Broken Masterpieces

March 29, 2006

CNN - Rahman to Italy (With Open Arms)

CNN.com - Afghan convert leaves for Italy - Mar 29, 2006

Earlier in the day, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Italy would be happy to grant asylum to Rahman, and the Italian Cabinet approved an amnesty offer.

"I say that we are very glad to be able to welcome someone who has been so courageous," a spokesman quoted Berlusconi as saying.

Let's just hope Afghanistan eventually becomes a place where people of all faiths are welcome.

Posted by Tim at 07:49 AM | Comments (0)

March 26, 2006

Rahman Charges Dismissed

A court on Sunday dismissed the case against an Afghan man facing possible execution for converting from Islam to Christianity, officials said, paving the way for his release.

Well, let's see what happens to brother Rahman. It sounds like he's safer in prison than being release and being targeted by the Mullahs.

Posted by Tim at 10:03 PM | Comments (0)

March 23, 2006

MSNBC - 4 Clerics Say "Off With His Head"

Kill Afghan Christian, some clerics say - South and Central Asia - MSNBC.com

But four senior clerics interviewed by The Associated Press in their mosques in Kabul said Rahman deserved to be killed for his conversion.

"He is not crazy. He went in front of the media and confessed to being a Christian," said Hamidullah, chief cleric at Haji Yacob Mosque.

"The government is scared of the international community. But the people will kill him if he is freed."

"He is not mad. The government are playing games. The people will not be fooled," said Abdul Raoulf, cleric at Herati Mosque. "This is humiliating for Islam. ... Cut off his head."

Raoulf is considered a moderate cleric in Afghanistan. He was jailed three times for criticizing the Taliban's policies before the hardline regime was ousted by U.S.-led forces in 2001.

If Raoulf is considered a moderate then Afghanistan is in trouble. A society where extremists have such power then there is no way they will succeed. The government of Afghanistan needs to step up and make sure these radicals don't have power in society.


Posted by Tim at 07:13 AM | Comments (0)

March 22, 2006

MSNBC - Getting With It On Afghanistan Convert

Afghan covert could face death - South and Central Asia - MSNBC.com

Afghanistan said on Wednesday the judiciary would rule on a man facing death for converting to Christianity after the United States and three NATO allies with troops in Afghanistan urged respect for religious freedom.

It's good to see that MSNBC has found the story about the Afghanistan man who is being put on trial for his faith. I'd like to see what moderate Muslims think about this. What will they do to lobby the government of Afghanistan? All I can say is that this better end up with a happy ending. As I stated earlier, our soldiers didn't fight for this! Pray for Abdur Rahman and that justice will prevail.


Posted by Tim at 07:00 AM | Comments (0)

March 20, 2006

A Christian On Trial

Michelle Malkin: A CHRISTIAN ON TRIAL

For the blogoshere, this is what we were meant to do. Let's get out the word and put pressure on the folks in charge to fix this problem. We did not liberate Afghanistan for this type of persecution to exist.

Posted by Tim at 08:21 AM | Comments (0)

September 15, 2005

Freedom of Religion for Physicians

From a friend at the Coastal Church of an extremely important religious freedom issue:

Dr. Brody and Fenton are at the forefront of the incredible culture and spiritual war that faces our country. And not by their choice, but likely by divine appointment. They need our prayer and support as a Christian community. The Dr. Brody and Fenton practice in O.B. and further specialize in artificial insemination.

Dr. Brody was approached by a lesbian woman and her partner seeking to be artificially inseminated. Because of her faith in Jesus Christ and her biblical conviction, she stated that she would not be able to participate in the advanced and invasive method of insemination, which requires the physician to actually fertilize and implant the woman's egg. Ultimately, the woman was referred to another physician, in order for her to receive this elective treatment. She then had child and Dr. Brody and Fenton's faith did not have to be compromised.

Thereafter, the woman filed a lawsuit against Dr. Brody and Fenton using a radical and national organization that is presently fighting in court for same-sex marriage and the promotion of the homosexual lifestyle. Ultimately, the question in this case is whether a Christian in California has the right to abide by their religious conviction in the face of nondiscrimination laws promoting homosexuality. We probably all agree that no person should be discriminated against for irrational reasons. But, it is not irrational for a physician to decline to perform an invasive and elective medical procedure such as insemination that will result in the birth of a child into an unmarried relationship, especially into a relationship of the same sex.

This case will set precedent for whether a Christian (or persons of other faiths) can be forced to violate their faith in their professional practices ... a form of involuntary servitude. A loss in this case will ultimately mean that the free exercise of religion and the right of conscience must take a back seat to the promotion of homosexual relationships. This may be the most important case in the country at this time. The right of conscience is at stake.

Further reference:

David Limbaugh - Tolerance: A Two-Way Street
San Diego Union

Coppo contended that the doctors are not discriminating. "They have never done this for nonmarried couples," he said. "They believe in couples and marriage."

I just ask when does a doctor's right to withhold optional treatment based on a moral value? The doctors don't believe in impregnating unmarried women! Good for them. Let's get the word out about this case and try and make sure doctors are allowed to follow their conscience.

This even goes into the whole marriage issue, what if the lady was legally "married" to another woman, they should still be able to say "no".

Posted by Tim at 08:40 PM | Comments (0)

October 16, 2003

General Boykin

This entry is in response to Hugh Hewitt's call to comment on this hit piece by the LA Times. The basic background is that an outspoken Evangelical Christian is now in the position of "new deputy undersecretary of Defense for intelligence". General Boykin has been quoted as saying that America is founded on Judeo/Christian principles, that he believes that God put George W. Bush in office and that he believes Christianity is right and Islam is not.

I guess if those are things that are not acceptable then that means many Evangelicals and other conservative people of faith are not welcome into positions of authority in this government. Yes, let's get all the moral relativists into high positions or people that don't really have any strong beliefs. Hey folks, it's slowly creaping in that it's just not OK to be someone that takes Christianity or another religion seriously. It will be used in the Presidential campaign and is already being used in the blocking of judicial appointments. When it comes down to it, if all the people with strong religious beliefs were not in the public square, then the liberals can just run crazy; no threat to abortion "rights", no resistence to gay marriage, cut military spending, raise taxes, etc.

The left doesn't want any people of faith who are conservative because give them a run for the money in the battlefield of ideas. We speak the truth about their ideas and the general public rejects the ideas of the left. So, they have a new game plan that did start with the judicial appointments and will now continue into other areas of leadership. Nailing General Boykin is a test. If the public goes against him then in EVERY election in 2004 every conservative person of faith will be given the same treatment. The weird thing is, the "elite" of this country really believe that someone like General Boykin is as dangerous as bin Laden and Saddam. The problem for them is, many people in America are more like General Boykin than these elitists. That's the good news. The bad news is that the "elite" will keep attacking until they win. Remember, these same people that will go after General Boykin are the same types that attacked Ronald Reagan for the "Evil Empire" and "Tear down this wall" speeches.

I may not quite agree with what General Boykin has said but religious tolerance must go both ways. A Muslim is firmly convinced that Islam is correct just like a Christian is firmly convinced that Christianity is correct. Both of those points are mutually exclusive but the "elite" believe that there isn't much difference between the two faiths but they are wrong as both the Muslim and Christian would admit to the vast differences. That's why both faiths evangalize. Our freedom of religion does not end at the shore of the USA. If these other countries are going to be allies then they must accept that others will have different views. If they can't then how much do we really want to be allies with them.

Posted by Tim at 11:15 PM | Comments (0)