrence, ENI said.

The joint statement read, “Religion is often invoked in conflict creation, even when other factors, such as unfair resource allocation, oppression, occupation and injustice, are the real roots of conflict,” according to ENI.

The statement continued, “The basis of our faiths, as expressed in the call to get to know each other and the two commandments to love God and to love the neighbor provide a solid ground for our common responsibility to act and address common concerns,” ENI reported.

The meeting took place even as a Christian cathedral in Iraq was attacked, resulting in 52 dead and 67 wounded. (See http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2010/11/iraqi-cardinal-condemns-bloody-ruthless-attack-on-landmark-church-14305).

The delegates condemned the attack as an “inhumane act that contradicts all religious teachings.” They also censured “any criminal act that goes against the right to live in dignity and freedom of worship and of religion,” Associated Baptist Press reported.

The statement came on the heels of a declaration by leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq that Christian organizations in their land are “legitimate targets” for holy war, according to the Associated Baptist Press.

Other themes during the four-day meet focused on “moving beyond categories of majority and minority, from conflict toward compassionate justice and forward in education as a path to understanding, cooperation and shared citizenship,” the Associated Baptist Press said.

The joint statement recommended that the leaders set forth a joint project where participants of both faiths may share their experiences of living in a pluralistic society, and studying best practices in interfaith dialogue and collaboration, the Associated Baptist Press said.

Also discussed were environmental issues, climate change, and conflicts with regard to differences in ethnicity and religion, according to the Associated Baptist Press.

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Catholic bishops from the Middle East demanded last Saturday at a special synod in Rome that Israel “put an end to the occupation” of Arab lands.

The AP reported that the bishops released the statement on the final day of its two-week Vatican conference that was convened by Pope Benedict XVI. (See  http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2010/10/pope-urges-christians-jews-and-muslims-to-work-for-peace-14015).

The bishops said Israel should agree to U.N. resolutions for them to leave Palestinian territory, and added that it is wrong of Israel to employ the Bible as defense of “injustices” that were committed against the Palestinians, the AP said.

The special synod was called to thresh out the mass departure of Christians from the Middle East, which is the place where Christianity originated. The bishops also condemned all forms of terrorism and anti-Semitism, the AP reported.

The statement said, “The Palestinian people will thus have an independent and sovereign homeland where they can live with dignity and security,” the Jerusalem Post said. Furthermore,

“The State of Israel will be able to enjoy peace and security within their internationally recognized borders,” CNN reported.

The statement added that this would give Jerusalem its proper status as a holy place for Jews, Christians and Muslims saying, “We hope that the two-state solution might become a reality and not only a dream,” according to the Jerusalem Post.

The first time the pope publicly endorsed the two states coexisting was in May 2009 when he visited the region. The pope at that time expressed support for a sovereign Palestinian homeland, a suggestion that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposed, CNN said.

Recently, peace talks had been revived between Palestinians and Israelis, but were scuttled because Israel embarked on the construction of 600 housing units in the West Bank. Palestine had said a freeze on Israeli settlements was a precondition for continuing with the talks, CNN reported.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said recently that Egypt’s recent focus on conducting reconciliation sessions between Muslims and Christians is ineffective and promotes further assaults against Christians with impunity.

The Voice of the Copts said that in recent years the Egyptian government has tried to resolve tensions between Christians and Muslims through reconciliation sessions. However, this has taken away focus from bringing perpetrators of abuse of Christians to the courts.

In its recent yearly report on religious human rights in Egypt which the USCIRF submitted to the U.S. Department of State, they said that reconciliation sessions have “prevented the prosecution of perpetrators of crimes against Copts,” according to Voice of the Copts.

The sessions have also ruled out the option of seeking restitution from the judiciary. Because they know they will not be penalized, this has added to further assaults against Christians, Voice of the Copts said.

The USCIRF has urged the U.S. to pressure the Egyptian government to take legal action against those responsible for violence and human rights violations. They also would like to take away supervision of religious affairs from the state security services, except when cases involve violence or its advocacy, Voice of the Copts reported.

For example, they cite the case of three Muslim men who were charged with the murder last January 6 of six Christians and one Muslim security guard during Coptic Christmas eve in Naga Hammadi, southern Egypt, Voice of the Copts said.

The trial of the three Muslim men began in February in a state security court but up until now, court hearings have been delayed and postponed continually and there is no clear view that there will be an ending, and that the guilty will be brought to justice, according to Voice of the Copts.

The trial is expected to resume tomorrow at the Qena governorate. The USCIRF has asked that the trial definitely push through tomorrow, voicing concern that parliamentary elections which are slated in November may shift government’s focus away from the trial, Voice of the Copts reported.

Leonard Leo, USCIRF chair said, “The government knows well that accountability could serve as a deterrent, and would demonstrate that the government is interested in addressing the issue through application of the rule of law and not just reconciliation sessions,” according to Voice of the Copts.

He added, “Justice delayed is justice denied. Is it possible for Coptic Orthodox Christians to get justice in the Egyptian court system?” Leo noted that initially they were encouraged that Egypt would bring the case to trial quickly but eight months have passed with no convictions, and no indication that an end is near, Voice of the Copts reported.

Leo said, “this only encourages further violence and is reminiscent of so many past trials where justice was never served.” Egypt has been on USCIRF’s Watch List since 2002 because of continual and serious violations of religious freedom, Voice of the Copts said.

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Christian leaders in Indonesia met recently with the leaders of a Muslim extremist group to censure the plan of a church in the U.S. to burn copies of the Koran on Sept. 11.

Bishops from Protestant and Roman Catholic churches met with Habib Riezig, the leader of the extremist Islamic Defender Front (FPI) at Cikini II, Central Jakarta to engage in friendly dialogue and to boost understanding, AsiaNews said.

The meeting was also attended by Bishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi (president, Inter-religious Commission of the Bishops Conference of Indonesia [KWI]), Rev. Andreas Yewangoe (head, Indonesian Protestant Christian churches of the Synod [PGI]), and Bishop Johannes Pujasumarta (KWI Secretary General), AsiaNews said.

The intention was to hopefully avoid violence that may result from the Florida-based Dove World Outreach Center’s proposal to make Sept. 11, 2010 “International burn a Koran Day.” The move was initiated to protest the attack on the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001, AsiaNews said.

Dove’s leader, Pastor Terry Jones, is known for media-grabbing moves including distributing t-shirts that say “Islam is the devil,” and writing on his blog, “Ten reasons to burn a Koran,” AsiaNews said.

The initiative has been condemned by Christians and Muslims all over the world. Last Aug. 27, some 100 Muslims gathered in front of the U.S. embassy, Jakarta and threatened to retaliate severely if Dove burns any Korans, AsiaNews said.

Participants in the meeting noted that what Dove is doing is not representative of Christians, and particularly those Christians who are living in Indonesia. Bishop Mandagi expressed best wishes to Muslims and said he felt “strong regret to have learned of such provocative actions that want to strike our Muslim brothers,” AsiaNews said.

Pastor Yewangoe also condemned the action which he noted was only being done by a small group of Christians in the U.S. Yewangoe exhibited a letter that would be sent to U.S. President Barack Obama, requesting that the initiative is stopped or cancelled, AsiaNews said.

Rizieq said he was grateful for the sympathy that was shown by the Christian churches and called the meeting an important move towards reconciling differences through dialogue. Rizieq said, “Nothing is impossible through dialogue,” AsiaNews said.

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