LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
ِMarch
27/2011
Biblical Event Of The
Day
Matthew12/1- At that time,
Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the grain fields. His disciples were
hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 12:2 But the Pharisees,
when they saw it, said to him, “Behold, your disciples do what is not lawful to
do on the Sabbath.” 12:3 But he said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did,
when he was hungry, and those who were with him; 12:4 how he entered into God’s
house, and ate the show bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for
those who were with him, but only for the priests?* 12:5 Or have you not read in
the law, that on the Sabbath day, the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath,
and are guiltless? 12:6 But I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.
12:7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’*
you would not have condemned the guiltless. 12:8 For the Son of Man is Lord of
the Sabbath.” 12:9 He departed there, and went into their synagogue. 12:10 And
behold there was a man with a withered hand. They asked him, “Is it lawful to
heal on the Sabbath day?” that they might accuse him. 12:11 He said to them,
“What man is there among you, who has one sheep, and if this one falls into a
pit on the Sabbath day, won’t he grab on to it, and lift it out? 12:12 Of how
much more value then is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on
the Sabbath day.” 12:13 Then he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He
stretched it out; and it was restored whole, just like the other. 12:14 But the
Pharisees went out, and conspired against him, how they might destroy him. 12:15
Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and
he healed them all, 12:16 and commanded them that they should not make him
known: 12:17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the
prophet, saying,
Latest
analysis, editorials, studies, reports, letters & Releases
from
miscellaneous
sources
Syria's Assad No Longer in
Vogue/By:
Tony Badran/Foreign
Affairs/March
26/11
Ridding Syria of a
despot/By
Elliott Abrams/ March
26/11
Muslims Attack Christian in
Egypt, Cut Off His Ear/(AINA/March
26/11
Egyptian Referendum Does Not End
Coptic Fears/By Wesley Ernst/March
26/11
The wave hits Syria/By: Hanin
Ghaddar/March 26/11
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for March
26/11
To survive, Assad must contain
majority Sunni unrest before it infects army/DEBKAfile
Bahrain Protests to Lebanon over 'Terrorist Threats': Could Raise this Issue
before International Powers/Naharnet
Canada Grants Additional 1 Million
Dollars to STL/Naharnet
Syria: UN human rights office
voices concerns
about situation/UN News Centre
Syria and Yemen's violence
against protesters draws rebuke from White House/Los Angeles Times
Violent protests in Syria,
Bahrain, Yemen – and now Jordan/Christian Science Monitor
Yemen ruler ready to step down,
Syria protests spread/Reuters
Ridding Syria of a
despot/Washington Post
No leads on kidnapped Estonians
in Lebanon/AFP
WikiLeaks: Suleiman Asserted that Army Will Not Interfere in July War/Naharnet
Geagea: Abduction of
Estonians Will Lead to Erosion of the State/Naharnet
No New Information on
Abducted Estonians, PFLP-GC Denies Involvement in Kidnapping/Naharnet
Hout Informs Berri of
Evacuation of Lebanese from Abidjan: Every Flight Incurs 50,000 Dollars in
Losses/Naharnet
Hariri Meets Saudi
Ambassador: They Tried to Eliminate Us Politically/Naharnet
30-Member Cabinet to
Witness Light Soon Amid Reported Deal on Interior Ministry Portfolio/Naharnet
President Sleiman will not approve
an unacceptable cabinet, says Houri/Now Lebanon
Bahrain
Protests to Lebanon over 'Terrorist Threats': Could Raise this Issue before
International Powers
Naharnet/Bahrain has filed an official complaint to the Lebanese government over
Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's recent statements last
week on the protests in the Gulf state. Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled
bin Ahmed al-Khalifa stated that his country won't be lenient with the threats
of a "terrorist organization."He warned that the complaint may be relayed to
international sides if Lebanon does not take it into consideration. He added
however to al-Arabiya television: "We did not issue the complaint without first
consulting with the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council." "The threat has
reached such an extent that it is tantamount to a conspiracy that not only
targets Bahrain, but several countries in the region," he stressed. Beirut, 26
Mar 11, 10:53
No New Information on Abducted Estonians,
PFLP-GC Denies Involvement in Kidnapping
Naharnet/Army intelligence and the Lebanese army are still conducting searches
and sweeps of the area of the Bekaa where seven Estonian tourists were kidnapped
earlier this week. The National News Agency reported on Friday that a Lebanese
citizen was arrested on suspicion of being involved in the crime. Media reports
have raised suspicions that Palestinian groups, the Popular Front for the
Liberation of Palestine – General Command (PFLP-GC) in particular, may be behind
the abduction because it took place in an area under its control. PFLP-GC
official in Lebanon Ramez Mustapha denied before the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat
in remarks published on Saturday that the group was involved in the crime. "The
accusation is part of a campaign aimed at targeting the group on the political,
media, and security levels," he added. "An accusation against us targets the
Resistance and is a free favor to the enemies of the Palestinian cause and
Lebanon," he stressed. Sources said that the PFLP-GC may have made the
kidnapping under an order from foreign powers. Mustapha voiced the front's
readiness to cooperate with the security forces in order to determine the fate
of the seven tourists. Addressing allegations that the kidnappers entered the
PFLP-GC's Ain al-Baida camp, he stated: "In order for cars to enter the camp,
they have to pass through army checkpoints and therefore the abductors could not
have possibly passed through." Asked if the army may enter the camp to search
it, he replied that contacts are ongoing with the army and there is therefore
"no need for a search." Security sources meanwhile told Asharq al-Awsat that the
kidnappers are still in the Bekaa region and they have not left Lebanese
territory. A security source told the Kuwaiti Al-Anbaa that members of the Fatah
Intifada group may be behind the kidnapping, adding that the motives behind such
an action are not clear, but they may be linked to developments in Libya.
Mustaqbal MP Jamal al-Jarrah condemned the crime saying that it is reminiscent
of the kidnapping of foreigners that used to take place during Lebanon's civil
war. "This harms Lebanon's reputation and those behind the abduction want to
tarnish the country's image," he stressed. He revealed however that the security
sources are beginning to achieve progress in the case. Beirut, 26 Mar 11, 11:53
Hariri Meets Saudi Ambassador: They Tried to Eliminate Us
Politically
Naharnet/Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri discussed with the Saudi
Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Assiri the latest developments and bilateral
ties.Hariri met Assiri late on Friday at the Center House, reported the pan-Arab
daily al-Hayat on Saturday. "The other camp tried to abolish us politically,"
Hariri said Thursday during a meeting with delegations that visited him. He
remarked that his coalition isn't trying to eliminate any camp, adding that "we
will do our best to end the tutelage of arms." The weapons are "affecting the
rise of the state, the development of the economy, and the advancement of
Lebanon," Hariri reiterated. Beirut, 26 Mar 11, 10:50
Canada Grants
Additional 1 Million Dollars to STL
Naharnet/Canada is granting an additional 1 million dollars to the Special
Tribunal for Lebanon probing the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese premier
Rafik Hariri, announced Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon,
reported the daily al-Mustaqbal on Saturday. The total of Canadian contributions
to the STL reached 3.7 million dollars, the daily remarked. Special Tribunal for
Lebanon Registrar, Herman von Hebel, confirmed earlier this year that tribunal
prosecutor Daniel Bellemare had submitted an indictment and supporting materials
to Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen. Earlier in March, Bellemare submitted an
amended indictment to Fransen. Beirut, 26 Mar 11, 10:55
Assad Throws Ball in Lebanon's Court: Aoun's Conditions End Optimism Surrounding
Cabinet Formation
Naharnet/The wave of optimism surrounding the formation of the Lebanese
government has diminished after Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun
renewed his demands over the distribution of portfolios. The pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat
reported on Saturday that Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat
and Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh's recent visits to Syria where
they met Syrian President Bashar Assad presented a "strong push towards forming
the government."Attentions are drawn to Lebanon where concessions are expected
to be made in order to facilitate the Cabinet formation. The daily said that the
visits were aimed at eliminating accusations that Syria was behind the delay in
the government formation process. Sources monitoring the process stated: "The
Syrian leadership sought to send a message that the ball is in now in Lebanon's
court and the Lebanese should take it upon themselves to overcome the obstacles
standing in their way.""Syria is also questioning the causes for the delay and
it stands firm in its position of rejecting interfering in the government
formation process as long as the formation is limited to one political camp,"
they added. "Its refusal to intervene does not mean that Damascus will stand
idly by if the political vacuum in Lebanon persists and its allies continue on
wearing each other out without any political justification," the sources noted.
