AN EXAMPLE OF LACK OF FREEDOM OF FAITH

This blog is dedicated to promoting the free expression of people of faith. Here is an example of the violation of that freedom.

According to Mindy Belz in the January 12, 2013 World magazine, Mursal Isse Siad became one of the latest victims of Islamist violence in Somalia when two masked men shot and killed the 55 year old on Dec. 8.  The assailants fled after gunning him down in Beledweyne, his hometown 200 miles north of Mogadishu, the capital.  Siad received death threats on his cell phone for leaving Islam. Local sources told Morning Star News:  "He failed to attend the mosque for prayers and used to pray at home.  He used to share with us about Jesus," explained his 15 year old daughter.  A Muslim resident in Beledwayne said he "deserved to die" because he was no longer committed to Islam...Siad and his wife, who conveted to Christianity in 2000, moved to Beledweyne in central Somalia after the government and AU forces captured the town from al Shabaab last year.  al Shabaab has promised to rid the country of Christians, who are mostly converts from Islam.

Is this an example of "extreme Muslims"?  Not really.  It is the position of basic Islamic law since the time of Muhammad.  The Bill of Legal Punishments published by the Azhar University, which is accepted as the highest authority on Sharia, states, "A person guilty of apostasy (leaving Islam) shall be put to death if repentance is not made within the period allowed which shall not exceed 60 days."  On page 30, we find this note, "The ordained penalty for apostasy is based on the Sunnahh.  The Prophet, peace be on him, said, 'One who changes his faith is to be killed'.

Don't let anyone try to tell you that Sharia and our principles of freedom of speech and faith are compatible.  Yet, we too have our problems allowing freedom of faith.  Mark Batterson, in his book "The Circle Maker" records the following example:

On Sunday, July 20, 1969, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong landed their lunar module, the Eagle, on the Sea of tranquillity.  The first thing they did was celebrate Communion.  Because of a lawsuit filed by Madalyn Murray O'Hair, when NASA aired the reading from Genesis by the astronauts of Apollo 8, it decided to black out that part of the broadcast.

Aldrin, an elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA), took out a Communion kit.  In the one-sixth gravity, the wine curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup.  Just before eating the bread and drinking the cup, Aldrin read from the gospel of John:
"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."

When we teach our children about the Apollo 8 moon landing, let's include to WHOLE story.