| Dont compromise in the name of inclusiveness In the March 20 UMConnection it was gratifying to see that the Rev. Stephen White had done his homework, unlike many others who expound a theory based entirely on feelings rather than logic and biblical truths. Rev. Whites summation of the diametrical opposition between Islam and Christianity are accurate and necessary, since so many Christians seem to think there are no differences worth mentioning. It is heartbreaking to see that so many people compromise under the name of tolerance and inclusiveness because they have no understanding of the teachings of either the Old or New Testament. Every time the truth is compromised, we drive the nails of deception and rejection again and again into the cross of Christ. How many times will we continue to crucify him because of our ignorance and failure to stand up for what he taught? Why are so many United Methodists so eager to bow down to every false teaching that comes our way? Are we that ignorant of the Scriptures, or is it that we are more interested in being politically correct? Christ was not politically correct. He was more interested in doing the will of the Father. That is our commission as well. Indeed there will be serious consequences for all of us if we continue to attach ourselves to false teachings. We must remember to test the spirit to see if it is of God. There is only one way to heaven, and it isnt through Allah or any other god or false teachings. Gloria Hawkins
Trinity UMC, Prince Frederick Focusing on differences is an injustice It is unfortunate that the Rev. White, in his March 20 letter to the editor, elects to focus on the differences between Christianity and Islam rather than our great commonality. After all, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is also the God of Islam; and Muslims revere these prophets. Most Christians are unaware of the striking consistency of the Biblical and Koranic accounts of Genesis and Exodus stories or that the Holy Koran contains many of the same stories and characters appearing in the Holy Bible, among them: Lot (Lut), John the Baptist (Yahya), Job (Ajub), Moses (Kalim Allah) and, of course, Jesus Christ who is as much a prophet of Islam as is Muhammad ibn Abdallah. Indeed, Muhammad reveals that the Koran is but a supplement, not an abrogation, of the Holy Bible. Muslims emphasize the universality of the Ummah, righteousness and obedience to God, over the path one happens to take. I think we lose sight of the forest for the trees and do ourselves, our ministries and the Ummah a great injustice when we focus on differences rather than the great many similarities among Muslims and the people of the book. Sure, there are differences, but narrow my-way-or-the-highway, fundamentalist attitudes, whether Islamic or Christian, foster misunderstanding and fear and breed contempt, hatred and intolerance. Ours is to minister, respect diversity and teach tolerance. Ours is not to judge and condemn. Jesus said we should love our neighbors as ourselves. Bob Lee
Centenary UMC, Shady Side Writers prejudices cause him to miss point I think its important for a good newspaper, in reporting on some event, to present more than one point of view. But I was amazed to read the two different reports in the March 20 UMConnection from two Baltimore-Washington clergy who attended the recent United Nations Seminar. Did they both attend the same seminar? The Rev. Yingling spoke of how for him the seminar evoked echoes of Rachels weeping over the loss of her children, and gave a number of moving reasons why it brought Rachels words to mind. He referred to the numerous reports of economic, ideological, psychological, political, and military conflicts in various parts of the world and the tragic effect these conflicts are having. What the seminar evoked from the Rev. Boyer was something altogether different. He accused the seminar of irreverence and irrelevance, citing a statement made by a participant about his discomfort with the prominence of the cross in the chapel. Whos listening, Boyer asks, with regard to the seminar, and concludes, Nobody. I didnt attend the seminar, but I would conclude that he was the one who refused to listen because of his own unbending prejudices. I weep over the fact that, as a Christian clergy-person, he seems to be deaf to the cries of Rachels children, wherever in the world they may be today, because he so fears anything that may seem to smack of political liberalism. Rev. John A. Mote, retired | 
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