Readers write about the proposed Islamic center and respond to a
slew of national political issues
Islam and Christianity: Is Violence Really the Only Answer?
Dear Editor,
I would like to point out the similarities of Islam and Christianity other than praying.
Both Islam and Christianity teach they are the only truth. Islam purports that if you do not believe their doctrine, you would go to hell. Christians believe if you do not accept Jesus as the son of God you will not go to heaven. Innocents are killed because of this difference in belief. Both impose a lot of punishments for those against their rules. Both profess a loving God, but history is full of wars and killings and torture and tragedies in the name of these two religions.
Both believe in miracles and believe that Jesus performed miracles. Both are monotheistic. God is omnipotent and angels exist as God’s servants. There is also an anti-Christ (Satan) who also has servants. God has sent prophets and Jesus, who now lives in heaven, was born to the Virgin Mary.
Both believe that God is the Creator. The lifespan of this world is finite, but man does not know when the world will end. Jesus Christ will return when the world ends. At that time, Satan and his servants will be defeated and men will be judged to determine whether their souls go to heaven or hell.
Both believe that God is both loving and forgiving. He has made a covenant with man, who has the freedom to choose between good and evil, and whether or not to obey God and His commandments.
There are significant differences, and it is pretty sad that people can only think of one way to solve those differences, by killing each other.
Perhaps Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) gives the answer through Salvor Hardin in “Foundation”: Violence, the last refuge of the incompetent.
Mary Jacinta, Gilroy
Over the Top? Well, He’d Be Happy to Debate Political Issues
Dear Editor,
In the August 18 Dispatch, you published a letter by James Fennell with his usual ranting and raving about how much he hates me and my opinions. It’s obvious that the man hates Democrats. His talk of hate comes in the form of his statements concerning Marxism and socialism.
Mr. Fennel seems like a lonely sick and twisted man broken by his own need to be above the rest of us. I find his petty remarks to be childish and prejudice.
Thankfully, not all of the Republican party are as ill-informed and small-minded.
As far as Mr. Fennell’s opinion of me – that I’m over the top and like it when people disagree – well, if Mr. Fennell wants to debate the Iraq war, the leaving of Karl Rove from the White House, Hillary Clinton or his own party’s failure to secure our borders, I would be more than happy to do so.
Daniel Garcia, Gilroy
