Nick Uva

About Me

I'm a pastor and blogger from Connecticut who enjoys writing and keeping up on current events, tech issues, and theology.

Daily Spurgeon devotional blog:
http://www.TheDailySpurgeon.com

My church:
http://www.HTchurch.com

Pray Connecticut blog:
http://www.PrayCT.org

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US gets cozy with free speech foes

Few things are as alarming as the trend towards adopting Muslim sensibilities (read: theology) on freedom of speech. Jonathan Turley decries the Administration's acceptance of Muslim blasphemy concerns in USA Today. And with good reason.

While attracting surprisingly little attention, the Obama administration supported the effort of largely Muslim nations in the U.N. Human Rights Council to recognize exceptions to free speech for any "negative racial and religious stereotyping...."

Blasphemy prosecutions in the West appear to have increased after the riots by Muslims following the publication of cartoons disrespecting prophet Mohammed in Denmark in 2005. Rioters killed Christians, burned churches and called for the execution of the cartoonists. While Western countries publicly defended free speech, some quietly moved to deter those who'd cause further controversies through unpopular speech.

In Britain, it is a crime to "abuse" or "threaten" a religion under the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006. A 15-year-old boy was charged last year for holding up a sign outside a Scientology building declaring, "Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult. "In France, famed actress Brigitte Bardot was convicted for saying in 2006 that Muslims were ruining France in a letter to then-Interior Minister (and now President) Nicolas Sarkozy. This year, Ireland joined this self-destructive trend with a blasphemy law that calls for the prosecution of anyone who writes or utters views deemed "grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion; and he or she intends, by the publication of the matter concerned, to cause such outrage."

Actually, lots of people are aware of this and talk about it but they are routinely derided as "Islamophobic." 

Hat tip: Christopher Fountain.

 

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Filed under  //  america   freedom of speech   islam   politics  
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Posted 4 months ago

American Missionary Killed by Al Qaeda, gets reviled at home

On Tuesday, June 23rd 2009, an American Christian worker named Chris Leggett was gunned down by Al Qaeda for the alleged “crime” of trying to convert Muslims to Christianity. To give you an idea of what kind of man Chris Legget was, the 39-year old native of Cleveland, Tennessee not only taught computer science in a low-class neighborhood in the capital city of Nouakchott, he also, according to the Cleveland Daily Banner, worked with the prison systems to train and equip women and young boys to re-enter society, directed a training center providing training in computer skills, sewing, and literacy, and oversaw a micro-loan program which fostered the growth of hundreds of small businesses.

Although the miniscule media coverage has been fairly straightforward, I was saddened to see some of the nasty comments on the Huffington Post when Ahmed Mohammed posted the Associated Press story on the site. Although a few of the comments unequivocally condemned Leggett’s murder for what it is, a cowardly act of violence motivated by extremists, far too many seemed to think that Leggett was somehow “asking for it” because of the nature of his work in a Muslim land, as if Chris Leggett somehow deserved to die because of his passion for sharing his faith.

One commenter wrote, “Well, you know, it is their country. You go walking around with arrogant disregard of their laws, you better be prepared to pay the consequences. Non-story.” Another commenter cut from the same cloth replied, “I agree. It doesn't take much intelligence for non-military Americans to keep out of these countries. You not only go there at your own risk - you ask for it.”

My beef isn’t so much with the Huffington Post (who likely has little control over what people comment on the site), but to the people who made those nasty comments (there were some that were far worse) I would like to say feel free to criticize Christian missionaries working in Muslims lands, but I hope you realize that you’re criticizing from a position of privilege. Many of you live in countries that allow you to choose your religious beliefs without fear of torture, imprisonment, or death. Hundreds of millions of Muslims live in countries that deny them that right. How do you know that out of the worlds’ roughly 1.2 billion Muslims, that some of them don’t want to hear another perspective?

Chris Leggett most likely wasn’t banging the Bible over anyone’s head, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a few curious Muslims quietly asked him about his religious beliefs. After all, most Muslims I know-unlike most Westerners I know-like to discuss religion in every day conversation and enjoy hearing other people’s perspectives. If a few of these same Muslims through peaceful dialogue came to the conclusion that Chris’s beliefs were correct, where’s the crime in that? If Chris Leggett did break Mauritanian law, then it was an unjust law that he broke. Last time I checked, breaking unjust laws is called civil disobedience. Acts of civil disobedience have been crucial to every major advance in human rights.

via christianpost.com

Article by Aaron Taylor. Yes, it's easy to trumpet the cry of "human rights" but this is usually done on premises which honor them to some degree. Still no churches in the Kingdom of Saud.

Why?

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Filed under  //  al qaeda   bible   christianity   islam   mauritania   missions   politics   religion  
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Posted 8 months ago

Sanhedrin meets with Islamic leader Adnan Oktar (Harun Yahya)

The newly-reformed Jewish Sanhedrin has just met with the Turkish Islamic leader Adnan Oktar, better known as Harun Yahya. A statement of the Sanhedrin was released and can be read in English here.

So we now see influential Jews and Muslims discussing peace and the possible rebuilding of a Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount... witness the Sanhedrin's words:

Out of a sense of collective responsibility for world peace and for all humanity we have found it timely to call to the World and exclaim that there is a way out for all peoples. It is etched in a call to all humanity: We are all the sons of one father, the descendants of Adam, and all humanity is but a single family. Peace among Nations will be achieved through building the House of G-d, where all peoples will serve Him, pray to Him, and offer sacrifices according to the visions of the prophets, as foreseen by King Solomon in his prayers at the dedication of the First Holy Temple. Come let us love and respect one another, and love and honor and hold our heavenly Father in awe. Let us establish a house of prayer in His name in order to worship and serve Him together, for the sake of His great compassion. He surely does not want the blood of His creations spilled, but prefers love and peace among all mankind. We pray to the Almighty Creator, that you hearken to our Call. Together - each according to his or her ability - we shall work towards the building of the House of Prayer for All Nations on the Temple Mount in peace and mutual understanding.

Tip: Joel's Trumpet.

 

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Filed under  //  islam   israel   jerusalem   oktar   sanhedrin  
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Posted 8 months ago

Can 3rd Temple be built without destroying Dome of the Rock? | Jerusalem Post
via jpost.com

"God's Holy Mountain Vision" project hopes to defuse religious strife by showing that Jews' end-of-days vision could harmoniously accommodate Islam's present architectural hegemony on the Temple Mount. "This vision of religious shrines in peaceful proximity can transform the Temple Mount from a place of contention to its original sacred role as a place of worship shared by Jews, Muslims and Christians," said Yoav Frankel, director of the initiative.

Interesting because a number of Christian prophecy theorists have been saying for years that this could be done and will be done based on their interpretation of Revelation chapter 11. Would this be the compromise that makes a peace possible?

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Filed under  //  bible   christianity   end times   islam   israel   judaism  
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Posted 8 months ago