Blessed are the peacemakers...

After the furore caused by the recent comments by the Pope I have seen some challenging counter views put forward by Muslims about their faith which reveal a common heart searching for love and a desire for peace, for example:

Blessed are the peacemakers

The earth is the Lord's

And all that is within

Evolved in perfect symmetry

Bestowed on Adam's kin

Cut no living wood

Plant again what you have taken

Blessed are the peace makers

Blessed are the caretakers

The rest shall be forsaken

It would seem that this desire for peace and the fostering of respect is found in the teachings of Islam which in turn inspires the poetry of its followers,

for example see here  for the teachings here on the Islamic principles of peace.

I am so heartened to read in this conversation these thoughtful wise words:

"however, Muslims have been responsible for their own willingness to forget the basic tenets of their faith and for turning their backs on the humanistic traditions of Islam which gave rise to a flowering in the arts, architecture, literature, philosophy, and the sciences. Promoted pluralism, human rights, and the search for beauty and truth and placed primacy on the role of the intellect in interpreting the Book. The only way to combat this situation is education.

Lets not forget that the history of Christianity has been full of wars. At one time, Muslims were looking at the Christian world as uncivilised barbarians. Even though the teaching of Christ promoted peace and brotherhood. While we claim to love our prophets, we seldom understand or uphold their message.

The following is a passage of a posting I found on Powertochange.com in reponse to a question stating:
Q: What about all the wars that have been caused in the name of Christianity?
A: When responding to this question, we need to remember that we should not judge the teachings or the truth of a religion or philosophy by the conduct or behaviour of those who are not following those teachings.

This being the case, we need to be clear that many of the wars and other atrocities which have been committed in the name of Christ were carried out by people who either were not really Christians or who were genuine Christians but were not following the teachings of Jesus. Such conflicts were often motivated by political or economic concerns but were given religious overtones in order to convince the masses it was in their best eternal interest to get involved.

So rather than judging Christianity by the actions of these people, we should judge it by the teachings of its founder and leader, Jesus Christ. If you read through Jesus' teachings in the Bible, you will come across such sayings as "If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also" (Luke 6:29), "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44) and "Love your neighbour as yourself" (Matthew 19:19). Hardly the sayings of a war-mongering leader."

Subsitute Muslim for Christian or Islam for Christianity and you see what I am getting at. We are repeating history, and sadly, it will get much worse, people will die, and wars will be fought. Education is the only way. Most Muslims just want to survive, eat, raise their children, and improve their lot in life. They are overwhelmed with the changes taken place around them. Their cultures and beliefs are under threat, they face poverty, lack of jobs, lack of freedoms, and have felt humiliation for hundreds of years. This was a powderkeg waiting to be lit. "

I have reflected before how Christians are often guilty of comparing our best with others worst rather than best with best and worst with worst - it is a beautiful thing to see someone refuse to go down that route and compare the worst of Christian actions, for which I as a Christian can only apologise for, to the best of Islamic ones - it is a lesson I think we would be wise to learn.

I wonder what the world would be like if instead of the engine of war we decided to invest in education and poverty relief, if we long for the day when this ancient promise of scripture will come true and God:

" ...will judge between the nations
       and will settle disputes for many peoples.
       They will beat their swords into plowshares
       and their spears into pruning hooks.
       Nation will not take up sword against nation,
       nor will they train for war anymore. "

Finally, I am also grateful for having  it brought to my attention that the 'golden rule' of faith (which in a Christian context we would recognise as these words of Christ: "In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets) is shared by so many faiths. For more information/context this is an excellent site.

I have also found it fascinating to look at things from a Catholic perspective, who in their official church teachings write this about other faiths:

"The Church and non-Christians

839 "Those who have not yet received the Gospel are related to the People of God in various ways."³²⁵
The relationship of the Church with the Jewish People. When she delves into her own mystery, the Church, the People of God in the New Covenant, discovers her link with the Jewish People,³²⁶ "the first to hear the Word of God."³²⁷ The Jewish faith, unlike other non-Christian religions, is already a response to God's revelation in the Old Covenant. To the Jews "belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ",³²⁸ "for the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable."³²⁹

840 and when one considers the future, God's People of the Old Covenant and the new People of God tend towards similar goals: expectation of the coming (or the return) of the Messiah. But one awaits the return of the Messiah who died and rose from the dead and is recognized as Lord and Son of God; the other awaits the coming of a Messiah, whose features remain hidden till the end of time; and the latter waiting is accompanied by the drama of not knowing or of misunderstanding Christ Jesus.

841 The Church's relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."³³⁰

842 The Church's bond with non-Christian religions is in the first place the common origin and end of the human race:

All nations form but one community. This is so because all stem from the one stock which God created to people the entire earth, and also because all share a common destiny, namely God. His providence, evident goodness, and saving designs extend to all against the day when the elect are gathered together in the holy city. . .³³¹

843 The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as "a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life."³³²

844 In their religious behavior, however, men also display the limits and errors that disfigure the image of God in them..."

There is so much hope and inspiration and I am thankful for the peacemakes on all nations, faiths and point of the compases.  I am thankful for and humbled by the generousity of the posts from some of the Muslim authors above towards me as a Christian, especially given the track record of my faith at its worst and the hurt and pain it has caused.  Again I feel the challenge come back to me, not only to pray for peacemakers but also to be one, in all the ways I can through all the ways of Him who can...

Comments

[Wil Morat]

Excellent post- nice to see someone looking to unite rather than divide. Keep it up.