AN AWESOME MOVE OF TOLERANCE

[Jon Estes]

Being blessed to live in a place where religious tolerance is being demonstrated from the top down.

[Haruo]

Makes me want to recite my rosary facing Dubai. It's actually a perfectly good Islamic name (though I'm not sure how many mosques are actually named for women). But of course, it's a "different Mary"; this one wasn't a virgin from what I've read. But then, the Eisa in question was, I am told, a "different Jesus", not being the Son of God and all.

[Jon Estes]

I think it is a fair thing to say that Muslims see Mary differently than non-Muslims. Yet, they do believe she was "the virgin mother of Jesus, who was the Anointed One, the Promised Messiah."
* Stowasser, Barbara Freyer, “Mary”, in: Encyclopaedia of the Qurʾān, General Editor: Jane Dammen McAuliffe, Georgetown University, Washington DC.

The decision to rename the Mosque was one in the name of tolerance (the purpose for me sharing the article). I am so grateful for the Muslim government here in the UAE. It not only allows Christians to worship freely but has given land to Evangelical and other religions to build on and worship at.

The location in Dubai is known as DECC. This is the second land mass Dubai has made available. The other is closer to downtown. DECC is approximately a 25 minute drive from downtown, if traffic is not congested. One of the stronger evangelical works is through DECC... UCCD (United Christian Church of Dubai).





Though we do not meet at DECC, 6 or 7 religious groups have facilities there. Some evangelical churches meet in hotels.

The UAE is a great place to serve God.

[Haruo]

I was mistaken. I see now that Islam does recognize Mary's virginity and therefore the virgin birth of Jesus. I had been under the impression (not sure where from; probably a Christian source with a bias) that Muhammad had denied it.

[Joseph Patrick]

From Joseph Patrick...aka Gerry Milligan

Jon, the article said, "The senior pastor of the Evangelical Community Church in Abu Dhabi also hailed the news. “His Highness Shaikh Mohammad has made another generous gesture of religious tolerance in renaming the mosque,” said Jeramie Rinne." I know that I am a long way and a long time from when we were in the UAE, but what happened to Cam Arenson?

[Jon Estes]

[Haruo]

Thanks, that was a very worthwhile sermon, I think. I don't recall hearing of Al Ain much before. Is it a town in Dubai, or is it (in) one of the other emirates? I was looking for a photo of Cam Arenson, unsuccessfully, to see if he looked black, and if not, wondering in what sense he considers himself "made in Africa" (sounds evolutionist otherwise).

[Jon Estes]