Iran presents: Holocaust cartoon contest
More from the psychos running Iran.
Iran's most popular daily newspaper, Hamshahri, is set to initiate a Holocaust cartoon contest in what it says is a response to cartoons disparaging Islam's prophet Muhammad published in a Danish newspaper.
"This will be an international cartoon competition on the topic of the Holocaust," said Farid Mortazawi, the paper's graphic editor.
The editor added the newspaper intends to fight back by claiming the publication of Holocaust cartoons is done in the name of freedom of expression.
"Western newspapers published these caricatures, which constitute desecration, under the pretense of freedom of expression," he said. "Let's see if they mean what they say once we publish Holocaust caricatures."
Meanwhile, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a leading Muslim Brotherhood cleric, has condemned the harsh reactions to the cartoons among Muslim
communities around the world.
Speaking on al-Jazeera's Sharia program, Qaradawi said: "The acts of destruction carried out by a minority of people in capitals around the world are unacceptable as a response to what European newspaper published. We never called on people to burn cars. We call on you to show the fury in an intelligent way as to avoid unthinkable damage."
"We condemn those who are attacking us when we do not attack them. We are bound by the laws of Allah and to his instructions," said Qaradawi, who has a major influence on the Arab Muslim community and on Muslim communities in the West
Qaradawi attacks freedom of speech
Responding to a question about churches damaged in Beirut by rioting masses, Qaradawi said: "This is unacceptable. We have seen Muslim imams preventing people from doing this, but it seems there are those who will exploit the rage of the people to pour fuel on the fire."
Qaradawi has called for "sanctions on countries that published the cartoons in their newspapers. We demand an international law forbidding religions from being humiliated, and we held a rally as a response to these injuries. These are the ways to respond."
Qaradawi also condemned freedom of speech, saying: "No one has this freedom. When you drive in a car, you can't swerve right and left because there are other people on the road with you. You must drive according to traffic laws."
Meanwhile, 400 Iranian protesters threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at the Danish Embassy in Teheran. Earlier, the Austrian Embassy in the Iranian capital was attacked.
posted by Steve | 2/07/2006 01:16:00 PM
14 Comments:
Many things in the bible can be interpreted in different ways. For example, if one were to read the story of Jesus feeding the masses with loaves and fishes, could one quite possibly make the connection that Jesus was the best caterer who ever lived? Further, when he turned water into wine, that also was a wondrous feat. How many bartenders do you know today who can turn water into wine? Jesus was absolutely the best bartender and caterer the world has ever known. Is that a fact? Maybe? Another ill of modern society is substance abuse. Some could interpret from the bible, even in biblical days, there were issues regarding substance abuse. We all remember the apostle who said he saw someone walking on water. In today's society, you would accuse him of being on drugs.
Also, my 13 year old son while trying to convince me to allow him to get a tattoo and toungue piercing attempted to use the argument that he is only trying to make a statement. My son realized that we are church going people as well. His argument was that Jesus also was trying to make a statement. My son said that Jesus loved the world so much that he had himself nailed to a cross. What bigger statement can their be than this? I had no choice but to allow my son to get his tattoo and piercings.
Yes, these assumptions are absurd, but are they not just as foolish as other interpretations we hear from some religious leaders in today's modern society.
It amazes me how many leaders in the body of Christ still try and make freinds with Islam.
If I see one more Pastor sitting down with Islamic leaders calling Islam a religion of peace, I am going to burst.
#1. Islam is a false religion.
#2 Islam searves a false prophet/messiah
#3 The anti-christ will be called a peace maker and will be a false christ also, that many will be decieved by.
The spirit of anti-christ is all over this situation. From christian leaders calling a false religion that serves a form of the anti-christ, a peaceful religion.To the violent fervor that is expressed toward anyone to dare speak against Islam.
Down to the way Islamic extremist like to behead their enemies.
I can't understand why so many in the christian leadership buddy up to Islam.
They sit down at a discussion table with them and make niceties.
Can you imagine Elijah sitting down with the prophets of Baal and making nice with them?
Can you imagine him saying.."oh israel, it is okay that you serve Baal, BAAL IS A GOOD AND PEACEFUL RELIGION. The followers of Baal are good people, full of love."
