By Paul Majendie of the Washington Times
REUTERS NEWS AGENCY
November 14, 2006
LONDON -- Christian and Muslim Britons joined forces yesterday to tell city officials to stop taking the Christianity out of Christmas, warning them that this simply fuels a backlash against Muslims.
They attacked local authorities who used titles such as "Winterval" for their Christmas celebrations and avoided using Christian symbols in case they offended minority groups, especially Muslims and Hindus.
The question of how best to integrate Muslims into European society, which has Christian roots but is increasingly secular, has become a burning issue, with Britain playing its part in the debate after years of promoting multiculturalism.
The Christian Muslim Forum, set up by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the spiritual head of the Church of England, complained that taking the Christian message out of Christmas played into the hands of extreme nationalists who then accuse Muslims of undermining Britain's Christian culture.
"The desire to secularize religious festivals is in itself offensive to both our communities," said Ataullah Siddiqui, vice chairman of the forum.
Anglican Bishop of Bolton David Gillett said that when local authorities rename Christmas so as not to offend other religions, their stance "will tend to backfire badly on the Muslim community in particular."
"We are concerned that those approaches, which are based on anti-religious philosophies or a fear of religion, are causing alienation in a wide variety of communities and fanning the growth of extremism," said Bishop Gillett, the forum chairman.
This is definitely an effort in the right direction. God's speed.
Tags: Muslim, Islam, Christian, Christianity, London, England, Christian Muslim Forum, Bishop, Archbishop, Winterval, Christmas, Holiday
Powered by Qumana