"Syria's message to speed up the formation has reached its target audience in
the March 8 camp," they stressed. They added that Aoun will be forced to soften
his position regarding the formation "when he senses that the Syrian pressure
will leave its mark on the political scene, which should facilitate the
government formation." The sources said: "The main Lebanese political players
were surprised with Aoun's insistence to acquire 12 ministers, as well as a
demand that the Syrian Social National Party and Lebanese Democratic party be
granted two ministers."This means that the March 8 forces combined, including
Hizbullah and AMAL's shares, would hold 20 ministers, leaving ten to President
Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati, and Jumblat. Beirut, 26
Mar 11, 10:38
WikiLeaks: Suleiman Asserted that Army Will Not Interfere in July War
Naharnet/The Lebanese army will not intervene in the July 2006 war, announced
then Army Commander General Michel Suleiman, revealed a leaked U.S. Embassy
cable published by OTV. The WikiLeaks cable dated July 18 reported on a meeting
with then U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey and then French Ambassador to
Lebanon Bernard Emie. The latter informed the American official of a meeting he
held with Suleiman soon after Israel bombed the Jamhour army barracks during the
July 2006 war. The army commander had told the French ambassador that the
Lebanese army will not "fire one gunshot in retaliation to the attack."In
addition, Emie revealed that the March 14 camp is hoping that Israel would
succeed in "clipping Hizbullah's wings" during the war, which the ambassador
doubted it would be capable of achieving. He asked: "Does Israel want to hand
Lebanon over to Iran, Syria, and Hizbullah?"
Hout Informs Berri of Evacuation of Lebanese from Abidjan: Every Flight Incurs
50,000 Dollars in Losses
Naharnet/Middle East Airlines Chairman Mohammed al-Hout held talks on Friday
with Speaker Nabih Berri during which he informed him on the company's situation
in light of the country's political circumstances, as well as the efforts to
evacuate Lebanese expatriates from the Ivory Coast. "Improvement on the internal
scene in Lebanon will positively affect the tourism sector," Hout said.
Regarding the evacuation efforts, he stated: "The airlines has been sending an
airplane a day to Abidjan since the start of the crisis." "We informed the
Lebanese expatriates that MEA is willing to send more than one flight if it has
to," he revealed. "Each flight being sent over to Abidjan is costing the company
50,000 dollars in losses because the ticket prices have been considerably
reduced," he stressed. Hout told Berri: "This is not a great loss because the
flights are serving the Lebanese expatriates and it's important that their needs
be met, especially those residing in Africa given the Ivory Coast's crisis."
Beirut, 26 Mar 11, 11:14
Egyptian
Referendum Does Not End Coptic Fears/Naharnet
3-26-2011 /By Wesley Ernst/Christian Post
http://www.aina.org/news/20110325215101.htm
Fear persists among Egypt's minority Coptic community despite hope among the
rest of the population of greater freedom after the successful referendum to
amend the constitution. The predominantly Arab nation experienced its largest
voter turnout in decades last Saturday. About 41 percent of the population lined
up for hours to cast a vote. The referendum paved the way for a parliamentary
vote in June and a presidential election in August. The vast majority of
Christians voted "no" in the referendum, contrasting more than 70 percent of the
population that voted "yes." "It is not that the Christian population does not
want the constitution to be changed," said a source from Open Doors, a ministry
that supports persecuted Christians, in a statement released earlier this week.
"They feel that this change is too quick and will only benefit the established
political blocs [such as] the Muslim Brotherhood and the National Democratic
Party (NDP)." This sentiment is echoed by secular opponents who point out that
independent political groups will not have time to take root, raising the
possibility that elements of the old regime may return to power. Remnants of the
former ruling NDP remain an active political force that enjoys military backing
despite having lost power in the recent unrest that toppled its leader and
longtime Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak.
Christians in Egypt have long endured Mubarak's complacency to religious hate
crimes that included arson, torture and murder. In some instances, police and
judges have released prime suspects in Coptic Christian murder cases. The former
president also ignored pleas for help in cases involving abduction, rape and
forced conversion of young Coptic women. Muslim converts to Christianity are
routinely subjected to harassment and death threats. Adding to the fears is the
growing prominence of longtime NDP rival, the Muslim Brotherhood. For more than
60 years, the movement existed as an illegal but tolerated force whose influence
stretches to trade unions, professional associations, municipalities and
parliament.
The Muslim Brotherhood in its current form is a bewildering contradiction of old
and new. Born of anti-colonial and legalist sentimentality in 1928, the group
advocated armed resistance against Zionist expansion in Palestine prior to World
War II. However, its founder Hassan al-Banna opposed violence in Egypt and
advocated reformist policies that blended Islamic doctrine with secular welfare.
Banna was assassinated in 1949 under orders from Britain, which controlled Egypt
at the time, and the fraternity once again came under repression following the
1952 revolution that won Egypt its independence. Some of its members eventually
became radicalized from years spent in prison. Others fled to Saudi Arabia where
they were influenced by Wahhabism, a branch within Sunni Islam that is
considered extremist even by many Sunni and Shia Muslims. A few more escaped to
westernized nations, where they came into direct contact with the European
tradition of democratic freedom. And others simply clung to old party
traditions.
The modern Brotherhood includes young moderates whose political views on issues
such as women's rights and religious freedom mesh with Western values, while
older conservatives rail against American imperialism and call for establishing
an Islamic state. It is not clear which faction represents the movement as a
whole. On Wednesday, Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie extended an invitation for
dialogue with young Copts in an apparent bid to unite opposition groups into a
single political party that would vie for parliamentary positions.
"It's great that they want to reassure the Christians, but their words do not
make up for a lack of tangible reassurances and rights for the country's Copts
in the Constitution," said human rights activist Sameh Fawzy, according to
Egyptian magazine Al-Ahram. Fawzy points to a 2007 draft -- which the
Brotherhood denies exists -- banning Christians and women from representing the
Muslim Brotherhood in its bid for the presidency. Despite optimism for change,
Christians fear being marginalized once again in the predominantly Muslim
nation. Egypt currently ranks 19th on the Open Doors World Watch List of
countries with the worst Christian persecution. "It is important that any
changes in the constitution include all the voices of Egypt, especially the
minority groups," said Carl Moeller, president and CEO of Open Doors USA. "We
need to pray for Christians in Egypt, that their voices will be heard." Egypt is
home to the largest population of Christians in the Middle East. There are an
estimated 10 million Coptic Christians in Egypt.
