Bridge of Reason

  “- People need an explanation of religion. I do not say that it's necessary to make all children pray. They will start praying when they realize religion. But they are obliged to know about religion - about Islam, about Christianity. If a person knows about religion, no matter whoever has approached him, it will not misdirect him.” So said the new Russian Patriarch head of the Coordinating Center of the Muslims of the North Caucasus Ismail Berdiyev speaking on the issue of interreligious dialogue in that area and the problem of what he calls “extremist literature”. He expresses particular concern about Wahabism an extreme form of Sunni Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia although there is general concern about both Muslim and Christian sects and cults moving into the area. Foreign missionaries are being monitored and: “The regional Council on religion recommended regional executive board and local municipal authorities, public associations and religious organizations to...

While the scandal of some Internet Service Providers' failure to adequately block the downloading of internet child porn goes on other parts of the internet are demonstrating that what is lacking is not the way but the will to do it. One regular Blogger is currently boasting of his site having been blocked by BYU. You can read the story here Elsewhere, the Mormon Church is taking full advantage of the new technologies and the enthusiasm of its church members. There is a thriving Mormon blogosphere, although nothing found there is official Mormonism - naturally; you can access Mormon produced films on YouTube and some of you may be aware that it is possible to engage a Mormon missionary in conversation live on mormon.org The following is part of the transcript of a conversation someone had recently on the subject of Mormon temple covenants and it is an interesting study in how Mormons view covenants, sacraments, Joseph Smith and grace. Note that, yet again, nothing said is an...

Anyone who knows Mormons will know how very image conscious they are. The Mormon Church goes to a great deal of trouble to present itself as politically neutral, theologically Christian and reasonably irenic in its dealings with other churches and faiths. Anyone who really knows Mormons will know that this is all a facade, a sophisticated public relations exercise, and that behind it is a faith that rejects and denounces historical Christianity in all its forms, views the existence of different expressions of Christianity as a depressing proof of total apostasy and sees its mission as being to preach to and convert everyone in the world who isn’t a Mormon. Far from ‘respecting’ other Christian churches Mormonism considers us all woefully inadequate and wilfully in error, if not individually then generically. Mormon missionaries, of course, are very conscious of their role as ambassadors for the church and know instinctively, almost from the cradle, the image they are meant to project. ...