Published on Huffington Post Religion (06/16/15) It was the late 1990s and the American economy was booming. Money and consumerism were the “new religion.” Christians around me seemed to be Christians in name only. Besides having a secular education, I attended Catholic Christian Doctrine once per week from the ages of six to fourteen. I…… Continue reading From Catholicism to Atheism to Islam and Back to Catholicism
I am excited to share the news of author Qasim Rashid’s forthcoming book Talk To Me: The 5 Conversations We Need To Have But Aren’t, available in November 2015 in time for the holiday season. Rashid describes Talk To Me on his Facebook page as “a new kind of book with a new exciting approach to story telling.” The…… Continue reading Qasim Rashid’s New Book “Talk To Me: The 5 Conversations We Need To Have But Aren’t”
I turned on the television the other day to hear a Christian American say: “Our enemy is Islam and our enemies are Muslims!” Disturbed by his tone, I shifted to my computer, where I opened the Internet only to see an equally alarming message from a British Muslim: “Islam must crush Christianity, the false religion!”…… Continue reading Book Review: Christians and Muslims Should Embrace “The Jihad of Jesus”
“Armed anti-Islamist protest outside mosque.” This is the headline that I am reading as I rise out of bed. I also see another headline: “Marine hosts ‘Draw Muhammad’ protest outside mosque.” Aside from these protests and events being offensive and downright degrading towards Muslims, they are also highly ironic. If he were with us today,…… Continue reading How the Prophet Would Respond to “Draw Muhammad” Defamation and “Anti-Islam” Protests
Published on Huffington Post Religion (05/08/15) Never in my wildest imagination did I ever think I would become a scholar focusing on Islam and Christian-Muslim relations. Growing up, my passion was playing basketball and following the Boston Celtics. I never had any Muslim friends. In fact, I did not even know a single follower of…… Continue reading The Price I Pay For Respecting Islam
By Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Umar Al-Qadri and Dr. Craig Considine Ms. Ruth Dudley Edward’s recent article “We should support the Pope’s crusade against Islamism” concerns us as Muslim and Christian scholars respectively. The premise of her argument is that Islam needs a “reformation” in order to make Muslims more peaceful. Edward’s draws inspiration from Ayaan…… Continue reading An Interfaith Response to the Call For an “Islamic Reformation”
Published on Huffington Post (4/24/2015) Christianity and Islam are often painted as mortal enemies that will be forever fighting in a war for religious supremacy. Christians and Muslims would be wise to remember that Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad are kindred spirits. By turning to their teachings, we can see that these two prophets are…… Continue reading Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad Followed “The Golden Rule”
Published on Huffington Post Religion (April 10th 2015) The so-called “Islamic extremism” spreading across the Middle East has given new life to American patriotism. A YouGov poll from 2013 shows that 44 percent of American citizens question the loyalty that Muslims have to the U.S. The poll showed that older Americans and those who vote…… Continue reading Saluting Muslim American Patriots
Non-Muslims worldwide frequently call upon Muslims to condemn “Islamic terrorism” and enter into dialogue with Christians and Jews. The issue is not that Muslim leaders do not denounce extremist violence or speak highly of Judaism and Christianity, it is just that non-Muslims typically do not hear their calls for non-violence and interfaith dialogue because of…… Continue reading Irish Imam Promotes Dialogue and Goodwill Between Christians and Muslims
John Andrew Morrow’s book The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World is truly one of my favorite books ever. It has inspired me in ways that I never thought that a book could. It’s one of those reads. Six Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of His Time:…… Continue reading A Must Read: “Six Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of His Time: The Primary Documents”
Here’s a video of a humble little home on the west coast of Ireland, on a plot of land called Ardeamush, which is Irish for “James’ Height.” My family lived in this home at least as far back as 1775. It’s now in ruins, but the land is still occupied by Considines. By the grace of God…… Continue reading Journey to Our Ancestral Home in Lisdoonvarna
I pay respect to Ireland, the Emerald Isle, “the land of saints and scholars,” that tiny little island on the outskirts of Europe. Let us reflect upon her ancient glories, her yearning for knowledge, her passion for understanding the mysteries of the world. Let us never forget the conditions of those who came before us,…… Continue reading Poem: I Pay Respect to Ireland
Today is Saint Patrick’s Day, which means that you might wear green, sport a shamrock, and perhaps drink a pint of Guinness. This expression of “Irish identity” is driven mainly by our materialist culture and the obsession that we need objects to represent our perceived identities. What’s unfortunate is that the real Saint Patrick is not…… Continue reading Who is the Real Saint Patrick?
