Re Mr. Schlomka's comment on my comment on his comment
Reader comment on item: "Muslim Group Targets Jewish Holidays"
in response to reader comment: religious conversion

Submitted by Ted Hewlett (Canada), Jul 6, 2006 at 03:14

It is a matter of deep regret and shame to me that in the name of Christ Jews were slaughtered in the past. I say "shame" though it is no part of the Christian tradition in which I was brought up.

It is also a matter of regret to me, Mr. Schlomka, that you, whatever your reason,apparently have allowed bitterness to cloud your mind. In letting this happen you are rejecting and writing off some of the firmest friends Israel has. In doing so, unbelievably, you even compare Christians adversely to Muslims, some of whom are bent even now on spreading their religion by force. You also fail to allow that Nazi philosophy was anti-Christian as well as anti-Jewish. Nazi persecution was not Christian persecution, no matter how much those who called themselves Christians prior to the Nazis were to blame for anti-Semetism.

May I correct your statement that the missionary impulse is European and American. The founder of Christianity, who was Asian, said, "Go you into all the world and make disciples of all nations." Christians who seek to do this are merely carrying out his expressed wishes.

It disturbs me that no-one reading this website discussion has reacted with approval of one the most basic tenets of democratic philosophy: the right to try to peacefully persuade others, no matter what the matter of debate. (You have said, Mr. Schlomka, that it is illegal for anyone in Israel to try to convert someone else. If this is true, it would mean that any Christian living in Israel would be forbidden to speak on behalf of his faith to any Jewish friend: surely a drastic limitation on free speech.)

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