Or Jesus saying.."I am A way, but if you want to serve another (false) messiah, it is okay. Mohamed can get you to heaven just as good as I"
No, I think it is time for many to choose just as Elijah told the people to choose.
But, like with so many other things, we sometimes have to learn by our mistakes.
I have faith that christian leaders all across the world will begin to stand up and walk away from the table with those who searve the spirit of anti-christ.
Backslider,
Thank you for commenting on my blog.
I guess I'm being a bit slow this morning and not understanding what your comment has to do with the article. You may have to expound on that a bit.
You say that someone reading the Bible could “make the connection that Jesus was the best caterer who ever lived? Further, when he turned water into wine, that also was a wondrous feat. How many bartenders do you know today who can turn water into wine? Jesus was absolutely the best bartender and caterer the world has ever known.”
You also said, “We all remember the apostle who said he saw someone walking on water. In today's society, you would accuse him of being on drugs.”
Once again, I have to refer to what is called “Biblical Truth” and a thing called “context”.
Was Jesus trying to be a caterer or bar tender? No, he was not. Here are the accounts, in context, for your perusal:
Mark 6:30-44 (New International Version)
The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."
But he answered, "You give them something to eat."
They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages[a]! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?"
"How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see."
When they found out, they said, "Five—and two fish."
Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.
John 2:1-11 (New International Version)
On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."
"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."
His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."
They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."
This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
When Jesus fed the five thousand, He is showing us that we can trust in the Lord for all of our needs to be more than met. If we trust in Him and listen to Him, all of out needs will be taken care of to the fullest.
Turning the water into wine was Jesus’ first miracle and showed His Glory and Power from God.
Anyone who gets “Jesus was a caterer and bartender” out of these messages of Hope and Glory to God, has not only missed the boat, they have missed the whole ocean!!
Again, if I’ve missed your point, I do apologize. Please feel free to help me understand it better if that is the case. Thanks again for posting your comment. God Bless!!
Anonymous,
Thank you for the comments. I greatly appreciate them.
I have to agree with you 100% about islam not being a religion of peace. I also find it amazing just how ignorant the rank and file muslim, primarily overseas, is about facts. They typically know only what they hear in mosque. I’m not using the term “ignorant” here as an insult to the people, but mean that they are not encouraged to look for information from outside of their sphere of influence, which for many is limited to mosque.
As an example, in the post, Iran is going to run holocaust cartoons. Who are holocaust cartoons about? The Jews and Israel. Who published the mohammed cartoons? It was the Danes, followed by several other European nations, not Israel. Yet, Iran is going to do a holocaust cartoon contest. Ignorant.
Also in Iran, as the mob threw firebombs at the Danish embassy in Tehran, they chanted “Death to America”. A fellow blogger made the point that “they didn’t even know who they were supposed to be jihading that day”. Again, ignorance.
The blogshere has been trying for some time to counteract the lies spread by the main stream media concerning the true nature of islam.
Islam never has been and never will be a religion of peace. Our frustration at the media and government overlooking this fact has gotten so bad that we coin sarcastic phrases for referring to them as the RoP (religion of peace), the RoT (the religion of tolerance) and not sarcastically as the RoD (the religion of death).
I am actually relieved to see islam acting the way they are about these cartoons. It may finally wake the world up to the true nature of islam, which is to threaten, kill and destroy anyone who does not do what they want. To them we are all infidels, worthy only of forced conversion to islam or death.
I to am disappointed when our church leaders sit down and “break bread” with them while threatening to cut off Israel, God’s chosen people. It makes no sense to me.
God Bless!!
Thank you Jesus for giving me the info about the loaves and fishes. I was mainly just trying to compare what someone who doesn't know the bible could say compared to someone that does.
It doesn't have anything to do about the Moslum but it looked like a nice place to make a comment.
Anyways, I'm a christian but just sometimes I get frustrated by all the different interpretations that some preachers give. Sure, Jesus wasn't trying to be a bartender, but what about if a preacher says he is. How do i know that you are the right preacher. Maybe the preacher who said he was a caterer is right.