Syria
frees over 200 political detainees
March 26, 2011 /Syria has freed more than 200 political detainees, mostly
Islamists, who were being held at the country's infamous Saydnaya prison, a
London-based rights group reported Saturday."Syrian authorities released more
than 200 prisoners from Saydnaya after the prisoners had submitted signed
requests for their release," Rami Abdulrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory
for Human Rights, told AFP.At least 13 people have been killed in protests this
month demanding major reforms in the country, which has been ruled by the Baath
party for close to 50 years.The government of President Bashar al-Assad
announced a string of reforms on Thursday, including the release of all
activists detained this month and the possibility of ending emergency rule, in
place since 1963. But protesters have vowed to continued to hit the street until
all their demands are met. -AFP/NOW Lebanon
Sleiman will not approve an unacceptable cabinet, says Houri
March 26, 2011 /“We trust that President Michel Sleiman will not sign a decree
[approving] an unacceptable cabinet,” Lebanon First bloc MP Ammar Houri told OTV
on Saturday.
Houri also reminded Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati that he “signed” on
the principles of the Dar al-Fatwa statement, and added that acting outside
these principles would be tantamount to political suicide.Sunni political and
religious leaders attended an “Islamic meeting” at Dar al-Fatwa on February 10,
issuing a statement afterward that warned against “giving up on Lebanon’s
commitment” to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The PM-designate attended the
meeting and reportedly accepted the statement. Mikati, who was appointed to the
premiership on January 25 with the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition’s backing, is
working to form a Lebanese cabinet amid a March 14 decision to boycott the
government.-NOW Lebanon
The wave hits Syria
Hanin Ghaddar , March 26, 2011 /Now Lebanon
The Syrian people did it. They proved wrong every expert who thought that the
Syrian regime is more immune than other dictatorships in the region to the wave
of popular uprisings. Yesterday the Syrians said no. They proved to the world
that the Syrian people have what it takes to go to the streets for the first
time in 48 years.
All the analyses and speculations of Syria being different from Tunisia or Egypt
shattered at the doors of Deraa. The demonstrations started there last week and
spread on Friday to other cities and towns all over the country.
Douma, a town close to Damascus, turned last night into another Daraa. The
protestors decided to stay in the square until their demands are met. They slept
there last night and will probably be followed by other cities and towns.
Although it is too early to tell how yesterday’s large-scale protests will
develop, the pattern is the same. In Tunisia, Egypt and somehow in Libya, when
the demonstrations started the regimes went through several phases: denial,
launching a media war, accusing protestors of working with foreign agents,
making small concessions and finally stepping down or losing. According to
Syrian activists, the regime has quickly followed the same pattern and gotten to
the concessions phase very fast.
Salma Dairi and Husam Al Katlaby, two Syrian activists working from outside
Syria, told NOW Lebanon that the moment the regime decided to kill protestors in
Daraa, it got to the point of no return. Every time a protestor is killed, his
funeral brings in more people and it turns into another demonstration, where the
regime commits more murders and massacres.
It is a vicious cycle that led to the large-scale protests on Friday, but it all
started with one murder by the regime. Though this would have passed silently in
the past, today it didn’t. Why? According to Dairi, Katlaby and other activists
who preferred to stay anonymous, the domino effect of protests across the region
made it possible for the Syrians to continue.
“What happened in Libya is crucial,” said one activist. “All the oppression
tools that Qaddafi used against the protestors failed and led to the
intervention of the international community.” This was apparently reassuring to
the Syrians, who felt that no matter what their regime does, they wouldn’t be
left alone. “It won’t be another Hama [massacre of 1982] because the regime
cannot do it silently anymore.”
The question remains: Who are the protestors, and what do they want?
The activists interviewed by NOW Lebanon are all secular Syrians and said that
the demonstrations were organized by young people inside and outside of Syria.
“Of course the Islamic organizations will try to take advantage of the protests,
but they are not as strong as they are in Egypt,” Katlabi said.
“In Egypt they were in parliament and had active NGOs, but not in Syria. They
are very detached from the street,” he added.
And though the starting point of the protests is at mosques, for them this is
not an indication of a religious orientation. “The regime managed to isolate the
society from civil society organizations for 50 years. Mosques are just a
natural meeting point and can function as a starting point. Many of our secular
and atheist friends who had never been to a mosque before are going to the
mosques for prayers and move from there for demonstrations. It’s the only
choice,” one activist said.
They all mention Syrian activist Suhair Atassi, who was arrested last week
during a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Interior to call for the
release of political prisoners. They say she, along with the 32 protestors who
were arrested, was the first spark of the demonstrations.
These people are not Islamists and are certainly not members of any political
organizations. On the contrary, Atassi is a liberal intellectual with a genuine
determination to bring freedom and reform to her country. That’s it.
Atassi was one of the first to call on her Facebook page for the uprising in
Syria against the regime. She, along with many other liberal young people, was
there from the beginning. Talk of the Muslim Brotherhood being behind the
protests in Daraa and elsewhere do not make sense to anyone who has been
following the development of this movement.
Of course, one should not turn a blind eye to the fact that a lot of Islamic and
Sunni fundamentalist Facebook groups are emerging in an attempt to take
advantage of the uprising, along with many pro-regime groups.
However, people like Suhair Atassi, who is still holding a hunger strike in jail
along with other women arrested that day, cannot be shoved to the side of the
revolution if it succeeds.
As to what the protestors want, their slogans vary from city to city and have
developed as the violence escalated. At the beginning, it was just about simple
reforms and the release of political prisoners. But after the regime started to
kill protestors, these demands were not enough. Pictures of Bashar al-Assad were
burned and a statue of former President Hafez al-Assad was demolished, something
that was previously unimaginable in Syria.
Again, it is too early to say what will happen next, but it seems so far that
the regime will not listen to its people, but prefers to silence them with
force. At the same time, the protestors are determined to continue until they
taste freedom. The regime’s allies – Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in
Gaza– will probably not sit aside and watch. They cannot afford to lose such a
helpful ally. But this is another story. Today’s funerals of yesterday’s martyrs
will say more about what’s next.
**Hanin Ghaddar is managing editor of NOW Lebanon
To survive, Assad must contain majority Sunni unrest before
it infects army
DEBKAfile Exclusive Analysis
March 26, 2011,
The protest against Bashar Assad’s regime is swelling. From its first epicenter
in the southern town of Deraa it spread Friday, March 25, to new cities, Homs,
Aleppo, Latakia and parts of Damascus. It has quickly attained the scale
unforeseen by the regime of a popular uprising by the majority Sunni population
(74 percent) against Allawite-dominated (15 percent) rule.
Army troops gunned the protesters down in what witnesses described as a massacre
of scores and hundreds injured, raising calls from the opposition for
international intervention.
The number of dead and injured cannot be reliably determined. debkafile’s
intelligence sources report that special Syrian security clean-up units removed
the bodies as they fell.
