Supreme Disagreement Over a Supreme Being
Re “With God, Bush Is on the Right Side,” Commentary, Dec. 12: Jack Miles was precisely on target. When I began studying the Koran and converted to Islam, I continued to worship the same God to whom I had prayed since I was a child, and about whom I learned in Catholic school. The notion that Allah is not the God of the Jews and Christians is, frankly, absurd.
The many mainstream Christians whom I have met have never imagined such a claim as is made by evangelical theologian Richard Land. Miles has made a great contribution toward friendship between Muslims and Christians by pointing out to the many Muslims who think that Land’s comments represent Christianity that he represents a fringe group that does not reflect the vast majority of American Christians.
What is somewhat disappointing, however, is that President Bush relies upon these fringe elements for support. As long as he does so, his positive comments about Islam must always be taken with a grain of salt.
Walt Comins-Richmond
Alhambra
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I greatly respect Miles, but he got it wrong. Jews, Christians, Muslims, agnostics and atheists could probably agree that there is one all-powerful, inscrutable “something” behind all that is. But when that something becomes Jehovah, God or Allah, the agreement is gone. Even individual Muslims, Christians and Jews differ among themselves on what that one source is. Question any two coreligionists extensively and you will find that they disagree on the myriad manifestations of a supreme being. That is: Each of us has his or her own unique set of beliefs about the “great force.” I personally think it is energy.
Porter Ewing
Van Nuys
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The teachings of Jesus Christ, at their most fundamental core, are founded upon the tenet of absolute and unconditional nonviolence. Given his apparent willingness to turn the U.S. into an international aggressor, we must assume that Bush fails to comprehend the basic principles of his own religion, much less anyone else’s.
Blair Kroeber
Los Angeles