It's all so confusing sometimes.
Oh, and since it's about the Moslum I thought I add my two pennies.
Don't some christians blow up abortion clinics I read. Now they aren't very nice christians are they? But, then again, not all christians blow up abortion clinic, but just like not all muslim are terrorist. Some Muslim just are Muslim.
Not supporting them but just trying to get you to look at people for people.
Remember, Jesus hung out with prostitutes and the worst of the worst. So, maybe we should be nice to them.
Oh, also, finally, (sorry it's so much) have you ever thought how much Jesus resembles the typical Black American today. (I'm African American by the way).
1. Jesus lived at home til he was 30 and was unemmployed.
2. He called everyone Brother.
3. He was hassled by the local authorities
4. He hung out with prostititues (see above)
Now, I'm sort of being toungue in cheek here, but as you can see, some could make a correlation, and that's why I am confused.
The question is: Who's interpretation of the bible should I believe:
Yours, my preacher, Jerry Falwell, Billly Graham, etc... If they all saying some different...
Waiting for you answer my brother.
Backslider,
Thanks for the additional comments.
I sure do understand what you’re saying about what to believe about God and the Bible. I’m not a preacher or a Biblical scholar. I’m just a guy like everyone else. But I do spend time in God’s Word, the Bible, studying it. I always pray that He will show me exactly what He wants me to know. I listen to God more than I listen to people.
As I studied the Bible, I became more aware of what people were saying about it. Many times I would shake my head and say to myself, “That’s not what I read in that passage”. Bible knowledge provides you the tools you need in order to say “wait a minute, that’s not what that passage means at all”.
One of the most grievous errors made by people is taking things out of context, or “twisting” a passage to fit what you want it to mean.
As an example, I know that if any preacher you heard said “Jesus was an aspiring caterer”, you would already know that the passages dealing with Him feeding the five thousand was not a job application for catering work, but instead, our Lord and Savior concerned about the people who had traveled so far and stayed so long to hear Him speak. He also knew that in order to help people believe the fact that He was sent from God, He had to show them God’s power and glory through His miracles. But as for being a caterer, that would be pretty easy to refute.
You said that a person reading the Bible for the first time might think that. Well, maybe, but if they have taken it in context, they know that the Book is telling them up to this point that there is something really special about this man.
I believe in Biblical Truth. That means that everything in the Bible is true. Do I understand the mechanics of how it all happened? No. Do I believe that God did all those things? Yes. Does it bother me that I don’t understand how He did it? Nope. I have faith. Someday, it it’s really important for me to know He will show me how He did these things.
One thing that will help you is to spend time in His Word. I happen to use both the New International Version and the New American Standard Version. The NIV is written in Modern English and is easy to read. It has some variations from the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts, but nothing that will cause the overall message to be corrupted. Biblical scholars notice it, but the average person typically doesn’t. My NIV is the study version, which has study notes on each page about the passages above. The NAS is an exact word for word translation of the original manuscripts. It is a little more difficult to understand since the words in the sentences are not always arranged in the way we are accustomed. Also, some words are not ones we would use in everyday sentences, so a trip to the dictionary might be necessary from time to time.
I also like the King James Version, but it is the most difficult to understand because the English used to write it is quite old and therefore not typical of what we use today.
When I still cannot figure out what a passage means, after reading all of my resources, I typically will turn to commentaries on the Internet and get a cross section of opinions on what the passage means. With all this information in hand, I pray to the Lord to show me what He wants me to see in His Word, and this usually does the trick. To answer your question of who to believe? Believe the what is in the Bible. Believe what God tells you to through His Word.
In regards to the muslim violence I posted about, you mention “Christians” who do bad things like blow up abortion clinics. I agree that the average, rank and file muslim, is just trying to make a living on this earth like the rest of us. But let me point out some very definite differences between Christian theology and muslim theology.
Any “Christian” who blows up an abortion clinic, is NOT following God’s Word. In Matthew 5:43-45 (New International Version), Jesus says “You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Even in the Old Testament, the Israelites were not allowed to go to war without God’s express permission. The death sentences that show up throughout God’s law to the Israelites were based on people being found guilty of violating God’s laws by God’s appointed judges. Nowhere does the Bible give an individual the right to be Judge, witnesses and executioner all wrapped up in one. Remember that this is Old Testament belief. The New Testament commands us to be even more forgiving and leave the punishment for God to take care of.
