Islam And The West

Members of the “Lobby for Jewish values” in Israel have launched a campaign to dissuade local Jewish businesses from displaying Christmas trees.The lobby claims to have support from rabbis in their campaign.

Ofer Cohen, from the lobby claims that Christmas trees are a foolish Christian symbol. He has even threatened a boycott against those establishments that keep displaying them:

“The “Lobby for Jewish values” this week began operating against restaurants and hotels that plan to put up Christmas trees and other Christian symbols ahead of Christmas and the civil New Year.

According to the lobby’s Chairman, Ofer Cohen, they have received backing by the rabbis, “and we are even considering publishing the names of the businesses that put up Christian symbols ahead of the Christian holiday and call for a boycott against them.

Fliers and ads distributed among the public read, “The people of Israel have given their soul over the years in order to maintain the values of the Torah of Israel and the Jewish identity.

“You should also continue to follow this path of the Jewish people’s tradition and not give in to the clownish atmosphere of the end of the civil year. And certainly not help those businesses that sell or put up the foolish symbols of Christianity.” ” {Source: Ynet News}

Popularity: 2% [?]

In sworn court statements two former employees of American security firm Blackwater allege that members of the firm murdered in Iraq for “fun”.

The allegations  from the ex-employees came to light after families of  Iraqis allegedly killed by Blackwater personal brought a civil law suit in the U.S.

Erik Prince Founder of Blackwater

Described as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2 both men are American nationals and one is a former Marine.

John Doe 2 alleges that Blackwater founder Erik Prince considered himself to be a Christian Crusader assigned with the task of eliminating Muslims and Islam from the globe:

“Two former employees of Blackwater have accused the private US security firm and its founder of killing Iraqis for fun…

…The claims were made in sworn statements filed in a court in Virginia earlier this week as part of a civil lawsuit by families of several Iraqis allegedly killed by Blackwater guards….

…John Doe No 2 makes a series of accusations against Mr Prince. He says the Blackwater Worldwide boss “views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe”….

…“To that end, Mr Prince intentionally deployed to Iraq certain men who shared his vision of Christian supremacy, knowing and wanting these men to take every available opportunity to murder Iraqis. Many of these men used call signs based on the Knights of the Templar, the warriors who fought the Crusades….” {Source: The Times}

N.B. It should be remembered that Blackwater made nearly $1 trillion from coalition security contracts in Iraq.

image by wikipedia

Popularity: 4% [?]

“…about four hundred and sixty years after the conquest of Omar, the holy city was rescued from the Mahometan yoke. (more…)

Popularity: 2% [?]

Pope Benedict XVI is expected to visit Israel during May 2009. A part of his sojourn will involve the Pontiff visiting the Judaism’s most scared site – the Western Wall.

The complex in Jerusalem is overseen by Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch and in statement to the Jerusalem Post, Rabinovitch will request that Pope Benedict attends the site sans cross:

“Ahead of Pope Benedict XVI’s May visit to Israel, the rabbi of the Western Wall, Shmuel Rabinovitch, has said that it is not proper to come to the site wearing a cross…

“My position is that it is not fitting to enter the Western Wall area with religious symbols, including a cross,” said Rabinovitch in a telephone interview with The Jerusalem Post Monday. “I feel the same way about a Jew putting on a tallit and phylacteries and going into a church.”

Rabinovitch is responsible for religious decorum at the site.

“In coming days I intend to discuss the issue with the pope’s people,” Wadie Abunassar, media coordinator for the pope’s visit to the Holy Land, said in response to reports that the pontiff would not remove his cross. “I cannot imagine the Holy Father removing his cross.” (Source: Jerusalem Post)

For more on Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch see: How Israel Treats Her Christian Supporters

Popularity: 2% [?]

The Trinity College in Hartford, Conn has found through it’s American Religious Identification Survey that Christianity is running out of fashion fast in America.

The survey conducted three times since 1990 found that the number of Americans who claim to be Christian has fallen by 10% in twenty years:

“The percentage of Americans who call themselves Christians has dropped dramatically over the past two decades….

…The survey of more than 54,000 people conducted between February and November of last year showed that the percentage of Americans identifying as Christians has dropped to 76 percent of the population, down from 86 percent in 1990….according to the American Religious Identification Survey.

The survey is conducted by researchers at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., and funded by the Lilly Endowment and the Posen Foundation….

…The survey substantiated several general trends already identified by sociologists: the slipping importance of denomination in America, the growing number of people who say they have “no” religion and the increase in religious minorities including Muslims, Mormons and such movements as Wicca and paganism.”

(Source: Washington Post)

Popularity: 2% [?]