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Paul Williams's avatar

Thank you, thank you so much for this brave and timely open letter. May I, as a British Catholic, make a comment? Of course, there is no such thing as a dialogue between Islam and Judaism as such. Both are too diverse. But there is the need for, wish for, search for dialogue between individual Jews and Muslims and their representatives each with goodwill seeking reconciliation. This is so needed and is why I for one applaud this piece wholeheartedly. And note something else: Out of the appalling, mind numbing, evil of October 7th there are signs, faint glimmers, of some good emerging. Please, please dear friends, let us all recognise it happening and thank G-d who can bring good out of the evil that we all do. Let us encourage and share in that search for the good which refuses to bow to sheer nihilistic evil but seeks (in this case) reconciliation and a positive future of constructive collaboration. And finally - forgive me, as an outsider - can I point to two of, for me, the greatest 20th century Jewish prophets who in spite of their comparative neglect in modern Israel can contribute something to this dialogue - Martin Buber and Viktor Frankl. Perhaps it is time to look again at what they might offer to this conversation? 'Blessed are the peacemakers' -yes, and for G-d all things are possible. Thank you, and do not despair.

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Peter Hannan's avatar

This is very light on what is wrong with islam, and unfortunately shows a lack of understanding. Muslims are not free to choose between the earlier Meccan teachings and the later Medinan ones because of the doctrine of abrogation: later teachings on the same topic abrogate and replace earlier ones when they are in conflict. There is no mention of the serious ethical problems with islam: oppression of women and gays, child marriage, honour killings, rape of "infidels" permitted, death for blasphemy and apostasy, supremacism, jihad as a duty, and more.

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