Guest chap44uns Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 The church that's opened its doors to Islam: Christians roll out welcome to Muslims who were having to pray in the wind and rain because their mosque was so smallThe Syed Shah Mustafa Jame Masjid mosque was too small to fit everyone in Church minister Rev Isaac Poobalan saw worshippers praying outside Now he has handed over part of St John's Episcopal Church in Aberdeen Bishop says: 'It would be good to think we can change the world' By Helen Lawson PUBLISHED: 12:33, 18 March 2013 | UPDATED: 13:52, 18 March 2013 Comments (8) Share A Scottish church has become the first in the UK to share its premises with Muslim worshippers. St John’s Episcopal Church in Aberdeen now welcomes hundreds of Muslims praying five times a day in their building as the nearby mosque was so small that they were forced to worship outside. The minister of St John's, Rev Isaac Poobalan, has handed over part of the church hall to Chief Imam Ahmed Megharbi and the imam has led prayers in the main chapel. Rev Poobalan said today that he would not be true to his faith if he did not offer to help. Sheikh Ahmed Megharbi, left, and Rev Isaac Poobalan, right, behind the altar at St John's Episcopal Church, Aberdeen, which is also being used as a place of worship for Muslims Rev Poobalan, right, said he would not be true to his faith if he did not offer to help his neighbours with their overcrowding problem He said: 'Praying is never wrong. My job is to encourage people to pray. 'The mosque was so full at times, there would be people outside in the wind and rain praying. 'I knew I couldn’t just let this happen - because I would be abandoning what the Bible teaches us about how we should treat our neighbours. 'When I spoke to people at the church about the situation, someone actually said to me this was not our problem, but I had seen it with my own eyes, so it was a problem. 'When I spoke to the imam there was some hesitation on their part too, because this has never been done before. 'But they took us up on the offer and it has been a positive relationship. More...Would you call a stranger to confess your sins? New Yorkers can now come clean to 'Mr Anonymous' 'It's extraordinary to see behind the veil': Duchess of Cornwall praises progress for women in Saudi Arabia as she visits a centre teaching arts and crafts The blessing of the 150,000: Pope Francis is mobbed as he holds first Sunday audience Rev Poobalan, 50, said being surrounded by Islam while growing up in India helped break down the divide for worshippers of two religions praying together in Aberdeen. Sheikh Ahmed Megharbi of the Syed Shah Mustafa Jame Masjid mosque said: 'What happens here is special and there should be no problem repeating this across the country. 'The relationship is friendly and respectful.' St John's is part of the Scottish Episcopal Church, which is part of the Anglican Communion and distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland. The Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney, the Right Rev Dr Robert Gillies said that this relationship could be the start of a change in dynamics between the two faiths. Dr Gillies said: 'It would be good to think we can change the world. 'Most of us most of the time feel we can’t so don’t bother. 'But sometimes, someone has a vision we can do something of global significance on a local scale. 'This is what is happening between St John’s and the mosque in its grounds. St John's Episcopal Church in Aberdeen is believed to be the first in the UK to share with Muslims Sections of the church hall have been handed over to the mosque and the imam has led prayers in the chapel 'Everyone can do something locally and if more were to do so then something big might just begin to happen globally.' Dr Gillies said that the 'eyes of the world' were now focused on the two faiths represented in the building on the city’s Crown Terrace. Although the Christian church regards Jesus as the son of God, the Muslim faith views him as a key prophet. Even with differences like these, there can be a mutual respect, said Dr Gillies. The relationship between the mosque and St John’s has developed over the past few years. On Christmas Eve 2010 both opened their doors for prayers, food and socialising. In 2011, the church and mosque teamed up to mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the USA. Verses were read from both the Bible and the Koran to commemorate those who died. There have been cases of Christians allowing Muslims to pray in their churches in parts of America. In 2011, two Florida churches were criticised for opening their doors to Muslim groups. But Church leaders believe the move in Aberdeen is a first for the United Kingdom. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2295149/Christians-roll-welcome-Muslims-having-pray-wind-rain-mosque-small.html#ixzz2NtpQZyFl Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
time_bomb Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 pos to the brown priest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Flyest Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 nice story Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badman Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 Question is, would our Islam brothers return the favour if the shoe was on the other foot? Pos the sediment though 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greens Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 Question is, would our Islam brothers return the favour if the shoe was on the other foot? Pos the sediment though I imagine most of the daily mail comments follow this rhetoric 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badman Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 In that case I retract my question 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 Question is, would our Islam brothers return the favour if the shoe was on the other foot? Pos the sediment though Sadly I'm going to say nope.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sole Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 In that case I retract my question it was your initial reaction stick wit it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chap44uns Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 Question is, would our Islam brothers return the favour if the shoe was on the other foot? Pos the sediment though no point even asking this q tbh 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sole Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 someone try it Who's Christian here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dom dom bullets Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 its not really about muslims/christians though is it, just about what an individual would do eg what that reverent did Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARVELL Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 there are already plans for a unification of religion thats well underway and go far beyond this ur people in saudi and the vatican have signed up to it one govt one religion one order oh buts its all just a 'conspiracy' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sole Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 link? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badman Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 its not really about muslims/christians though is it, just about what an individual would do eg what that reverent did yep this is why....my initial reaction was completely negative and in hindsight was designed to spur hatred etc etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARVELL Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 link? King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
local Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 Jus waitin for the alien invasion now one all the world leaders r in position init to bring us all together against our 1 common enemy Oddly enough I say this with only 1 3rd irony Everything else is coming true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chap44uns Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 there are already plans for a unification of religion thats well underway and go far beyond this ur people in saudi and the vatican have signed up to it one govt one religion one order oh buts its all just a 'conspiracy' 1 ARDA 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
local Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 its not really about muslims/christians though is it, just about what an individual would do eg what that reverent did yep this is why....my initial reaction was completely negative and in hindsight was designed to spur hatred etc etc U can't design something in hindsight Also dm comments say nothin of the sort Seems like THAT comment was designed to spur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dom dom bullets Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 its not really about muslims/christians though is it, just about what an individual would do eg what that reverent did yep this is why....my initial reaction was completely negative and in hindsight was designed to spur hatred etc etc what are you saying? that this was done to spur hatred? or are you saying that was just your initial thought? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sole Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 The King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue was founded to enable, empower and encourage dialogue among followers of different religions and cultures around the world. Located in Vienna, the Centre is an independent, autonomous, international organisation, free of political or economic influence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARVELL Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 it all starts out as a discussion. and has gone beyond that now 200 senior delegates from around the world ended a week long interfaith meeting at Stanford on Friday, predicting they had given birth to a movement as well as a spiritual institution: the United Religions independent? how? free from political influence? but was built by a saudi prince and endorsed by the pope? keep telling yourself that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badman Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 its not really about muslims/christians though is it, just about what an individual would do eg what that reverent did yep this is why....my initial reaction was completely negative and in hindsight was designed to spur hatred etc etc what are you saying? that this was done to spur hatred? or are you saying that was just your initial thought? sometimes you do something but considering the situation it might be inappropriate, I was trying to play devils advocate as I do in most situations but in this case there was no real purpose in doing so because it was besides the whole point of the sediments of the one persons actions as aposed to his beliefs/creed etc I dont have hate towards anyone tbh but certain type of people could use what I said as a vehicle to push their own agenda aka your average daily mail reader and thats long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Flyest Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 so basically youre a troIl 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badman Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 its not really about muslims/christians though is it, just about what an individual would do eg what that reverent did yep this is why....my initial reaction was completely negative and in hindsight was designed to spur hatred etc etc U can't design something in hindsight Also dm comments say nothin of the sort Seems like THAT comment was designed to spur I see what your saying bro, and its all open to interpretation which is fair enough however like I said I have no issues personally, just dont want to be classed in the same category as them people with some hidden agendas and chip on their shoulders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badman Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 so basically youre a troIl yep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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