Now let’s take a look at the muslim faith.
In Sura 5:51 it says, “O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: they are but friends and protectors to each other. And he among you that turns to them for friendship is of them.” This freindship makes any Muslim a enemy of their own and deserving of the same fate as the unbeliever. This is because God does not guide an unjust people.”
Of the Unbelievers it goes on to say in Sura 4:89 “seize them and slay them wherever you find them: and in any case take no friends or helpers from their ranks.”
Sura 9:5 says “Slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush.”
In Sura 9.123, “O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you.”
And in Hadith Al Buhkari vol. 9:57 it says “Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill him.”
Who are the Jews, Christians, idol worshippers and unbelievers? Everyone in the world who is not a muslim.
Now muslims will tell us that since what we have here is not in Arabic, we cannot understand it’s true meaning. There are many people in the world that can understand Arabic and English very well. How can the muslims justify having the meaning of the passage mean one thing one day and be different the next? Either it means it or it doesn’t. Which is it?
One more passage to look at. Koran 47:34 says “Therefore do not falter or sue for peace when you have gained the upper hand.” This means that as long as a truce is good for the muslim, it is OK to have, but once they have the “upper hand”, they can break the truce and go to war. In other words, betray and “stab in the back”, the other party.
Many muslims, especially those overseas, do not know any other ideas and are “encouraged” not to look at other text, or garner other ideas than those espoused in mosque. They are “afraid” to question what the religious leaders are telling them because it might result in their deaths.
Meanwhile, the religious leaders want it both ways. They spout hate, death, violence, anti-Israel, anti-American, and anti-Western themes during prayers at mosque, but when the rank and file muslim rises up and follows through with these ideas, as they are doing now concerning the mohammed cartoons, the leadership has to publicly denounce the violence although they are actually the root cause.
I’m glad to hear you say that Jesus is close to the black community. Remember the Bible says in Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That’s you, me and everyone else in the world. But in Romans 6:23, the Bible says “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” In John 12:47, Jesus says “f anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.” And last in John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Thank you for calling me “brother”, because we are brothers in Christ. I’m proud to have a brother like yourself who is actively seeking the will of the Father.
God Bless!!
Jesus,
You truly are a decent person. You spent so much time answering each of my questions one by one, and with a measure of patience since my previous comments were a bit scattered.
But, I am going to start going back to church soon. I'm a baptist, and I live in the country of Greece (An American in Greece) and I have a few Baptist friends here. But, my faith will go on....
Also, one point that you may find interesting is that when I tell Greek people about the bible, even the King JAmes version, they say it's not accurate and you should only use their Greek Bible, since the King James was translated from that. Wow! Now how do you answer that...
Anyways I'll check back from time to time and post my most difficult questions for you to ponder and maybe it will make it easier for me as foreigner in a foreign land.
I'll just start calling myself Backslider but eventually I will give myself a new name once I feel confident enough to do so.
God Bless America...
Backslider,
Thank you for the kind words. I am only what God has made of me. I only hope He will choose to use me to spread His Good News of Great Joy, the Joy of Salvation, purchased with the precious blood of my Redeemer, Jesus Christ! May all praise and glory be on Him.
I will pray for you often. I will pray that the Lord shows you what His will is for you and that He will strengthen your Heart and Soul. I will pray that when people see you, they will see Him in you. I will pray for you to receive Grace and to totally feel the Loving arms of Jesus around you all the time.
Amen!!
Hummm...interesting comment concerning the Greek Bible. I will have to offer up the same argument that I did about the Koran. Just because it has been translated from the original language does not make it any less authoritative. That is, as long as it was done correctly. There are a lot of people who have studied “Biblical” Greek (which I am told is very different from the Greek, which is written and spoken today). I feel that these people can accurately translate the Bible. Again, I hold up to the New American Standard Bible. The team of translators who worked on it, read like a “who’s who” of Ancient language experts.