The authorities were caught unawares by the upsurge of street rallies that
followed preachers’ sermons in hundreds of Sunni mosques calling on their
congregations to go out and drive the Assads and the minority Allawite sect from
power. The Syrian secret service missed the Muslim Brotherhood’s hand in
organizing this mass street eruption. The strongest rallying cry came from the
influential radical Egyptian television preacher Yussuf Qaradawi who called on
Syria’s Sunni community to stand up for its rights as a majority.
Because the army’s 4th Division commanded by Bashar’s brother Maher Assad, the
only unit to be manned by Allawites, is tied down in suppressing riots in the
southern town of Deraa and most of the troops in all other units are Sunnis,
Assad is short of trusted contingents to defend his regime. He figured that
fresh outbreaks in Deraa would inflame the rest of the country and therefore
kept the 4th Division in place. But the outbreaks spread to other key cities
anyway under slogans calling for solidarity with the martyrs of Deraa and
threatening his power centers in Damascus and beyond. Neither the conciliatory
measures announced on Thursday nor the security crackdown against protesters has
succeeded in stifling dissent and defusing the crisis.
Defiancecontinues in Deraa itself even after demonstrators were gunned down with
live bullets. The al-Omari mosque, which was stormed by security forces on
Tuesday night, was reported to be back in the hands of protesters.The mosque has
been the focal point of dissent in Deraa. The tipping point for the 11-year old
Assad regime (which followed the one his father established after a military
coup) is therefore not far off unless he makes the right decision or receives
outside help. He can either opt for the Qaddafi option, for instance, or follow
the example of the King of Bahrain. From the outset of the Libya revolt in
February, Muammar Qaddafi opted for abandoning the east and focusing his
military effort on preserving his centers of power in Tripoli and its outlying
towns. After stabilizing his rule, he planned to set out and wrest the rest of
the country from the rebels opposing his regime. So far, his gamble has
succeeded. The rebels backed by international forces have not unseated him. Will
Assad decide after Friday that he has enough loyal military strength to buttress
his rule over all of Syria, or choose to pull in his horns and concentrate on
saving Damascus? Since much of his army is unreliable, the Syrian ruler may have
to opt for the Bahrain remedy - namely, calling for outside help as did King
Hamid al Khalifa who asked Riyadh for Saudi forces to prop up his throne against
a Shiite-led uprising.
The allies who come to mind in the case of Assad are Iran, the Lebanese
Hizballah, pro-Iranian Palestinian groups with bases in Damascus - Hamas, Jihad
Islami and Ahmad Jibril’s Popular Palestinian Front-General Command. It would
take Tehran no more than a few hours to fly Revolutionary Guards units into
Damascus. An Iranian command structure is already positioned at Syrian armed
forces headquarters in Damascus. Also available to Tehran is an Iraqi Shiite
militia, the Mehdi Army of the radical cleric Moqtada Sadr, a good personal
friend both of Hizballah’s Hassan Nasrallah and Assad. Saturday, there was
widespread speculation that Tehran would do its utmost to rescue the Syrian
ruler who only recently opened the port of Latakia for an Iranian base. Giving
Hizballah a foothold in Syria is more complicated given the unstated competition
between him and the Syrian ruler and the latter’s reservations about the
former’s rising military strength and effective secret and terrorist
capabilities. Assad would undoubtedly take into account that once Hizballah
gained a foothold in Syria, it would be hard to dislodge. Putting the fate of
the Assad regime in the hands of radical Palestinian organizations would be
equally imprudent and, worse, a humiliation. It would give Palestinians their
second open door to an Arab uprising, the first of which gave Hamas undreamed of
leverage in Egypt.Assad may even stage an attack on Israel as a desperate
diversionary tactic from his troubles.
Muslims Attack Christian in Egypt,
Cut Off His Ear
http://www.aina.org/news/20110325223845.htm
3-26-2011 /(AINA) -- A group of Muslims attacked Ayman Anwar Mitri, a 45 year
old Christian Coptic man in the Upper Egyptian town of Qena, cutting off his
ear. The Muslims claimed they were applying Sharia law because Mr. Mitri
allegedly had an illicit affair with a Muslim woman. The Muslims called the
police and told them "We have applied the law of Allah, now come and apply your
law," according to Mr. Mitri in an interview for the Egyptian Human Rights
Organization. Mr. Mitri, a low grade administrator at a secondary school, from
elHasweya, in Qena, 492 KM from Cairo, had rented his flat to two Muslim
sisters, Abeer and Sabrin Saif Al-Nasr, through an agent. After nine months he
learned the sisters had been indicted for prostitution, so he asked them to
leave and they did. On Sunday, March 20 Mr. Mitri was informed by a friend via a
phone call at 4 AM that the flat where the Muslim sisters lived was on fire; he
went to the flat. While waiting in the torched flat a Muslim named Alaa el Sunni
came and berated him for renting his flat to prostitutes. "I tried to calm him
down," said Mr. Mitri, "and told him I knew nothing about the two women since
they came through an agent." Alaa suggested they would go somewhere quiet to
clear the misunderstanding. They went to the flat of Mr. Mitri's friend Khaled,
a policeman, where 12 Muslims were waiting for him. They started beating him and
saying "We will teach you a lesson, Christian" and "This serves your right for
renting your property to prostitutes." Believing this was the end of the
episode, they asked him to call the Muslim woman, so that they would send her to
her father. When the woman refused to come, they asked a female Muslim neighbor
to call her, saying that her belongings are with her. The woman, Sabrin, came
and was told to say that she had a relationship with Mr. Mitri. "At first the
woman refused, but after being beaten, she agreed," said Mr. Mitri. Remembering
his ordeal, he said that they sat him on a chair and a Muslim named elHusseiny
cut his right ear off. "I felt so shocked that I do not even know what tool he
used." They also made a a 10cm cut at the back of his neck, cut his other ear,
his face and his arm (video showing wounds). Mr. Mitri said they wanted to throw
him off the fifth floor but Khaled objected, saying he would get into trouble
for just being there, since he is a policeman. Mr. Mitri said that the Muslims
tried to convert him to Islam, but he refused. The Muslims then called the
police and told them to come and get the Copt saying "We have applied the law of
Allah, now come and apply your civil law." The police came and rescued Mitri and
Sabrin, who told the police the Muslims forced her to lie about the illicit
relationship between her and Mitri. A police report was issued, but no arrests
were made. "I feel humiliated and broken," said Mr. Mitri. "I have lost the
income from the torched flat, my car, and have become disfigured. Who is going
to restore my honor?"
His wife said in an interview that she is ashamed to go to work and feels very
unsafe. She is afraid to let the children go to school and is hoping to leave
the area. At first Mr. Mitri said he wanted full compensation for his losses and
even wanted revenge by cutting off the ear of the Muslim who cut his ear off.
