The Islamic call to prayer was made in Gloucester Cathedral last week during a multi-cultural exhibition, which also included Buddhist chanting, Rasta drumming and a pagan rock band. Tim Dieppe explains that the Islamic call to prayer is an explicit denial of Christianity, and an invitation to worship a different god.
A multi-cultural exhibition was launched in Gloucester Cathedral last week with the Islamic call to prayer. This prompted some criticism, and the Cathedral subsequently deleted their Facebook post on the call to prayer.
The Islamic call to prayer clearly states that "there is no god but Allah" and that "Muhammad is Allah's prophet", thus explicitly contradicting Christianity. The event also included Buddhist chanting, Rasta drumming, and a Pagan rock band.
Don't claim to have the truth?
Rev. Ruth Fitter, who helped arrange the exhibition told Gloucestershire Live:
"We live in a world that is becoming more and more polarised by people who claim to have the truth. No one has any proof of God - that's what faith is about.
"I happen to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who came to dwell with me and save me from my sins. That doesn't mean I expect others to change their faith or believe wholeheartedly."
It seems that Rev. Fitter believes that there is no objective truth. She appears to think that 'claiming to have the truth' is wrong. Perhaps she doesn't realise that she is making a truth claim in that very statement. Either it is true that 'claiming to have the truth' is wrong, or it is false. She claims it is true, and so breaks her own absurd attempt at moral reasoning.
Inviting an Imam to chant the Islamic call to prayer is inviting someone to make truth claims about Allah and Muhammad. Here again she has broken her own morality.
Follows Qur'an recited in Glasgow Cathedral
This follows Glasgow Cathedral being criticised for allowing the Qur'an to be recited during an Epiphany service. The passage read, insists that "It is not [befitting] for Allah to take a son." This was strongly criticised by Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, and also by the Rev. Gavin Ashdenden, Chaplain to the Queen who suggested that the Provost should apologise to Christians being persecuted by Muslims. The reading prompted a rebuke from the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church.
Not the Same God
Hosting an Islamic call to prayer is inviting people to worship a different god. Last year we published "Not the Same God" by Sam Solomon and Atif Debs, which explains how Allah is not the same as the Lord God of the Bible. Allah’s nature is very different to the God of Christianity. The truth claims of Islam and Christianity about God cannot be reconciled.
It is time for the Church to stand up for the truth of Christianity. The true God is a God of sacrificial love, who gave his son to die on a cross. This is not the Allah of Islam. There is no place for hosting an Islamic call to prayer in any place of Christian worship.
Related links:
Muslim call to prayer at cathedral sparks debate, explanations and a deleted Facebook post (Gloucestershire live)
Qur’an recited in St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow