Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
US Pastor Slammed for Anti-Islam Rant
CAIRO — A prominent US pastor and a former advisor to President George W. Bush has drawn fire from leaders in the Muslim minority, rights activists and politicians for calling Islam a "dangerous" religion.
"It appears that he doesn't have that much knowledge about Islam," Altaf Ali, executive director of the Florida Chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations, told The Miami Herald on Saturday, July8 .
He said he has tried unsuccessfully to meet with Dozier.
"I want a chance to respond and refute these accusations," Ali added.
Appearing on the Steve Kane Radio Show, The Rev. O'Neal Dozier, a Broward clergyman and an ally of Governor Jeb Bush, criticized Islam as a "cult" religion.
"The Islamic religion in my view is a cult,'' Dozier told the Herald Friday, July7 , when asked to recap the controversial comments he made earlier on the show.
"On the show I said that Islam is a dangerous religion," he added, refusing to disavow his comments.
"'I don't look for everyone to believe what I believe, because everyone is not as astute about religion as I am," added Dozier, pastor of the Worldwide Christian Center in Pompano Beach.
"That's my life."
Two recent polls showed that almost half of Americans have a negative perception of Islam and that one in four of those surveyed have "extreme" anti-Muslim views.
The Washington Post’s report on the poll findings quoted experts who say negative attitudes about Islam are "fueled in part by political statements and media reports that focus almost solely on the actions of Muslim extremists."
"Serious Split"
Experts say that Dozier's comments reflect a "serious split" in the black community.
"For the first time, you are seeing a group of black pastors following the white fundamentalist leaders of our country," said Lawrence Mamiya, an activist and professor of religion and Africana studies at New York's Vassar College.
Traditionally, blacks and Muslims in America have forged a healthy, harmonious relationship — in part because their leaders tackle the same issues affecting their neighborhoods — drugs, crime, racism and other social ills, Mamiya said.
If Dozier's sentiments about Islam were to become a trend, it would cause a "serious split in the black community," and threaten that relationship, Mamiya said.
More
http://islamonline.net/English/News/2006-07/08/01.shtml
He said he has tried unsuccessfully to meet with Dozier.
"I want a chance to respond and refute these accusations," Ali added.
Appearing on the Steve Kane Radio Show, The Rev. O'Neal Dozier, a Broward clergyman and an ally of Governor Jeb Bush, criticized Islam as a "cult" religion.
"The Islamic religion in my view is a cult,'' Dozier told the Herald Friday, July7 , when asked to recap the controversial comments he made earlier on the show.
"On the show I said that Islam is a dangerous religion," he added, refusing to disavow his comments.
"'I don't look for everyone to believe what I believe, because everyone is not as astute about religion as I am," added Dozier, pastor of the Worldwide Christian Center in Pompano Beach.
"That's my life."
Two recent polls showed that almost half of Americans have a negative perception of Islam and that one in four of those surveyed have "extreme" anti-Muslim views.
The Washington Post’s report on the poll findings quoted experts who say negative attitudes about Islam are "fueled in part by political statements and media reports that focus almost solely on the actions of Muslim extremists."
"Serious Split"
Experts say that Dozier's comments reflect a "serious split" in the black community.
"For the first time, you are seeing a group of black pastors following the white fundamentalist leaders of our country," said Lawrence Mamiya, an activist and professor of religion and Africana studies at New York's Vassar College.
Traditionally, blacks and Muslims in America have forged a healthy, harmonious relationship — in part because their leaders tackle the same issues affecting their neighborhoods — drugs, crime, racism and other social ills, Mamiya said.
If Dozier's sentiments about Islam were to become a trend, it would cause a "serious split in the black community," and threaten that relationship, Mamiya said.
More
http://islamonline.net/English/News/2006-07/08/01.shtml
Add Your Comments
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$230.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network