I woke up yesterday to some horrific news. Muslims attacked a Church during mass in Youhanabad, a predominantly Christian-populated area of Lahore, Pakistan. 14 Christians were killed and more than 70 were injured. Both Christianity and Pakistan are close to my heart. I’m a Catholic American of Irish and Italian descent. I’m also a scholar who researches the Pakistani…… Continue reading A Message to Pakistani Muslims Who Attack My Fellow Christians
Published on Huffington Post (March 10th 2015) Islamophobes have attacked me because I’ve written positively about Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam. Because I am a Catholic, they consider me to be a heretic and feel that my interfaith activities are sacrilegious. Islam, to these critics, is evil and Muhammad is nothing but a terrorist. I…… Continue reading Why I Admire Muhammad: A Response to Islamophobes
The Jerusalem Post reported yesterday that the Israeli military used depleted uranium against Syrians. Depleted uranium is used in nuclear reactors, making it a toxic and dangerous radioactive weapon. A Syrian military leader witnessed the impact of this toxin. He stated: “When the explosion happened it felt like an earthquake, then a giant golden mushroom of fire appeared.…… Continue reading Israel and the U.S. Use Depleted Uranium in Gaza, Syria and Iraq
Here is a video I produced in the summer of 2014. It relates to my Irish ancestral homeland, near Lisdoonvarna, the Cliffs of Moher, and the shores of the wild Atlantic Ocean. The video shows me in Killilagh Parish speaking on the history of Killilagh. The church was probably made in the 1400s. During the 17th century a radical…… Continue reading When English Puritans Burned Down Our Irish Catholic Church
When Christopher Columbus, the 15th and 16th century conquistador, arrived in modern-day Haiti, he read aloud a proclamation designed by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain. The document was referred to as “the Requirements.” Here is one version: I implore you to recognize the Church as a lady and in the name of the Pope…… Continue reading A Comparison Between the Founding of America and the Rise of the Islamic State
Published on Huffington Post (February 23rd, 2015) Relations between different ethnic and religious groups in the Middle East, US, and EU are deteriorating at a rapid pace. Across these three areas, Muslims are pitted against non-Muslims and black and brown people are pitted against white. What is needed now more than ever is a role…… Continue reading Prophet Muhammad’s Example of Anti-Racism
Published on Huffington Post (April 20th, 2013) George Washington’s birthday, celebrated annually on Febr. 22nd, is an opportunity to reflect upon his exemplary character and the example he set for future generations of Americans. While much is known about Washington’s military service and political career, less is known about his attitude towards religious freedom and…… Continue reading George Washington Was a Friend of Muslims
In a press conference yesterday, President Obama revealed the “Countering Violent Extremism” (CVE) initiative. Muslim Advocates, a national legal advocacy and educational organization that works on the frontlines of civil rights to guarantee freedom and justice for Americans of all faiths, describes the initiative in the following way: These [CVE] meetings target the Muslim community almost exclusively,…… Continue reading Obama’s “Countering Violent Extremism” Initiative Reproduces the Myth that Muslims Are More Inclined to “Terrorism”
*Note: This article, published in the Huffington Post on October 20th, 2013, is relevant in light of the recent attack by Muslims in Libya, where 20 Coptic Christians were killed because of their religious background. While the article is placed in an Egyptian context, it can easily apply to the situation in Libya. One issue often discussed on…… Continue reading Muslims in Libya Forget Muhammad’s Letter to Christian Monks at Mt. Sinai
The FOX News headline pictured above is why white, angry, non-Muslim men in the US men go on killing sprees against Muslims living in America. It’s why they burn mosques down to the ground. Throwing loaded terms like “global jihad,” “growing terror,” and “Muslim world” into the same headline is an impressive feat of propaganda. The…… Continue reading FOX News Headlines Are Why White, Angry, Non-Muslim Men Go on Killing Sprees in America
Published on Huffington Post (January 1st, 2013) In seventh century Arabia, a middle-aged man had a vision to create a new religious and social order for a largely pagan and tribal society. The man, Muhammad, told his band of followers to behave wisely and civilly. “The best among you,” he said, “are those who have…… Continue reading An Unlikely Connection Between the Prophet Muhammad and George Washington
