Muslim call ban at Veterans Day concert defended by Michigan church
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. Leaders of a northern Michigan church are defending their decision to ban a Muslim call to worship that was part of the planned program for a Veterans Day concert by public high school and community college vocal groups.
The Rev. David Walls of Traverse City's First Congregational Church says leaders feared it might offend military personnel or their families to hear "a prayer in Arabic, addressed to Allah."
The ban led Northwestern Michigan College to withdraw sponsorship of the Nov. 11 performance, part of the church's annual Mel Larimer Concert Series.
Sixteen-year-old Alya Nadji is Muslim and a member of the Traverse City West High School Chorale. She tells the Traverse City Record-Eagle she ran from the room crying when she learned the call to prayer was being cut.
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In general, the United States of America does not condone the killings innocent people, i.e., children, young girls, women (Question...Why does the Taliban focus on killing the defenseless?) because they may not like the Christian God.
We do not have a state sanctioned religion. We do not force our religion on anyone else and to state such is simple ignorance or religious fanaticism.
In general, Americans do not condone the burning of buildings, terrorism or mass murder because we do not approve of another countries freedoms.
People can get to say anything they want...because myself and millions before me are willing to defend the freedoms that make this country great.
I'm sure the families of the people who were killed by the Catholic church in the inquisition or the crusades had wished the same thing on 'Christians'.
Of course, the Church is the best source to decide how educators teach .... seeing the Church's long expertise in deciding which drunken Jew's testimony was really written by powerful dead guy who loves man so much he frequently practiced genocide.
..the forefathers..some believed in diety and others believed in christian principles and this FACT is DOCUMENTED upon the forefathers writings as such.. if you don't KNOW this, then you don't. Do you OWN merit reseach to this KNOWN fact. And what is even more interesting is the fact the diety & christian forefathers CAME together for a COMMON cause and vision for this nation..
RESPONSE: And some of the founding fathers were atheists and agnostics.
I also find it intersting that we have a nation of religious freedoms and those can WORSHIP as they chose under the LAWS of freedom of protection to worship as they chose so..
RESPONSE: The First Amendment cuts both ways, though, protecting the right to worship but keeping religion out of government. As I read the article, this involved PUBLIC high school bands and COMMUNITY college choirs. So why was a religious leader banning anyone???
.. did american Christians attack any other religion outside of Islam before 9/11? .. ans since 9/11 we ot those have learned the quran sees anyone that's not a muslim believer to Islam as the enemy and must be destroyed/killed, not once do I READ in christian doctrine new testament scriptures written- non christian beleivers MUST be destroyed/ murdered as non believer written..
RESPONSE: Americans did not attack Islam after 9/11. It attacked the terrorists. And you are misreading the Qur'an, or should I say you are relying on what a few people have wrongfully told you about the Qur'an.
Every sect of religion in this nation is respected upon their holy days, month, hour or whatever in context, where in any other nation you DON'T have this freedom, and you're here bashing christians?
RESPONSE: You would be surprised how many nations in fact respect the practice of many religions in the country. The few that do not stand out and hog the view, unfortunately. As to present day America, it is a country of many religions. Don't call it a Christian country as that is an insult to Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, atheists, agnostics, and the followers of hundreds of other religions practiced here.
If you don't like this nation which in fact does embrace the judeo-christian principle .. if you have a problem with this- then LEAVE this nation ..and see if you can experience religious freedom ELSEWHERE outside the western free world..
RESPONSE: Which Judeo-Christian principle would that be? That it is ok to own slaves? That husbands and wives should be chaste and not sleep together? That polygamy is ok? That you should give up all your wealth to the poor and follow Jesus?
It's interesting how a book that condones slavery, then also makes anti-wealthy statements... and far more than just "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into heaven"...
My point/hypothesis/conjecture: One could theorize the Bible was written by wealthy people to keep everyone else in place, and laugh behind their backs over the fiction they deftly created.
The only problem with that is, apart from cool stuff like Ezekiel 23:20 and that's Old Testament, why Jesus would go around telling people to share food and things... indeed, Biblical passages like Gomorrah were parables to describe cities brought down by "God's wrath" because of excessive selfishness and hurting of their fellow cities' citizens...
Anyone asking for proof will find it much faster by using a search engine... they will find much more than what they're prepared to believe... there's a kodak moment waiting...
And "Judeo-Christian" is neither. When spinning two religions into one to market it to a populace willing to be spoonfed...
Thomas Jefferson
3rd U.S. President, Drafter and Signer of the Declaration of Independence
"I am a real Christian - that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ."
--The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, p. 385.
---------------------------------
You apparently missed the irony there. He would have been in full agreement with Gandhi who said "I like your Christ, it is your Christians that I do not care for." Jefferson produced his own "Bible" - a cut and paste collection of just the teachings of Jesus. Note that Jefferson never says that Jesus is divine. Nor does he call himself a disciple of Jesus.
Obama, atheists and Muslims need to stop trying to shove their beliefs or non-beliefs down our throats.
Maybe all our troops need to run crying from the room the next time one of Obama's edicts regarding Prayer and Christianity is handed down.
Where would Afghanistan be then.?
Care to answer that one, without making us laugh in hysterics that is...?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
George Washington
1st U.S. President
"While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian."
John Adams
2nd U.S. President and Signer of the Declaration of Independence.
"Now I will avow, that I then believe, and now believe, that those general Principles of Christianity, are as eternal and immutable, as the Existence and Attributes of God; and that those Principles of Liberty, are as unalterable as human Nature and our terrestrial, mundane System
Thomas Jefferson
3rd U.S. President, Drafter and Signer of the Declaration of Independence
"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever; That a revolution of the wheel of fortune, a change of situation, is among possible events; that it may become probable by Supernatural influence! The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in that event."
--Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVIII, p. 237.
"I am a real Christian - that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ."
--The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, p. 385.
John Hancock
1st Signer of the Declaration of Independence
"Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual. ... Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us."
--History of the United States of America, Vol. II, p. 229.
You're looking for a arugment about religion, I not going to give you one. period.
My faith belief is personal and I'm not ashamed either to let anyone know the abundant life my family and I live in pursuit as result..
..never ask a question without revealing who you are in that regard of the question asked..
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I'm not your jack..
I'm not got to arugue with you about what is documented as fact.. and here's WHY with a merit response.
..the forefathers..some believed in diety and others believed in christian principles and this FACT is DOCUMENTED upon the forefathers writings as such.. if you don't KNOW this, then you don't. Do you OWN merit reseach to this KNOWN fact. And what is even more interesting is the fact the diety & christian forefathers CAME together for a COMMON cause and vision for this nation..
I also find it intersting that we have a nation of religious freedoms and those can WORSHIP as they chose under the LAWS of freedom of protection to worship as they chose so..
.. did american Christians attack any other religion outside of Islam before 9/11? .. ans since 9/11 we ot those have learned the quran sees anyone that's not a muslim believer to Islam as the enemy and must be destroyed/killed, not once do I READ in christian doctrine new testament scriptures written- non christian beleivers MUST be destroyed/ murdered as non believer written..
Every sect of religion in this nation is respected upon their holy days, month, hour or whatever in context, where in any other nation you DON'T have this freedom, and you're here bashing christians?
If you don't like this nation which in fact does embrace the judeo-christian principle .. if you have a problem with this- then LEAVE this nation ..and see if you can experience religious freedom ELSEWHERE outside the western free world..
I'll tell you why you're here in AMERICA because of OUR freedoms and freedom of speech and the freedom to worship as you chose and as a muslim(not saying you're a muslim am I?) you don't have those freedoms..or freedom of speech or freedom to worship as you chose elsewhere outside of free nations-do you?..
Learn to respect this nation or LEAVE.
Wow, Christianity has fallen farther than even I thought it would. Congregationalists are reputed to be one of the most inclusive and welcoming branches of the Faith. If this article has been reported accurately and not taken out of a broader context, then the reputation of one of Christianity's most benign sects has been tarnished.
Reverend Walls, I don't know if you led the effort to ban the "Call for Prayer" or merely went along with it but, for the sake of your faith, I would suggest you seriously consider redacting the ban.