The BBC has an interview with Michael Nazir-Ali, Bishop of Rochester. Watch it via this report: Islam row bishop ‘has no regrets’
A leading Church of England bishop who is to resign after 15 years in the post said he has no regrets about controversial statements he has made.
The Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, said his decision to resign was a spiritual one.
The Church’s first non-white diocesan bishop is set to retire in September.
Last year, he received death threats after saying some areas of the UK had become no-go areas for non-Muslims because of Islamic extremism.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Mr [sic] Nazir-Ali said he had no regrets about anything he has said in the past.
The bishop, who turns 60 in August, said he still stood by his claims made earlier in his career that “extreme forces” presented a grave threat to Britain’s way of life and culture.
Dr Nazir-Ali said the reason he decided to resign was because of a message from God which said it was time to do “something else”…
The Lagos Guardian has an article by Peter Akinola, Primate of Nigeria. Read it at Another Wake Up Call To The People Of God.
THAT the Christian Church is today facing challenges on many fronts is an understatement. As the world is suffering a time of great economic distress, churches are dividing over the authority of the Bible and the place of the ancient creeds of the Christian Church. We are literally torn apart over issues pertaining to human sexuality, sin and salvation. And as we prepare to celebrate Easter, many among us are confused about the physical resurrection of Jesus the Christ from the grave, and some will hear Easter sermons which will tickle their ears with curious doctrines designed to gain favour in a post modern generation.
Added to these complications and challenges is the global growth and agenda of a resurgent Islam. No longer are the painful experiences of Christians who are suffering at the hands of Islam confined to Africa, Asia and the Middle East, they are increasing and alarmingly occurring in the West…
Looks like Akinola’s ghost writer has his feet back under the desk.
In general, I have little time for Western liberals who will pooh-pooh this message. It is not right to tar all people with the one brush, but it is equally wrong to refuse to acknowledge a threat under the guise of inclusion, equality, and opposition to religious bigotry. He has a point. But that point is severely weakened, to the point of being meaningless, by statements such as: “The Judeo-Christian heritage of most Western nations provides a proven and tested foundation for challenging the abuses of human rights, suffering and injustice.” Does he honestly not see the hypocrisy of he,… Read more »
He chose to speak the truth instead of hiding behind political correctness.
“many among us are confused about the physical resurrection of Jesus the Christ from the grave, and some will hear Easter sermons which will tickle their ears with curious doctrines designed to gain favour in a post modern generation.”
As opposed to sermons which DEMAND “Believe this resuscitation after 36+ hours of brain/heart death factually occurred, or get out”? (NB: Yours Truly is open to the notion that same DID factually occur)
Big Pete again, it seems to me, strains at gnats (of religious doubt) while swallowing camels (of Un-Christlike immorality, towards his LGBT brothers and sisters).
The key word is “extremism”. And it was an extremist (and reactionary) act that got Christ killed today, many years ago.
And extremism isn’t particular to one religion, it infects many.
I agree with Josh — Abp. Akinola points out that “many Christians have been killed” yet he completely ignores the fact that many Moslems have also died from this religious conflict. Calling for a united attack on Islam doesn’t seem to me to be the way to put out that fire, rather it throws gasoline upon it. His call for defense of human rights is hypocritical in the worst way.
“He chose to speak the truth instead of hiding behind political correctness.”
Josh, if you are still around, and not just a troll, would you care to address my previous point? I’ll make it easy: how can you give any credence to someone who cites JudeoChristian tradition as a basis for human rights when the same person uses that same JudeoChristian tradition to justify denying the human rights of some segments of the population?