Thanks for making an effort at answering my question "what would you do." Some observations follow:
In a message dated 6/17/2004 2:59:27 AM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
believe that the Crusades may be one of the underlying causes for what is happening now, as I believe that some of the 'philosophy' of Augustine is responsible for the errant thinking concerning God prevailing today. My point here being that analysis needs to be more than superficial.
It seems to me that this is a criticism against Europe. Having said that, I do think this is an excellent point. America is a Christian nation on a number of stages. The "sins of the father" may be a principle that is in play. Where we (the U.S.) might say that his war against terrorism is not a religious war, certainly the Jihadists would not agree. It is religious and the final goal is death to the Christians and death to the Jews.
So, what might one suggest as to a possible solution or, course of action?
1. Two pronged warfare: natural and supernatural. I do believe that there may be 'spirits' involved in this 'religious' conflict.
I don't know that this is a part of the solution, per se. It certainly is true if you are saying that this is a war against evil.
2. Discuss the reconciliation of Ishmael and Isaac
I believe this is a clearly stated goal of the Bush camp (and I speak specifically of the war in Iraq). He believe that a democratic Iraq is a hugh plus in the struggle for peace in the middle East.
3. Repent for wrongs done by the 'West' on the 'rest' for centuries.
Specifics here?
4.Prayer. Seek the 'mind of God' in these matters. We know what we would do. We need to know what God wants done.
Bush thinks he did this very thing. How is it different when someone else does it? and, secondly, I am not so sure that we do know what we would do. Certainly the liberals in our country have no solutions except to treat these Jihad forces as criminals and put occasionally put one or two of them on trial. So they really don't have a solution, but they somehow how know that the conservative approach is wrong.
5. On a personal (community) level we need to be 'living' this truth we 'talk'.
What bothers me in this reply is that I honestly do not see a plan for dealing with those who are bent on our physical harm and intend to accomplish this in the very near future.
John