But be sure to tell your Greek “Bible Experts” that you appreciate their point of view. :-)
Thanks again for your comments and I look forward to meeting up with my brother in Christ again soon, hopefully very often.
Maybe a better user name for you would be “TruthSeeker”. Just a thought.
God Bless You!!
Ok, I'll call myself TruthSeeker after your suggestion.
Now, here's a question for you as I get ready for sleep time here in Greece.
If Jesus was a Jew, why does he have a Mexican name? I know many people named Jesus in the States who come from Mexico but never met another person from another country named Jesus. Odd, huh...?
Truthseeker,
Good deal on the name change. I like it!!
Now on to your question:
The “Got Questions” website has this to offer:
Question: "If His name was Yeshua, why do we call Him Jesus?"
Answer: “Yeshua is the Hebrew name, and its English spelling is “Joshua.” Iesous is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name, and its English spelling is “Jesus.” Thus, the names Joshua and Jesus are essentially the same; both are English pronunciations of the Hebrew and Greek names for the Lord. (For examples of how the two names are interchangeable, see Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8 in the KJV. In both cases, the word Jesus refers to the Old Testament character Joshua.)
I have a book on my desk. In German, I would refer to it as a Buch. In Spanish, it becomes a libro; in French, a livre. The language changes, but the object itself does not. In the same way, we can refer to Jesus as “Jesus,” “Yeshua,” or “YehSou” (Cantonese), without changing Him. In any language, His name means “the Lord Is Salvation.”
We refer to Him as “Jesus” because, as English-speaking people, we know of Him through English translations of the Greek New Testament. Scripture does not value one language over another, and it gives no indication that we must resort to Hebrew when addressing the Lord.
The command is to “call on the name of the Lord,” with the promise that we “shall be saved” (Acts 2:21; Joel 2:32). Whether we call on Him in English, Korean, Hindi, or Hebrew, the result is the same: the Lord is salvation.”
And according to the “Thinkbabynames” website:
“Origin and Meaning of the Name Jesus
The boy's name Jesus is pronounced JEE-zus. It is of Hebrew origin, and its meaning is "the Lord is salvation." Short form of Joshua, from the Hebrew name Jehoshua. The name of the biblical Christ is very frequently used as a given name in Hispanic cultures. Spanish pronunciation is hay-SOOS.
There is a variant form for Jesus: Jesous.
For more information, see also the related name Emmanuel. Search for names similar to Jesus starting with Je-, Jes- or ending with -us, -sus.
Jesus is a very popular male first name, ranking 129 out of 1219 for males of all ages in the 1990 U.S. Census. Jesus is a very popular surname, ranking 11359 out of 88799 for people of all ages in the 1990 U.S. Census.”
OK, that sounds interesting. And here's one I know since I live in Greece.
ΙΧΘΥΣ (prounced Ik-Thees) in Greek means Fish....
So, when you see a car in the states that has a sticker that has IXOYE it's really Greek for IK-THEES (Fish) and maybe like Jesus must have something to do with Fish.....
Ok, off to go jogging now and then school. I go to college here. I go to a Greek college (in Greek) and got a scholarship from a Greek group in the states that sponsor poor family in the states.
Boy, they sure don't like President Bush over here. They say he starts war and how come if we are christian country why we don't turn the other cheek like Jesus did. Anyways too much for one note...
Good Morning T.S.
It says in Matthew 4:18-20:
"Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Immediately they left their nets and followed Him."
That is why some people (myself included) use the fish symbol to represent Christianity.
I know the rest of the world doesn't agree with what we did in Iraq, but very few of them can deny that a people who have never known freedom are now free to live or fail on their own devices. When we complete the pullout, we will see if islam can tolerate a democracy.
Hi JIL...
I'm going to tell my Greek friends what you said about the living free thing. Then when they answer me I'll let you know. It's cool to have someone with your knowledge of politic and religion but hey I'm learning here. I even speak Greek pretty good now.
Hey T.S.
One more thought about the Greeks who say the Greek Bible is the only acurate one...
Do they read the Old Testament in the Hewbrew it was originally written in, or was it translated to Greek first?
Q.E.D.
God Bless!!
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