Can Religious Leaders Redeem the Future of the World?

[Twisted_Logic]

Can Religious Leaders Redeem the Future of the World? by Mohammad Gill

With the terrible weaponry of the modern world; with Muslims and Christians intertwined everywhere as never before, no side can unilaterally win a conflict between more than half of the world’s inhabitants. Thus our common future is at stake. The very survival of the world itself is perhaps at stake.(http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,3309 ... 02,00.html)
-- Open letter to Pope Benedict XVI and other Christian leaders by 138 prominent Muslim scholars)


One hundred thirty eight (138) prominent Muslim scholars of the world have written an open letter (A Common Word between Us and You) to Pope Benedict XVI calling for religious harmony between Christians and the Muslims to protect the world from self-inflicted annihilation. The letter was also addressed to other Christian leaders, e.g., the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, among others. This should be a welcome initiative coming from the Muslim world. A helpful response from the Pope and other Christian leaders should include positive steps calling for the abolition of the world-wide propaganda of hatred against the Muslims launched in the name of terrorism.

At this particular juncture of time, means of seeking and developing lasting and durable peace between the Christian and Muslim communities, which comprise almost half of the world population, is viscerally important. The Muslim countries are threatened by the arsenals of the nuclear and conventional weapons which the Christian world has and threatens to use them against the Muslim countries which do not fall in line with the imperialist objectives of the western world. The Muslim countries (with the exception of Pakistan) do not have such weapons and some of them are constantly struggling to manufacture them so as to obviate the implacable threat from the west. If the spread of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction is to be stopped, the west should be willing to reduce the number of such weapons in their arsenals and desist from manufacturing the new ones. Otherwise, its harangues for a nuclear-free world will merely be hollow claims or at worst irrational threats. The world peace can not be secured by threats and wanton use of force. The stalemate in Iraq is a living proof of the futility of the policy of using force to secure peace (domination).

Religious hatred was the cause of extensive bloodshed in the past in the form of the crusades. We should not continue pursuing the path of religious hatred because the wars inspired by such hatred will now have global consequences. Instead of confronting the Muslim countries such as Iran, for instance, fearing its future dominance in the Middle East, it should be worthwhile to seek peace through peaceful means. The west should be willing to talk and negotiate even with its enemies rather than trying to impose its will unilaterally on them. If Iran becomes a nuclear power, for the sake of argument, it can not become a formidable threat to the west. Iran knows and so do the western nuclear powers that it would be blown out of existence before it had any chance of launching a nuclear strike on any of them. Its nuclear weapons may provide a sense of minimal deterrence and a kind of false security and nothing more than that. In an open warfare, it wouldn’t have any chance of any kind whatsoever excepting self-ruination.

In view of this situation, it is worthwhile not to overplay the nuclear card against the Muslim countries. Instead, peace should be sought between the two (Christian and The Muslim) worlds through meaningful talks and negotiations.

Even though the U.S. is the only superpower in the world, the world politics is quite complex and the U.S. can not afford to alienate the whole world. It should not try to impose its will on others by virtue of its unexcelled military prowess. “Live and let live” is much truer today than it ever was. The U.S. policy in Iraq and its threatening posture to Iran and other countries is not good for the world peace. Its aggression in Iran will turn not only the Muslim countries but many other non-Muslim countries, big and small, against the U.S. And that is the last thing that the U.S. wants at this time. Such a situation will be terribly dangerous for the world peace. The U.S. can not afford such a hazardous step; the stakes are too high.

The initiative from the Muslim scholars should be considered by the Christian religious leaders with the same spirit in which it has been written. They should respond positively to the Muslims when they (Muslims) say “to Christians that we are not against them and Islam is not against them – so long as they do not wage war against Muslims on account of their religion, oppress them and drive them out of their homes.” Although the letter is addressed to the Pope and Christian leaders, its message should not be lost on the others, e.g., the Jews et al. Even if the Pope responds positively, it will not immediately stop the ongoing warfare, but it will be a first step in the right direction. Much more continuous work will need to be done by both communities to produce the desired results.

Use of force by the U.S. has not diminished terrorism; it has increased it several folds. Those who are planning other wars should seriously ponder what these wars would do to the stability and safety of the world. The world stability is already at the trap door; they shouldn’t push it any further and plunge the world into an irreversible and uncontrollable global disaster.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has positively responded to the message of the letter and said, “The call should now be taken up by Christians and Muslims at all levels and in all countries and I shall endeavor in this country and internationally, to do my part in working for the righteousness which this letter proclaims as our common goal.”

The religious leaders should work earnestly together to save the world instead of seeking sanctimonious victories in the name of religion. The clash of civilizations must stop before it gets out of hand.

[Shirib]

Imam Al-Mahdi, and Nabi Issa will lead the Ummah and bring us back. But the Dajjal will also come to lead the kuffar.

Until then everyone who tries will probably just get assasinated.