However, it was reported that a "reconciliation" meeting was made in the
presence of Colonel Ahmed Masood, Vice military ruler of Qena, whereby Ayman
Mitri and the Muslims came to an "agreement." Mr. Mitri had to withdraw the
police report he filed against the Muslims. Mr. Mitri appeared on the Coptic TV
channel CTV, where he was asked about the reason he agreed to reconcile and
forfeit his rights. Mitri said while sobbing "I was threatened, they threatened
to kidnap the female children in our family."Anba Kirollos, Bishop of Nag
Hammadi, called on the armed forces to intervene and put an end to this "thuggery
in the name of religion" so that this "infection" does not spread to other
areas. He said if thuggery is put above the law the dignity and prestige of the
State would be lost. By Mary Abdelmassih
Syria: UN human rights office voices
concerns about situation
25 March 2011 – The United Nations human rights office today spoke out over the
worsening situation in Syria, saying it will be closely monitoring the pledge of
the country’s Government to introduce political and economic reforms. Rupert
Colville, a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights (OHCHR), told reporters in Geneva that the office was concerned by the
use of live ammunition and tear gas by authorities against peaceful protesters
in Syria. At least 37 people were killed in the southern town of Deraa,
including two children, and media reports today indicate that more protesters
have been shot dead by security forces. “We welcome the decision to investigate
the killings and reiterate our call for this investigation to be independent and
impartial; those responsible for the killings must be held accountable,” Mr.
Colville said. “We also welcome the release of those associated with the
protests in Deraa, and hope that all human rights defenders and political
activists throughout Syria, who have also reportedly been arrested, will also be
released without delay.” The demonstrations in Syria are part of a broader
protest movement that has swept the Middle East and North Africa since the start
of the year, toppling long-standing regimes in Tunisia and Egypt and leading to
fierce fighting in Libya. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke by telephone
earlier today with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, stressing to the President
that the people had expressed their democratic aspirations through peaceful
means. Mr. Ban underlined that governments have an obligation to respect and
protect the fundamental rights of citizens, and urged authorities to exercise
maximum restraint. The Syrian Government announced yesterday that it would
introduce a series of political and economic reforms, including holding
consultations aimed at ending the state of emergency that has been in existence
within the country since 1963. Mr. Colville welcomed the news and said OHCHR
“will be closely monitoring the speedy and effective implementation of such
reforms.”
Syria's Assad No Longer in Vogue
What Everyone Got Wrong About Bashar al-Assad
Tony Badran /Foreign Affairs
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/67677/tony-badran/syrias-assad-no-longer-in-vogue?page=2
March 25, 2011
Summay: According to many observers, Syria's Bashar al-Assad was supposed to be
immune to the kind of popular protest that swept the country today. Ironically,
the basis was Assad’s own public relations strategy. With no real legitimacy,
his only resort to stop the protests will be violence.
It was slow in coming, but the Arab revolutionary wave of 2011 has reached
Syria. Its arrival has forced a reassessment of the Bashar al-Assad regime’s
domestic legitimacy and prospects for survival. Over the past few months, many
commentators have maintained that the regime would remain sheltered from
regional turmoil. As the prominent Syrian dissident Suhair Atassi lamented, her
country is “a kingdom of silence” dominated by fear.
Now, the story line has changed dramatically. Events in the southern city of
Deraa have challenged the conventional wisdom about Syria’s stability. Protests
began on March 18, after security forces detained 15 children for spraying
anti-regime graffiti on walls there. Seeking to nip any ideas of revolution in
the bud, Assad’s security forces attacked the protesters, killing four.
The next day, thousands took to the streets, torching the ruling Baath Party
headquarters, several other government buildings, and the local branch of the
country’s main cell phone company, Syriatel, which is owned by Assad’s cousin,
Rami Makhlouf, whom the protesters singled out by name, calling him a “thief.”
They also defaced many of the ubiquitous posters of Assad that the regime,
Soviet-style, hangs in public places, and tore down a statue of Hafez al-Assad,
Bashar’s father.
The regime’s heavy-handed crackdown on the children lit the fuse on the Syrian
people’s political and economic grievances. They initially demanded an end to
the emergency laws first enacted 48 years ago when the Baath Party seized power
in Syria. But by March 19, they were calling for “revolution.” The old
regime-sanctioned chants of “God, Syria, and Bashar only” had been replaced with
“God, Syria, and freedom only.”
With its sources of legitimacy badly undermined, brute force is the only tool
left to secure the Assad regime’s rule. The regime attempted to calm the
situation by sending to Deraa a delegation headed by Faisal al-Miqdad, the
deputy foreign minister, to offer condolences and promise an investigation into
the deaths of the four protesters. It also pledged to release the original 15
detainees. But the delegation was not well received, and the riots continued and
spread to some neighboring towns.
By March 22, the regime judged the situation in Deraa to have gotten out of hand
and dispatched several tanks and helicopters to seal off the city. Although they
were initially repelled, the security forces subsequently made a final push
against the protesters at dawn on March 23, resulting in what dissidents have
called a “massacre.” According to human rights activists and witnesses, more
than 100 people were killed. Rumor has it that the push was undertaken by the
Republican Guard -- a force tasked with protecting the Assad regime commanded by
Bashar’s brother, Maher.
Despite the bloody crackdown, the protesters continued to come out in the
thousands, expressing their resolve to push ahead. In particular, the regime was
clearly concerned about plans for a major rally on March 25 after Friday
prayers, and about the prospect of it spreading beyond Deraa. In a desperate
attempt to head it off, Assad’s spokesperson, Bouthaina Shaaban, made public
statements promising that the regime would “study” lifting the emergency laws.
By all indications, however, her statement only increased the protesters’
determination to press on. To the protesters, such gestures may simply be too
little, too late.
According to many observers, Assad was supposed to be immune to this kind of
popular movement. His anti-American policies and enmity toward Israel were
thought to boost his legitimacy in the eyes of his people. Compared the advanced
age of Egypt’s former president, 82-year-old Hosni Mubarak, and Tunisia’s
ex-president, 74-year-old Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, Assad’s relative youth at 45
was also thought to be an asset. One Syria specialist, Joshua Landis, noted that
unlike the aging Mubarak, the young Assad was “popular among young people” who
“tend to blame [corruption] on . . . the ‘old guard.’” An unfortunately timed
puff piece on Asma al-Assad, the president’s glamorous wife, in the current
issue of Vogue, spoke of the “first lady’s central mission . . . to change the
mind-set of six million Syrians under eighteen [and] encourage them to engage in
what she calls ‘active citizenship.’” It gave plausibility to the claim that the
Assads are a fresh breeze blowing through a decrepit house.
Ironically, the basis for such arguments was Assad’s own public relations
strategy. When Assad inherited power from his father in 2000, he adopted the
“old versus new guard” theme to cultivate his image as a reformer and bolster
his legitimacy at home and abroad. For a brief period, he allowed dissidents to
criticize corruption openly. But this so-called Damascus Spring was a cynical
mirage. In the past decade, Syria has not seen a single meaningful act of
reform.
The truth is that Assad could not have pursued such reform even if he had wanted
to, as this would have meant taking on the corruption of his immediate family.
Assad’s cousin, the billionaire Makhlouf, is widely considered to be the
second-most powerful man in the country, even though he holds no official title.
He is essentially the economic arm of the regime, using his business empire to
co-opt the Sunni merchant class. (Makhlouf, Assad, and most of the ruling elite
and high-ranking officers are Alawites, a minority sect.) When the people of
Deraa set fire to the Syriatel office, they were not targeting the old guard;
they were targeting the very heart of the current regime, or, as one Syrian
activist in Deraa told Reuters, the very symbols of oppression and corruption.
