Saudi Prince Donates $40M to Universities

The deal is, Islam is here today and we must work together and deal with it. It is not going anywhere. Some guy has donated millions for education...that's a good thing. I have converted many a Muslim because I know the Islamic faith. I have seen many a sister or brother fail at that because they spewed wrong information and lost respect of those they were trying to assist.

You can look at this as sort of an education that is a valuable tool to bring people to Christ. You cannot convert Muslims unless you know about Muslims - that is why they are the hardest people to convert because of our lack of understanding.

 

DavidsonBap, Bro Curtis would have people believe that you violated Jesus' command because you studied the Islamic faith.

 

You're welcome to disagree with my assessmant of what you've said here.

I don't believe that it's in any way a scriptural violation to study different religions and phiosophies in the educational setting. You're comments appear to disagree with me. That's fine, you're entitled to your opinion. I can respect that.

 

Yeah. It is wise to understand all faiths, especially if you want to bring the message of Christ to them. To relate to people, you have to understand them. I have not met one person when I went to the Middle East that just held up his Bible and said "God, convert these people oh Lord..."

Anyway, I'm just glad the universities took the money because the education in this area is badly needed in America.

 

How many Arab universities are there with American Studies departments?

That's what I thought.

 

Probably more than you think. Cairo University has Western Studies courses and programs.

 

There are many American studies in universities across the Middle East. I have attended a course myself when I was befriending a group of Muslims in Egypt. We are very fortunate to have this grant to educate people about Islam and Muslim history. Otherwise, we are left with people who just spew ignorance and make zero contributions to Muslims. The more one is grounded in Islamic Studies the better he or she is in making a bridge with Muslims.

 

Then I am right about your assessment. You believe that the study of different religions and phiosophies in the educational setting is unscriptural.

 

Bro. Curtis. have you ever been to other countries to bring people to Christ? I just ask because I have never in my years known a brother or sister come to a foreign country and not try to learn about the people. The very nature of making bonds is mutual respect and understanding. It is very beneficial to learn the language of the people too...one must understand a culture in order to communicate.

Anyway, I will continue to learn about all people and be successful in helping people come to Christ.
Peace Bro.Curtis. and thanks for the interesting thread.

 

Note that I haven't been arguing the money source issue. I can actually see your point there. However, the money source aside:

Okay, so you not only believe that the study of different religions and phiosophies in the educational setting is unscriptural, but that said study in a Christian educational setting is wrong. Here I disagree with you completely. I think comparative religions courses, and similar courses, are worthy of inclusion in the cirriculum of Christian colleges, if the college so desires.

 

Bro.Curtis, Catholics are Christian? LOL I just wanted to hear you say it.

The money may be to promote and understanding of the faith, not to promote Islam per say. I imagine the Prince has perceived many in the USA are ignorant about his people.

I don't know, how about we burn the money Bro.Curtis and just wipe out that evil Prince already.

 

You have confused me with someone else - that isn't one of my rants. I don't disagree with it, but I haven't gone on about it.

Harvard is not setting up a madrassa. Learning ABOUT Islam is different than accepting Islam as your faith. One of the big problems our government had and continues to have is an abiding, profound ignorance of the region, its languages and its cultures. Even so, the current administration bargained on US citizens' even worse ignorance to conflate 9/11 with Saddam Hussein.

I know some Americans revel in ignorance of the world around them, but Harvard, as a major university, is supposed to be anti-ignorance. Ignorance is what allows people to confuse al Qaeda with the Ba'athist Party, Arabic with Farsi, Turkish and Kurdish, Beirut with Bagdad. We should know the difference between the the Chishtiyya and the Wahhābīya, and which Sufis are Sunni, Shi'ia and neither.

Would Jesus teach Quantum Physics? How about English grammar? Maybe I just don't get your question.

 

Bro.Curtis...I'm sorry, I was just having fun. You just seem so extreme and I was playing.

I think Daisy made some excellent points.