Bounty of $60M for the most wanted infidel

If Islam is a Religion of Peace, why is there a bounty of $60M on the head of a Coptic priest who explains the plight of minority Christians in Egypt which was one of the early centres of Christianity prior to her conquest by Muslims?

The proportion of Copts living in Egypt is roughly the same as the proportion of Muslims in France but there the similarity ends. Muslims in France have freedom of worship. In Egypt churches are destroyed, Christians killed for being Christians and their daughters converted to Islam by forced marriage with Muslims. Read about The Plight Of Egypt’s Coptic Christians here.

Egypt is far from unique. "Events in Iraq form part of a broader pattern of increasing persecution of Christians and other religious minorities. In many countries, including Syria, Iran, Nigeria, Mali, CAR, Sudan, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Indonesia, Kenya, Somalia and Afghanistan, well-armed Islamist extremists are not only persecuting Christians severely, but are also violating the rights of all who do not share their restrictive dogma." The facts here.

Today's 1.5 billion Muslims make up 22% of the world's population. But their birth rates dwarf the birth rates of Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, and all other believers. Muslims will exceed 50% of the world's population by the end of this century. Details here.

From the New York Times: 'After Week of Terror, French Muslims Ask: What Now?'
Reprisals against innocent Muslims are to be deplored but so is dissimulation and prevarication. Whether attacks are termed euphemistically as Islamist, Islamism or plain Islamic, the root is the same and the problem is the same. Jihad, armed or cultural, has to be addressed honestly and openly without hiding behind claims that aspects of the Muslim faith are too sacred to be held up to scrutiny by non-believers.

In 2011 the motion "Islam is a religion of peace" was debated on US television. A vote taken before the debate showed: For 41%, Against 25%, Undecided 34%. In another vote after the debate in which both sides were allowed free expression the vote was For 36%, Against 55%, Undecided 9%.

Opponents of free expression should be aware that on current trends, by the year 2050 Britain will be a majority Muslim nation leaving our descendants to suffer the persecution of minorities currently endured in Middle Eastern countries unless there is a change in attitudes.

But for now the civilised world is united with France in shock and sorrow at the events in Paris. 'Je Suis Charlie' must be a watershed moment ending denial.

Pour la France et le Peuple de France.

Vive la République!

Tragedy

Spare a thought for the Wales rugby team and their passionate 3million compatriots out of the 53million people who together make up our nation of 'England and Wales'. In the semi-final of the World Cup they went down fighting, 8 - 9 to France after playing three quarters of the game with only 14 men following the sending off of their young captain Sam Warburton. Already recognised as a role model he was controversially shown the red-card after an alleged illegal tackle. England's failed bid for glory was to have been redeemed by the boys in red but despite playing their hearts out in today's game they lost their place in the final after a hasty decision by the referee.

The conduct of the young Welsh team won them many admirers and with expectations running so high that many English commentators had started saying "We are all Welsh now." How sad, then, when technology has been introduced to ensure a better sense of fair play the Referee didn't bother to use it. If he had, he would have avoided ruining the game for millions of people around the world. From my perspective Warburton's forward momentum was such that he was unable to do other than release the player after the tackle to avoid falling on top of him resulting in a far greater impact. I am sure there will be many replays over the weekend so we shall see. After that, if Australia beat New Zealand in the other semi-final, the battle for third place will be something to look forward to.

There have been many genuine tragedies in Wales from long term unemployment to the appalling losses suffered in the Aberfan disaster and the more recent loss of life in the Gleision Colliery disaster. Of course this latest disaster is nothing like on the same scale but what a shame that it was an avoidable tragedy that blighted the game when spirits in England and Wales so badly need a lift.

"Art is a doorway to God"

On Monday, back from Madrid where His Holiness celebrated World Youth Day surrounded by a multitude of young people, Pope Benedict XVI told a meeting of his former students in Castel Gandolfo that "Cradle Catholics have not done enough to show people that God exists and can bring true fulfilment to everyone". He added, "It also is up to Christians to make God known to the world and older generations may not have done their best."


Graphic explanations can be viewed here giving reasons for the decline of the Irish Catholic Church and here where in France, secularism has added to the church's problems. The decline of the Church of England is shown graphically here. Today, individualism as opposed to collective responsibility has resulted in anarchy. In the secular world Michael Gove has outlined his vision of what needs to be done in an attempt to deal with the problem. But what of religion? In a recent article in the Mail Online, A N Wilson wrote of the Legacy of a society that believes in nothing. Schools have played a significant part in the decline of Christianity and this must be redressed. Regard for self over others has resulted in no benefit to society, quite the contrary.


In an age where authority clearly means nothing to many young people, the old authoritarianism of the church must appear anachronistic but viewed, not just from a religious standpoint, the Ten Commandments provided the basis of an ordered life in this country and beyond. How one sees God may vary and this may be part of the problem. If God is love, the religious authoritarianism which told people what to believe or fear the consequences may have convinced the ignorant but does not wash with Christians today.


The answer of the Church of England, and of the Church in Wales, is to abandon mysticism and depart from the tradition of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church to define themselves as politically correct social workers in vestments. However, they continue the Anglican tradition expressed in music and in art. Enter many Anglican churches today, including Westminster Abbey, and you will find icons on the walls. Although used by many as religious pictures rather than Holy Icons to be venerated as doors to heaven, nevertheless they represent an important link with Orthodox Christianity. Links which must be strengthened if Christianity in this country is to avoid the descent into secularism witnessed in France.

For his part Pope Benedict has explained how to find God in art. “Art is like an open doorway to the infinite, toward a beauty and truth that go beyond everyday reality”, he said. Raphael's The Disputation over the Blessed Sacrament (The Triumph of Religion) is an excellent example of this. The beauty of the Earth surrounds us and as Christians we should unite to spread that message if we are to avoid subjugation. What binds us is far greater than anything that divides us. For some Anglicans in the Church of England, and perhaps in Wales, the Ordinariate is an answer to Christ's prayer for unity. If we can achieve it in the West, unity with the Orthodox church may follow.Then older generations really will have done their best to 'make God known to the world'.

Why, what evil has she done?

She wore pants under her Islamic dress!

Punishment, 50 lashes or two years in prison. The authorities in Sudan have apologised, not for the punishment but the manner in which it was carried out. If this woman were a dog or other unfortunate animal there would be widespread protests - but hear the silence!

Could it happen here? The French are generally regarded as less tolerant than the British but in Paris a blind eye has already been turned to streets closed-off for prayers. Dhim-wits say that Islam excesses couldn't take place here. They already have. Sharia law is being used in Islamic areas in Great Britain now. Who knows how the 'guilty' are punished. In Sudan only the manner in which the punishment was carried out was thought wrong. God help anyone punished in private. Sharia law must not be above British justice.