Last Updated:Friday - 09/24/2010

WCR Letters to the Editor

Responses from a different perspective

Articles in the April 9 WCR touching on Islamic-Christian relations deserve a response.

Peter Kreeft's generally astute comments hit a definite low in suggesting Christianity's supposed affinity with Islam, superficial features found in both, such as missionary endeavour, notwithstanding ("Islam-Christianity: Bond with God differs"). This affront to the well-established fact of Christianity's Jewish foundation plays into the hands of the Jihadist menace stalking the world.

The myth of a Christian debt to Islam facilitates Islamic pressures on Christians to adopt a posture of subjugation reflecting the chauvinistic demands of shari'a law which places debilitating restrictions on non-Muslims. Historically, these pressures have facilitated extinction of Jewish and Christian communities.

In enabling Islam's historic drive to subsume its dhimmi ("protected") communities into itself, Islamicization of Christianity will produce its destruction.

Moreover, in distancing the Church from Judaism and the state of Israel, it undermines the one liberal democracy in the Middle East and the region's only safe haven for Christians.

Also, the sentiment expressed on the recent election in Quebec suggesting a "backlash" against multiculturalism ("Fear of the unknown taints Que. election"), though well meaning, provides cover for growing extremism in Canada's Islamic community.

The alleged terrorist threat against Parliament, the campaign to introduce shari'a law into Ontario's family courts, and a death threat against the pro-assimilation Muslim Canadian Congress are worrying signs that we should reconsider the openness of our multicultural and immigration policies.

Canada should continue to welcome immigrants, but events here and throughout the world demonstrate a need to guard against those, whether immigrants or settled minority groups, who would undermine or destroy freedom. Public safety demands the suppression of such designs.

This is not "fear." It is the responsible and appropriate rule of law that one would expect of a democratic society.

Thomas Elchuk
Edmonton

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