Let's Just Call the God of the Bible `Allah'
Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 02:41PM 
Bishop Martinus "Tiny" Muskens--a retiring Dutch bishop having either a senior moment or revealing his universalism--is proposing that people of all faiths simply refer to God as "Allah." While many of Muskens' fellow Catholics are appalled (no surprise), the people at CAIR are thrilled (no surprise either).
According to a recent news article (Click here: FOXNews.com - Roman Catholic Bishop Wants Everyone to Call God 'Allah' - International News | News of the World |):
_______________________________________
"A proposal by a Roman Catholic bishop in the Netherlands that people of all faiths refer to God as `Allah' is not sitting well with the Catholic community. Tiny Muskens, an outgoing bishop who is retiring in a few weeks from the southern diocese of Breda, said God doesn't care what he is called.
`Allah is a very beautiful word for God. Shouldn't we all say that from now on we will name God Allah? ... What does God care what we call him? It is our problem,' Muskens told Dutch television.
`I'm sure his intentions are good but his theology needs a little fine-tuning,' said Father Jonathan Morris, a Roman Catholic priest based in Rome. Morris, a news analyst for FOX News Channel, also called the idea impractical. `Words and names mean things,' Morris said. `Referring to God as Allah means something.'"
______________________________
Foolish me. I thought that a bishop’s theology was supposedly above the need for such fine tuning. Meanwhile, CAIR's response (below) is predictable.
"Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington, D.C.-based Islamic civil liberties and advocacy group, backs the idea as a way to help interfaith understanding.
`It reinforces the fact that Muslims, Christians and Jews all worship the same God,' Hooper told FOXNews.com. `I don't think the name is as important as the belief in God and following God's moral principles. I think that's true for all faiths.' Christians who are Arabic speakers speak of Allah when they speak of God, Hooper added. `There's not a theological leap to make on the part of Christians,' Hooper said.
The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago supports the idea. `I think it will open up doors,' said Janaan Hashim, a spokeswoman for the group representing more than 400,000 Muslim Americans in the Chicago area. `Language is a man-made limitation. I think what God cares about is how we fulfill our purpose in life.'
The nation’s largest Catholic civil rights group says Catholics won't get behind the proposal. `Bishop Martinus `Tiny' Muskens can pray to `Allah' all he wants, but only addlepated Catholics will follow his lead,' Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, said in a statement. `It is not a good sign when members of the Catholic hierarchy indulge in a fawning exchange with Muslims, or those of any other religion.'
Muskens spent eight years in Indonesia, where he said priests used the word `Allah' during Mass. Muskens also has drawn attention for other ideas such as encouraging the hungry to steal bread and offering condoms to combat HIV and AIDS."
___________________________________
As for the reason why the God of the Bible cannot be addressed by the name "Allah," check out my sermon on article eight of the Belgic Confession (Click here: http://kimriddlebarger.squarespace.com/a-commentary-on-the-belgic-con/8%20edited%20they%20are%20all%20three%20one%).
Even through the Arabic word for God is "Allah," Christians worship the Triune God who is supremely revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. We do not worship the generic "god" of the world's religions, nor the false God of Islam, known as "Allah."
You'd think a bishop would know better . . .
Reader Comments (12)
Couldn't you imagine Muslims reciting the first pillar:
"There is no God but Jesus Christ...."
What struck me was the line and those related to it: "What does God care what we call him?"
Well, if He doesn't care, why are we to employ "Allah"?
It's like I tell my oldest when she pushes my youngest aside and claims "what's the big deal?" Well, if it's no big deal then why were you in such a hurry to get her spot?
If it "doesn't matter" then don't prescibe something specific...unless your motive is really political correctness. Sure would be easier to swallow if japes like this would be forthright and say as much: "we are trying to appease those who are perceived as slighted and lend perceived power bases to them." Ok, then. No, but at least you are being clear!
Zrim
Zrim,
Exactly.
That's like calling Calvin a premillennialist.
Let's just call our Lord and Savior, the one and only King of kings and Lord of lords ... ... ... Mary!
Translation: Whether we bring anyone else up to the level of God, or bring God down to the level of anyone else, we have thereby utterly dishonored the One to whom alone all glory is due.
How sad that so many have no clue.
For what it is worth Rabona, which is Lord in Arabic, is more commonly used among Chritians, but Allah is still used.
Just your friendly PSA in case you hear me say Allah in church :)
This post misses the point big time. Regardless of what one thinks about the bishop's proposal (I think it's foolish), the argument above is just plain silly, and you can drive a truck through its fallacious logic.
Maybe then we should not use the word "God" for God, since "God" is also a generic term used for the "generic gods" of all world religions, as well as all Christian cults.
Of course, the problem is that the Bible does use the generic term "God" (el, theos, also generic terms) to refer to YHWH and to the Trinity.
Therefore it is obvious that there is nothing wrong with using the generic word Allah within contexts in which the term can be taken generally.
Allah is not a name anymore than the terms God or theos are names. They have to be defined when that is appropriate or necessary.