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Times Herald-Record - December 11, 2006
Fliers at PA church take aim at Islam
By Ashley Kelly
Islam is a "clear and present danger," according to the pamphlet in the foyer of the Milford Bible Church.
"Christians are in danger from the spread of the doctrines of Islam," reads the first sentence of the flier.
The words are not meant as an attack against Muslims, according to the parishioner who brought in the fliers. They are only a defense against Islamic teachings, she says.
"It's really all about us being aware of the danger spiritually, not physically," Norma Drake said at the church yesterday. "It's just presenting Christ as superior to Mohammed, which is what we, as Christians, believe."
The pamphlet is published by the Personal Freedom Outreach, a nonprofit group with offices in Missouri, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The group lists three goals on its Web site: to educate Christians about the dangers and heretical doctrines of religious cults, to use the Gospel of Jesus Christ to reach members of those cults and to warn Christians of unbiblical teachings within the church itself.
The tone of the flier angered some local Muslims.
"Statements like this only further show the ignorance and naiveness of a large portion of Americans when it comes to Islam," said Abdus-Shaheed Azeez, a Muslim from Middletown.
Dr. Quazi Al-Tariq, the president of the Middletown Islamic Center, said he was surprised that a church would display that type of message.
"This is definitely dividing the nation and creating hatred among people," Al-Tariq said. "This is not a good practice for a church. It is the church's moral responsibility to bring peace on all sides and not to provoke any religious hatred."
The Milford church's senior pastor, Rodney Ryle, said he had not seen the pamphlet and that the church would usually approve a pamphlet about Islam for informational purposes, but not to slam Islam….
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061211/NEWS/612110320
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