The idea that Assad’s anti-Western ideology is popular enough to shield him from
public discontent comes from him as well: in an interview with The Wall Street
Journal in late January, he explained that the Mubarak regime was unpopular due
to its alliance with the United States and its peace treaty with Israel. By
contrast, he suggested, the Syrian regime was ideologically united with the
people. As Assad put it, Syrians “do not go into an uprising,” because “it is
not only about [their] needs and not only about the reform. It is about the
ideology.” Assad’s foreign policy and ideology of “resistance” may indeed be
popular in Syria. But the protests are driven by concerns over domestic issues.
The idea that ideology and foreign policy trump concerns about lack of freedom,
economic opportunity, and political participation has proved wrong.
Other commentators who dismissed the likelihood of the Assad regime falling
pointed to solidarity among the Alawite elite. Unlike the Egyptian army, which
functioned independently of Mubarak and broke with him at a key moment, the
Syrian brass, as part of a small religious minority, views its fate and safety
as inextricably linked to Assad’s and therefore will not fail to crack down on
protests.
Still, that threat has not deterred all the protesters. And on March 22, the
sectarian dimension of the conflict became explicit: the Deraa demonstrators
broke a long-standing taboo, chanting, “No to Iran, no to Hezbollah, we want a
God-fearing Muslim” -- by which they meant, “We want a Sunni Muslim running the
country.” In a show of solidarity with the regime, Alawites replaced their own
headshots on Facebook with pictures of Bashar.
It has been suggested that the best way for Assad to deal with sectarian
tensions would be to reform and democratize. But to democratize is to take the
Alawite hand off the tiller. And, the bankrupt regime’s latest concession to
quell the unrest -- the announcement of a salary increase for state employees --
suggests that even Assad’s supposed economic rationalization is over. With its
sources of legitimacy badly undermined, brute force is the only tool left to
secure the regime’s rule.
On March 24, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates urged that Syria follow
Egypt’s example. However, as the protests spread throughout the rest of Syria,
Assad will surely follow another example: Hafez al-Assad who set the precedent,
in 1982, when he pulverized Hama, a Muslim Brotherhood rebellion city, killing
nearly 20,000 to secure his rule. That legacy has kept the Syrians fearfully
silent -- until now.
The regime’s concern about the Friday protests was justified. Today,
demonstrations have erupted everywhere, including in major cities, such as
Aleppo, Damascus, Homs, Latakia, and Qamishli. Chants of “Down with Bashar’s
regime” have been heard regularly. The regime’s response continues to be violent
repression coupled with attempts at political maneuvering. It is hard to predict
where the demonstrations will go after today. If unrest takes hold in the
northeast (among the Kurds) and northwest (in large Sunni areas), it will be a
sign that the Assad regime’s grasp on power is weakening. The people of Deraa
have shown that the population’s barrier of fear can be broken. That is
something that Assad cannot allow to persist and take root. Whether he manages
to reinstill it will prove decisive for his family’s rule.
Amnesty: At least 55 killed in a week of Syria protests
By Reuters /Human rights group Amnesty International reported Friday that at least 55 people
were believed to have been killed since protests erupted in and around the
southern Syrian city of Daraa a week ago.
The human rights organization chastised the Syrian government, saying in a
statement that "security forces again opened fire on protesters in al-Sanamayn
and carried out arrests in Damascus, according to reports on Friday, a day after
the authorities pledged to investigate the violence."
Anti-Syrian government protesters shout slogans as they protest after Friday
prayers at Omayyad Mosque, in Damascus, Syria, Friday, March 25, 2011.
Earlier, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for "maximum restraint" by
Syria, in a telephone call with President Bashar Assad, whose forces have killed
dozens of pro-democracy demonstrators.
A statement issued by Ban's office said he told Assad that "governments had an
obligation to respect and protect their citizens fundamental rights."
Ban "urged maximum restraint by the authorities and expressed his hope in a
meaningful response to the expression of legitimate concerns," the statement
said.
Amid a general wave of unrest in the Arab world, protests have spread across
Syria, challenging the rule of the Assad family. Clashes intensified on Friday,
with at least 23 reported dead in clashes in various locations throughout the
country in what anti-government protesters have called 'Friday of Dignity'.
The United States has also condemned the harsh Syrian crackdown, calling on the
Syrian government to stop violence against demonstrators and the arrests of
human rights activists, White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Friday.
"We strongly condemn the Syrian government's attempts to repress and intimidate
demonstrators," he told reporters.
Turkey also issued a statement Friday, calling on Syria to make good on promises
of economic and social reform as soon as possible in the face of growing unrest.
In the statement, Turkey's Foreign Ministry regretted casualties in the violence
spreading through its southeast neighbor and called for calm on the part of
families that had suffered casualties.
"We welcome the statements of Syrian officials on starting work for reform on
social and economic issues to meet the Syrian people's legitimate demands and
expectations," the statement said.
"It is of great importance that the necessary work is completed soon and the
decisions are implemented without losing time."
Turkish officials have been guarded in their comments on events in Syria.
Relations between the two countries have improved markedly since the AK Party
has been in power, while Turkey's old friendship with Israel has cooled.
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said this week he had spoken to President Bashar
Assad during his last visit to Syria about the upheavals in the Arab world and
had urged him to find a more democratic path.
"I said very clearly and very openly that Mr Assad should take a lesson from
what has been going on in other countries in the region and without trying to
use same manner, should find a way out which is much more democratic."
Erdogan said he warned Assad it would be dangerous if any social unrest in Syria
assumed a sectarian dimension.
The Foreign Ministry statement said Turkey was monitoring developments closely
in Syria and offered condolences to the bereaved.
"We wish patience to families of those who lost their lives, send our
condolences, and wish the best of health to those injured," it said.
A Syrian opposition leader implored the international community Friday to
intervene to stop "the massacres against civilians by President Bashar Assad's
regime" in protests across Syria.
"There are killed and wounded and those who are arrested in all the provinces,"
he told Reuters by telephone from Canada, referring to protests that spread
beyond the southern town of Deraa on Friday challenging Assad's rule
Ridding
Syria of a despot
By Elliott Abrams, /Washington
Post
Friday, March 25,
While the monarchies of the Middle East have a fighting chance to reform and
survive, the region’s fake republics have been falling like dominoes — and Syria
is next.
The ingredients that brought down Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia were
replicated in Egypt and Libya: repression, vast corruption and family rule. All
are starkly present in Syria, where the succession Egyptians and Tunisians
feared, father to son, took place years ago and the police state has claimed
thousands of victims. Every Arab “republic” has been a republic of fear, but
only Saddam Hussein’s Iraq surpassed the Assads’ Syria in number of victims. The
regime may cling to power for a while by shooting protesting citizens, but its
ultimate demise is certain. The Arab monarchies, especially Jordan and Morocco,
are more legitimate than the false republics, with their stolen elections,
regime-dominated courts and rubber-stamp parliaments. Unlike the “republics,”
the monarchies do not have histories of bloody repression and jails filled with
political prisoners. The question is whether the kings, emirs and sheiks will
end their corruption and shift toward genuine constitutional monarchies in which
power is shared between throne and people.
For the “republics,” however, reform is impossible. Force is the only way to
stay in power. When Bashar al-Assad inherited power in 2000, there was
widespread hope of a Damascus Spring — an end to the bloody repression that
characterized the rule of his father, Hafez (which reached its apex in 1982,
when he had an estimated 25,000 protesters in Hama killed). Bashar, the thinking
went, had lived in London and wanted to modernize Syria. But when he had himself
“elected” president with 97.2 percent of the vote, the writing was on the wall.
