It is painfully amusing (and somewhat frightening as well) to read how the casual publication of several simple (albeit highly irreverent, if reports are to be believed - I have not seen them myself) caricatures of the prophet Muhammed in the Danish press has escalated into a global firestorm in which extremist Islamic groups have threatened to retaliate against the states that did not stop their media from publishing those caricatures (which does a fat lot of good because unlike North Korea, the governments in these countries are not in a position to dictate what their media publishes).

The more moderate Muslims and other well-meaning observers, on the other hand, have pointed out that the caricatures are highly disrespectful.  Interestingly, even the Israeli Ambassador to Singapore spoke out in support of Muslims, saying that "they are an insult to Islam which lke any other religion has to be respected".

Which is why I find it rather strange that hardly anyone bats an eyelid when the Christian faith is sullied and Christians are mocked as fud-dies ("fear uncertainty doubt"-dies) when they make a stand for their faith.  Why the double standards ?

I’m not in any way suggesting that there should not be freedom to engage in debates over religion and in particular, over the Christian faith.  In fact I am pretty much in agreement with the French editorial which pointed out "Can you imagine a society that added up all the prohibitions of the different religions? What would remain of the freedom to think, to speak, or even to come and go freely ?"

I believe the Christian faith is reasonable and rational, and am not in any way threatened by whatever questions its critics may throw at it.

But I’m hoping that those critical of the Christian faith will examine their motives when they criticise the Christian faith - I’ve come across some startlingly unreasonable remarks levelled against Christians and the Christian faith, which is not helpful because debates cannot be constructive unless both parties behave reasonably.  Are people so casual or flippant with their remarks because Christians are "pushovers" ?  Were Christians more quick to claim that God had been insulted, or if there were extremists who threatened retaliation (for the record, I don’t in any way condone violence or silly, misdirected protests), would those critical of the Christian faith engage in more reasonable and more level-headed debate over the Christian faith ?

Read the article on the caricature controversy at Channel NewsAsia.

As I was going through and explaining a General Paper topic which touched on world religions with my youngest sister this evening, I was surprised to learn that she had never heard of "Judaism" before.  She thought that the Jewish religion was Christianity (which, although theologically accurate in my opinion, is quite far off the mark as far as history is concerned).

Equally surprised, Joyce asked, "Well, the other time when your church wanted to make a trip down to Israel to pray for the Israelis, what did you think the church was praying for ?"

My youngest sister wasn’t very sure, so she asked the older sister.  I was even more appalled by her answer.

"Don’t you know that the Israelis are Muslims ?"

Now this was something new.  I needed to hear more.  "Really ?" I asked in as composed a tone as I could manage.

"How do you explain why there are mosques in Jerusalem ?"

I must have looked skeptical.  Perhaps even disdainful.

"You don’t believe me lor, but I tell you what I say is correct".

I’m so glad she didn’t go on the pilgrimage / mission trip to Israel with the church.  She wasn’t even sure of what she was going to pray for.  Plus, I’m not sure if she would have made it back unscathed, if she told a Jew to the face that his religion was Islam.  (Well, I’m not sure if a Muslim would be happy either to hear someone tell him that the religion of the Jews is Islam).  This incident really makes me wonder what her church has, or hasn’t been, teaching about Israel.