Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Proof that the Dutch are NUTZ

Bishop urges Christians to call God 'Allah'
Catholic leader believes it would help ease tensions between religions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: August 15, 2007
3:28 p.m. Eastern

Bishop Tiny Muskens (Courtesy Radio Netherlands Worldwide)
Catholic churches in the Netherlands should use the name Allah for God to ease tensions between Muslims and Christians, says a Dutch bishop.

Tiny Muskens, the bishop of Breda, told the Dutch TV program "Network" Monday night he believes God doesn't mind what he is called, Radio Netherlands Worldwide reported.

The Almighty is above such "discussion and bickering," he insisted.

Muskens points to Indonesia, where he served 30 years ago, as an example for Dutch churches. Christians in the Middle East also use the term Allah for God.

"Someone like me has prayed to Allah yang maha kuasa (Almighty God) for eight years in Indonesia and other priests for 20 or 30 years," Muskens said. "In the heart of the Eucharist, God is called Allah over there, so why can't we start doing that together?"

Muskens thinks it could take another 100 years, but eventually the name Allah will be used by Dutch churches, promoting rapprochement between the two religions, he said, according to Radio Netherlands.

However, a survey published today in the Netherlands' largest newspaper, De Telegraaf, showed 92 percent of the more than 4,000 people polled oppose the bishop's view, the Associated Press reported.

Some letters to the paper were filled with ridicule for the bishop.

"Sure. Lets call God Allah. Lets then call a church a mosque and pray five times a day. Ramadan sounds like fun," wrote Welmoet Koppenhol.

The chairman of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, Gerrit de Fijter, told the Dutch paper he welcomed any attempt to "create more dialogue," according to the AP. But he said, "Calling God 'Allah' does no justice to Western identity. I see no benefit in it."

A Muslim spokesman, for Amsterdam's union of Moroccan mosques, said Muslims had not asked for such a gesture from Christians, the AP reported.

Tensions with the Netherlands' 1-million-strong Muslim community have been high since the 2004 murder of filmmaker Theo Van Gogh by a Muslim avenging a film critical of Islam.

Last week, politician Geert Wilders talked about banning the Quran, shortly after the head of a group of former Muslims, Ehsan Jami, compared Islam's prophet Muhammad with al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

Muskens made similar remarks several year ago about using the name of Allah, Radio Netherlands reported. He also suggested replacing the national Christian holiday Whit Monday � celebrated the day after Pentecost � with an Islamic religious day.

The bishop also has offended Muslims, saying in 2005 Islam was a religion without a future because it has too many violent aspects.

The idea really ain't bad.

The problem is it came as a result of terrorism and fear -- as opposed to ecumenical good will.

Caving in to those who threaten to eliminate your church and your country is unwise.

BMT

That fella must be a regular customer of the Amsterdam drug trade.

HBB

Looks like Bishop Tiny has a tiny brain. I suppose under his scenario the Pope should be called the Caliphate of Catholicism.

And to think there are idiots out there who might listen to Bishop Tiny Brain.

My old priest is, I know without a doubt, right now spinning in his grave like a top. He'd of had some fire or brimstone for them..... JMO, Dutch.

Agreeded +1000

Maybe he could suggest that Muslims use God or Yahweh instead of Allah. No, I guess that wouldn't work, since they'd probably, like, want to kill him for it or something. Damn fatwas.

As a Roman Catholic let me just state:

What an idiot!

rb

I think Steve No is a fairly bright guy Rick....grin

Not Bad? I'd hate to explain to God why I called him by Satan's name.

Dick

rb

Sure and change Christ to Mohamid then we can just all say we are good muslims.

This bishop needsa to go back to molesting alter boys

That is just plain stupid talk. I do beleive someone needs to find a new day job and give up the religion gig.

CK

Well he did say he was planning on retirement soon....

If they do, it's probably 'cause they don't wanna end up looking like a Pez dispenser.

Now that's an image.... I hadn't thought about a Pez dispenser in a long time....

they do that because the arabic word for God is Allah.

the dutch word is God
the french word is Dieu
the spanish word is Dios
the Persian word is Khoda
The Swedish word is Gud
the Russian word is Bog
and the Arabic word is Allah

it would be no more appropriate to use an arabic word in a dutch speech than to use the russian word while speaking japanese.

many moslims in the english speaking world correctly use the word "God" to refer to God in a standard (non-religious) english language conversation.

Poole

While I'm quite sure that the average Dutchman is upset over what Bellhop Tiny Muscles has said, I'm unconcerned.
I feel roughly the same about Arch Bellhop Pezman Pu Pu over in Africa.

Nuts or not, it certainly proves that the christian Church in the Netherlands is accepting its Dhimmi status without a fight.

What it proves is that the Christian church in the Netherlands is no longer Christian.

Dick