Compassion Is Not A Popular

Yet A Personal God Can Become A Grave Liability. He Can Be A Mere Idol Carved In Our Own Image, A Projection Of Our Limited Needs, Fears And Desires. We Can Assume That He Loves What We Love And Hates What We Hate, Endorsing Our Prejudices Instead Of Compelling Us To Transcend Them.

We Talk About God As Though He Was Like A Somebody. We Ask Him To Bless Our Nation, Or Save Our Queen, Or Give Us A Fine Day For The Picnic. And We Actually Expect Him To Be On Our Side In An Election Or War Even Though Our Opponents Are Also God's Children.

Far From Being The Father Of Jihad, [prophet] Mohammad Was A Peacemaker, Who Risked His Life And Nearly Lost The Loyalty Of His Closest Companions Because He Was Determined To Effect A Reconciliation With Mecca

Mohammed Was Not An Apparent Failure. He Was A Dazzling Success, Politically As Well As Spiritually, And Islam Went From Strength To Strength To Strength.

If Professional Religious Leaders Can [no Longer] Instruct..., Our Artists And Creative Writers Can Perhaps Step Into This Priestly Role And Bring Fresh Insight To Our Lost And Damaged World.