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VOICES OF TOLERANCE: CHRISTIANS AND JEWS CONDEMN ANTI-MUSLIM SMEARS
The following messages were received by CAIR in response to anti-Muslim
rhetoric by leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).
COMMENTS "IRRESPONSIBLE" AND "IGNORANT"
Please know that Jerry Vines does not speak for all Baptists. Many of us --
and I am a Baptist minister -- believe Vines' comments to be insensitive,
irresponsible, and simply ignorant. Please accept my highest regard for
the efforts of peace-loving, peace-sustaining people everywhere."
SBC HAS "SLANTED" VIEWS
The leaders of the SBC are fundamentalists and thus have a very slanted
view of Christianity, just as do fundamentalists of Islam or Judaism, etc.
Their views are far from the revealed teachings of Christ and must be
discounted as such. Please know that most Christians do not hold the views
of the SBC leaders.
"APPALLED" BY COMMENTS
"I just wanted to say that as a Christian I am appalled by the comments
made by Rev. Vines. On the evolutionary scale he is no better than Adolf
Hitler, with all of the problems in the world to preach intolerance of
another's religion is just plain stupid. It can only lead to hate crimes.
Then to be supported by his colleagues shows just how truly ignorant and
afraid some people are of Islam and Muslims."
"EXTREMELY STUPID REMARKS"
I would just like to send a note to convey my regret in hearing of the
extremely stupid remarks directed at Muslims by the new head of the
southern Baptist convention. Whenever things such as this occur it pains me
to think of some of the knuckleheads who can attain positions of power. I
hope to, in small measure admittedly, counteract some of the bad feelings
and sentiments which have been thrown at the Muslim community since Sept
11th by expressing support.
ADL: BAPTIST LEADER'S REMARKS OFFENSIVE, DEMEANING AND DAMAGING
NEW YORK, June 12 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Anti-Defamation League today
deplored a speech by the Rev. Jerry Vines, former president of the Southern
Baptist Convention at the group's national meeting in St Louis, in which he
denigrated Islam and blamed many of America's problems on religious pluralism.
Responding to the speech, Abraham H. Foxman, ADL national director issued
the following statement:
"Recent statements attributed to Rev. Jerry Vines, the former president of
the Southern Baptist Convention, calling Mohammed 'a demon-possessed
pedophile' and asserting that 'Islam is not just as good as Christianity'
are offensive, demeaning, and damaging to the American ideals of religious
diversity and intergroup civility. They strike a troubling note of discord
at a time when Americans of all faiths are striving for unity based on
shared values and mutual respect.
"Unfortunately, such deplorable, divisive rhetoric is not surprising coming
from the leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention, which has a track
record of denigrating and delegitimizing other religions. In 1996, at their
annual meeting, the Convention adopted a resolution to direct their
'energies and resources' to the conversion of Jews. The group has published
proselytizing guides, including one in 1999 targeting Jews on their High
Holy Days.
"We call on the current leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention to
publicly reject Rev. Vines' remarks about Islam."
Hello, have a nice day!!