INTOLERANCE

From My Perspective - - -

The strict definition of intolerance is: “A refusal to allow to others the enjoyment of their opinions, chosen modes of worship, and the like; want of patience and forbearance; illiberality; bigotry; as, intolerance shown toward a religious sect…” This is a current issue that has been discussed and acted upon by the United Nations. The focus of this body is Religious Tolerance. The subtlety to this action is in the cleverness of the writing of the resolution.

In a review and editorial, Loren Green, Fox News Religion Contributor uses the headline, “Combating Religious Intolerance With A UN Resolution?” and notes: “It probably slipped most people’s notice. It wasn’t a big story. It was a little routine vote at the United Nations on a resolution called “Combating Defamation of Religion”. It passed — for the ninth year in a row. The resolution, on the surface, seems almost a no-brainer for the General Assembly. Of course, people should be respectful of other religions. But that’s not exactly what this resolution says. Many member nations, including the United States, as well as several non-profit groups like the Becket Fund and the Washington-based American Center for Law and Justice, see the resolution as the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing. The Combating Defamation of Religion resolution was introduced and promoted by the 57-member nations of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). The OIC has lobbied since 1999 for the plan. According to the American Center for Law and Justice, the resolution is based on the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights in Islam, which states that all rights are subject to Shariah law, and makes Shariah law the only source of reference for human rights. However the resolution was amended to appeal to a more diverse group. Drafts of the resolution in early October would have made it a criminal act and violation of international law to “defame another religion.” Although the drafts were amended to say all religions, only Islam is mentioned by name. And the U.S. lobbied specifically to remove any reference to it being a criminal act…”

One could ask: “Where is the danger, and what is the subtlety?” It’s interesting that secularists quickly noticed the implication if the Resolution passed in its original form. “One U.S. Ambassador commented a few weeks ago how divisive this issue is: The resolution could criminalize free speech, and that it’s a cover for criminalizing domestic free speech. The point is: if a resolution by the world body criminalizes speech even speech that defames and is in bad taste, then International Law could potentially brow beat and trample on the U.S. Constitution. That’s why the U.S. voted “no.” The resolution is non-binding. There’s no international body to enforce it. But it does set a tone of what is and is not acceptable. The U.S. official said, it would give countries the ability to pass anti-free speech laws if it criticizes a religion, it would make it difficult to proselytize or share your faith unless you practice a State approved faith, or could make you fear changing your religion.”

Consider these things with me - - Green continues: “…you say, “That can’t happen”, or “that would be ludicrous”. The fact is it’s already happening. Christians and other minority religions in predominantly Islamic areas or countries are being persecuted to barbaric levels. Reports from Nairobi, Kenya say that one aid worker was beheaded in September for converting from Islam to Christianity; the Iranian government has already passed a bill calling for execution on the basis of apostasy (anyone converting from Islam to another religion), and of course we’ve seen the violence that erupted over the Danish cartoon of the prophet Mohammed…” One problem is that there are so many “brands” of Christianity in circulation. The only Commission by Jesus Christ is succinct: “Go…Make Disciples of all nations…Baptize them in the name of the Triune God – Father, Son, Holy Spirit – and Teach Them to obey everything I have commanded…” The point should not be missed that The Church has fumbled the ball and Islam has retrieved it and is succeeding in the Going…Making Disciples…and…teaching them everything in the Koran. The bold step is to have the World’s Deliberative Assembly prohibit The Church and Christians the opportunity to recover the advantage in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth, and to silence that message and messengers of it.