Some still suggested that Bashar’s hoped-for reforms were held back by hard-line
forces around him, but over time, his consolidation of personal power , the
growing number of Syrian political prisoners and murders in Lebanon made this
excuse obscene. The U.N. special tribunal may find the Assad regime, Hezbollah
or both guilty of the 2005 murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq
Hariri. The car-bomb killings of Lebanese journalists and politicians who
criticized the Syrian regime have one address: Assad’s palace.
The demise of this murderous clan is in America’s interest. The Assad regime
made Syria the pathway for jihadists from around the world to enter Iraq to
fight and kill Americans. Long a haven for terrorists, Syria still allows the
Hamas leadership, among other Palestinian terrorist groups, to live and work in
Damascus. Moreover, a government dominated by Syria’s Sunni majority — the Assad
clan is from the tiny Alawite minority — would never have the close relations
with Hezbollah and Iran that Assad maintains; it would seek to reintegrate into
the Arab world. Iran will lose its close Arab ally, and its land bridge to
Hezbollah, when Assad falls.
Since the wave of Mideast revolts has spread to Syria, Assad is responding the
only way he knows: by killing. What should be our response?
First, the strongest and most frequent denunciations, preferably not only from
the White House but also from people such as Sen. John Kerry, who has repeatedly
visited Assad and spoken of improving relations with his regime. All those who
were taken in by Assad should be loudest in denouncing his bloody repression.
Second, we should prosecute Syria in every available multilateral forum,
including the U.N. Security Council and the Human Rights Council. Others should
refer Assad to the International Criminal Court. With blood flowing, there
should be no delays; this is the moment to call for special sessions and action
to prevent more killing. Even if these bodies do not act, the attention should
give heart to Syrian demonstrators.
Third, we should ask the new governments in Egypt and Tunisia to immediately
call Arab League sessions to debate the violence in Syria. Libya was expelled;
let’s demand that Syria be, too. Fourth, press the Europeans to speak and act
against Syria’s regime. U.S. sanctions against Syria are strong and probably
cannot be increased effectively now, but the European Union has far more trade
and investment. The French have spoken out and may be willing to take the lead
again.
None of these steps will bring down Assad’s regime; only the courage of young
Syrians can do that. But we must not repeat the wavering and delays that
characterized the U.S. response in Egypt. We must be clear that we view Syria’s
despicable regime as unsalvageable, which suggests a fifth step: recalling the
American ambassador from Syria. The Obama administration erred badly by sending
an envoy — in a recess appointment — for this move was understood in the region
as a reduction of U.S. pressure on Syria despite its increasingly dominant role
in Lebanon. We should pull our ambassador, as we did in Libya, and unveil a
hard-hitting political and human rights campaign against a bloody regime whose
people want it gone. Our principles alone should lead us to this position, but
the memory of thousands of American soldiers killed in Iraq with the help of the
Assad regime demands that we do all we can to help the Syrian people free
themselves of that evil dictatorship.
**The writer, a senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on
Foreign Relations, was a deputy national security adviser to President George W.
Bush.
Question: "With all of the different religions,
GotQuestions.org
How can I know which one is correct?"
Answer: There is no doubt that the number of different religions in the world
makes it a challenge to know which one is correct. First, let’s consider some
thoughts on the overall subject and then look at how one might approach the
topic in a manner that can actually get to a right conclusion about God. The
challenge of different answers to a particular issue is not unique to the topic
of religion. For example, you can sit 100 math students down, give them a
complex problem to solve, and it is likely that many will get the answer wrong.
But does this mean that a correct answer does not exist? Not at all. Those who
get the answer wrong simply need to be shown their error and know the techniques
necessary to arrive at the correct answer.
How do we arrive at the truth about God? We use a systematic methodology that is
designed to separate truth from error by using various tests for truth, with the
end result being a set of right conclusions. Can you imagine the end results a
scientist would arrive at if he went into the lab and just started mixing things
together with no rhyme or reason? Or if a physician just started treating a
patient with random medicines in the hope of making him well? Neither the
scientist nor the physician takes this approach; instead, they use systematic
methods that are methodical, logical, evidential, and proven to yield the right
end result.
This being the case, why think theology—the study of God—should be any
different? Why believe it can be approached in a haphazard and undisciplined way
and still yield right conclusions? Unfortunately, this is the approach many
take, and this is one of the reasons why so many religions exist. That said, we
now return to the question of how to reach truthful conclusions about God. What
systematic approach should be used? First, we need to establish a framework for
testing various truth claims, and then we need a roadmap to follow to reach a
right conclusion. Here is a good framework to use:
1. Logical consistency—the claims of a belief system must logically cohere to
each other and not contradict in any way. As an example, the end goal of
Buddhism is to rid oneself of all desires. Yet, one must have a desire to rid
oneself of all desires, which is a contradictory and illogical principle.
2. Empirical adequacy—is there evidence to support the belief system (whether
the evidence is rational, externally evidential, etc.)? Naturally, it is only
right to want proof for important claims being made so the assertions can be
verified. For example, Mormons teach that Jesus lived in North America. Yet
there is absolutely no proof, archaeological or otherwise, to support such a
claim.
3. Existential relevancy—the belief system must conform to reality as we know
it, and it must make a meaningful difference in the life of the adherent. Deism,
for example, claims that God just threw the spinning world into the universe and
does not interact with those who live on it. How does such a belief impact
someone in a day-to-day manner? In short, it does not.
The above framework, when applied to the topic of religion, will help lead one
to a right view of God and will answer the four big questions of life:
1. Origin – where did we come from?
2. Ethics – how should we live?
3. Meaning – what is the purpose for life?
4. Destiny – where is mankind heading?
But how does one go about applying this framework in the pursuit of God? A
step-by-step question/answer approach is one of the best tactics to employ.
Narrowing the list of possible questions down produces the following:
1. Does absolute truth exist?
2. Do reason and religion mix?
3. Does God exist?
4. Can God be known?
5. Is Jesus God?
6. Does God care about me?
First we need to know if absolute truth exists. If it does not, then we really
cannot be sure of anything (spiritual or not), and we end up either an agnostic,
unsure if we can really know anything, or a pluralist, accepting every position
because we are not sure which, if any, is right.
Absolute truth is defined as that which matches reality, that which corresponds
to its object, telling it like it is. Some say there is no such thing as
absolute truth, but taking such a position becomes self-defeating. For example,
the relativist says, “All truth is relative,” yet one must ask: is that
statement absolutely true? If so, then absolute truth exists; if not, then why
consider it? Postmodernism affirms no truth, yet it affirms at least one
absolute truth: postmodernism is true. In the end, absolute truth becomes
undeniable.
Further, absolute truth is naturally narrow and excludes its opposite. Two plus
two equals four, with no other answer being possible. This point becomes
critical as different belief systems and worldviews are compared. If one belief
system has components that are proven true, then any competing belief system
with contrary claims must be false. Also, we must keep in mind that absolute
truth is not impacted by sincerity and desire. No matter how sincerely someone
embraces a lie, it is still a lie. And no desire in the world can make something
true that is false.
The answer of question one is that absolute truth exists. This being the case,
agnosticism, postmodernism, relativism, and skepticism are all false positions.
This leads us to the next question of whether reason/logic can be used in
matters of religion. Some say this is not possible, but—why not? The truth is,
logic is vital when examining spiritual claims because it helps us understand
why some claims should be excluded and others embraced. Logic is absolutely
critical in dismantling pluralism (which says that all truth claims, even those
that oppose each other, are equal and valid).
For example, Islam and Judaism claim that Jesus is not God, whereas Christianity
claims He is. One of the core laws of logic is the law of non-contradiction,
which says something cannot be both “A” and “non-A” at the same time and in the
same sense. Applying this law to the claims Judaism, Islam, and Christianity
means that one is right and the other two are wrong. Jesus cannot be both God
and not God. Used properly, logic is a potent weapon against pluralism because
it clearly demonstrates that contrary truth claims cannot both be true. This
understanding topples the whole “true for you but not for me” mindset.
Logic also dispels the whole “all roads lead to the top of the mountain” analogy
that pluralists use. Logic shows that each belief system has its own set of
signs that point to radically different locations in the end. Logic shows that
the proper illustration of a search for spiritual truth is more like a maze—one
path makes it through to truth, while all others arrive at dead ends. All faiths
may have some surface similarities, but they differ in major ways in their core
doctrines.
The conclusion is that you can use reason and logic in matters of religion. That
being the case, pluralism (the belief that all truth claims are equally true and
valid) is ruled out because it is illogical and contradictory to believe that
diametrically opposing truth claims can both be right.
Next comes the big question: does God exist? Atheists and naturalists (who do
not accept anything beyond this physical world and universe) say “no.” While
volumes have been written and debates have raged throughout history on this
question, it is actually not difficult to answer. To give it proper attention,
you must first ask this question: Why do we have something rather than nothing
at all? In other words, how did you and everything around you get here? The
argument for God can be presented very simply:
Something exists.
You do not get something from nothing.
Therefore, a necessary and eternal Being exists.
You cannot deny you exist because you have to exist in order to deny your own
existence (which is self-defeating), so the first premise above is true. No one
believes you can get something from nothing (i.e., that ”nothing” produced the
universe), so the second premise is true. Therefore, the third premise must be
true—an eternal Being responsible for everything must exist.
This is a position no thinking atheist denies; they just claim that the universe
is that eternal being. However, the problem with that stance is that all
scientific evidence points to the fact that the universe had a beginning (the
‘big bang’). And everything that has a beginning must have a cause; therefore,
the universe had a cause and is not eternal. Because the only two sources of
eternality are an eternal universe (proven to be untrue) or an eternal Creator,
the only logical conclusion is that God exists. Answering the question of God’s
existence in the affirmative rules out atheism as a valid belief system.
Now, this conclusion says nothing about what kind of God exists, but amazingly
enough, it does do one sweeping thing—it rules out all pantheistic religions.
All pantheistic worldviews say that the universe is God and is eternal. And this
assertion is false. So, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and all other pantheistic
religions are ruled out as valid belief systems.
Further, we learn some interesting things about this God who created the
universe. He is:
• Supernatural in nature (as He exists outside of His creation)
• Incredibly powerful (to have created all that is known)
• Eternal (self-existent, as He exists outside of time and space)
• Omnipresent (He created space and is not limited by it)
• Timeless and changeless (He created time)
• Immaterial (because He transcends space)
• Personal (the impersonal can’t create personality)
• Necessary (as everything else depends on Him)
• Infinite and singular (as you cannot have two infinites)
• Diverse yet has unity (as nature exhibits diversity)
• Intelligent (supremely, to create everything)
• Purposeful (as He deliberately created everything)
• Moral (no moral law can exist without a lawgiver)
• Caring (or no moral laws would have been given)
This Being exhibits characteristics very similar to the God of Judaism, Islam,
and Christianity, which interestingly enough, are the only core faiths left
standing after atheism and pantheism have been eliminated. Note also that one of
the big questions in life (origins) is now answered: we know where we came from.
This leads to the next question: can we know God? At this point, the need for
religion is replaced by something more important—the need for revelation. If
mankind is to know this God well, it is up to God to reveal Himself to His
creation. Judaism, Islam, and Christianity all claim to have a book that is
God’s revelation to man, but the question is which (if any) is actually true?
Pushing aside minor differences, the two core areas of dispute are 1) the New
Testament of the Bible 2) the person of Jesus Christ. Islam and Judaism both
claim the New Testament of the Bible is untrue in what it claims, and both deny
that Jesus is God incarnate, while Christianity affirms both to be true.
There is no faith on the planet that can match the mountains of evidence that
exist for Christianity. From the voluminous number of ancient manuscripts, to
the very early dating of the documents written during the lifetime of the
eyewitnesses (some only 15 years after Christ’s death), to the multiplicity of
the accounts (nine authors in 27 books of the New Testament), to the
archaeological evidence—none of which has ever contradicted a single claim the
New Testament makes—to the fact that the apostles went to their deaths claiming
they had seen Jesus in action and that He had come back from the dead,
Christianity sets the bar in terms of providing the proof to back up its claims.
The New Testament’s historical authenticity—that it conveys a truthful account
of the actual events as they occurred—is the only right conclusion to reach once
all the evidence has been examined.
When it comes to Jesus, one finds a very curious thing about Him—He claimed to
be God in the flesh. Jesus own words (e.g., “Before Abraham was born I AM”), His
actions (e.g., forgiving sins, accepting worship), His sinless and miraculous
life (which He used to prove His truth claims over opposing claims), and His
resurrection all support His claims to be God. The New Testament writers affirm
this fact over and over again in their writings.
Now, if Jesus is God, then what He says must be true. And if Jesus said that the
Bible is inerrant and true in everything it says (which He did), this must mean
that the Bible is true in what it proclaims. As we have already learned, two
competing truth claims cannot both be right. So anything in the Islamic Koran or
writings of Judaism that contradict the Bible cannot be true. In fact, both
Islam and Judaism fail since they both say that Jesus is not God incarnate,
while the evidence says otherwise. And because we can indeed know God (because
He has revealed Himself in His written Word and in Christ), all forms of
agnosticism are refuted. Lastly, another big question of life is answered—that
of ethics—as the Bible contains clear instructions on how mankind ought to live.
This same Bible proclaims that God cares deeply for mankind and wishes all to
know Him intimately. In fact, He cares so much that He became a man to show His
creation exactly what He is like. There are many men who have sought to be God,
but only one God who sought to be man so He could save those He deeply loves
from an eternity separated from Him. This fact demonstrates the existential
relevancy of Christianity and also answers that last two big questions of
life—meaning and destiny. Each person has been designed by God for a purpose,
and each has a destiny that awaits him—one of eternal life with God or eternal
separation from Him. This deduction (and the point of God’s becoming a man in
Christ) also refutes Deism, which says God is not interested in the affairs of
mankind.
In the end, we see that ultimate truth about God can be found and the worldview
maze successfully navigated by testing various truth claims and systematically
pushing aside falsehoods so that only the truth remains. Using the tests of
logical consistency, empirical adequacy, and existential relevancy, coupled with
asking the right questions, yields truthful and reasonable conclusions about
religion and God. Everyone should agree that the only reason to believe
something is that it is true—nothing more. Sadly, true belief is a matter of the
will, and no matter how much logical evidence is presented, some will still
choose to deny the God who is there and miss the one true path to harmony with
Him.
Recommended Resource: Jesus Among Other gods by Ravi Zacharias.