The top 2 images are from yesterday’s attack in Denmark. CNN and FOX were quick to jump on the “terror” label in order to manipulate how people think about “terrorists,” i.e. to think of them as Muslims and in light of the “war on terror” threat around the “Muslim world.” The bottom 2 images are from…… Continue reading Comparing Bias Media Coverage of “Terrorism” in Light of Denmark and Craig Hicks Attack
Terrorism (noun) – a propaganda term used to manufacture anti-Muslim sentiment, which in turn “justifies” worldwide military adventures to extract natural resources from weaker, Muslim-majority countries. The term terrorism is deployed only when Muslims are behind the act, because this is part of the state and media’s program of dehumanizing the Other and controlling the public mind…… Continue reading The Most Accurate, Anti-Establishment Definition of “Terrorism”
What role does the media play in contemporary politics? This question is at the heart of Dr. Noam Chomsky’s book Media Control: The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda (published by Seven Stories). Although first published in 1991, Chomsky’s book remains timeless and pertinent. Since 9/11, the US government has fed Americans propaganda that portrays Muslims as “boogeymen,” a…… Continue reading The Spectacular Achievements of U.S. Propaganda Against Islam: A Review of Noam Chomsky’s “Media Control”
If the murderer of three Muslims in North Carolina was actually a Muslim and the victims “regular” white Americans, it would be “Breaking News” on mainstream media. “Experts” would be on the air linking the killer to a worldwide “jihadi” movement. Congress would start calling for military action abroad. Such is the power of propaganda. “Terrorism”…… Continue reading Shooting of Muslims in North Carolina and the Power of Propaganda
An Islamic History Lesson for the Leader of the English Defence League, May 24th. Tommy Robinson, leader of the anti-Muslim group English Defence League, used some racy language in his response to the recent killing of a British soldier by a young British Muslim man in Woolwich, London. Referring to the actions and religion of…… Continue reading Racism
An important article in which journalist Seymour Hersh discusses the Bush Administration’s “redirection,” meaning a policy shift to enter an “open confrontation with Iran and, in parts of the region” to propel the Middle East “into a widening sectarian conflict between Shiite and Sunni.” Muslims.” I think he was forecasting how Washington-Tel Aviv-Riyadh were planting the…… Continue reading In 2007, Journalist Predicted the Rise of Islamic State and its US/Israeli/Saudi Connection
Chuck Hagel, US Defense Secretary, said in an interview last week that Washington might send American ground troops to Iraq to help “turn back” the Islamic State’s (IS) advancement in Syria and Iraq. To be specific, Hagel stated, “I think [the situation] may require a forward deployment of some of our troops … I would say we’re not there…… Continue reading How and Why the US Reinvaded Iraq in 2014/2015
The following short collection lists eight of the most important monuments in the world in terms of interfaith dialogue and interfaith relations. By the term “monument” I refer to a building or structure created to commemorate a person, event, or social bond which has significance in regards to improving relations between the Abrahamic faiths. The eight monuments documented here…… Continue reading The 8 Most Important Interfaith Monuments in the World
A recent Washington Post article written by M. Steven Fish, a political scientist from University of California at Berkeley, stated that “[c]ontemporary terrorism is disproportionately Islamist.” Fish’s basic point is that Muslims are more inclined to terrorism than other groups of people. This “argument” does not stand up to the reality of contemporary “terrorism” and carelessly suggests that Muslims are…… Continue reading Threats From “Islamic Terrorism” Have Been Exaggerated Once Again
Published on Huffington Post (February 24th, 2015) Leaders worldwide have sent their condolences to Saudi Arabia and its royal family after the passing of King Abdullah. On Twitter, US Secretary of State John Kerry called him a man of “wisdom” and “vision,” while UK Prime Minister David Cameron released a statement praising him for “his commitment…… Continue reading What Muhammad Would Think of Saudi Arabia’s “Leadership”
In a recent message posted to his Twitter account, US Secretary of State John Kerry praised the late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia as “a man of wisdom and vision.” Kerry wants you to believe that King Abdullah was a role model for morality and human rights, when, in all honesty, he was the godfather of…… Continue reading Beheadings and Terrorism Makes You A Man of “Wisdom” and “Vision”?
Let’s be honest, Islamic State (IS) militants and Chris Kyle, the US soldier portrayed by Bradley Cooper in the new movie American Sniper, share strikingly similar characteristics. The list of connections includes a love for killing a high number of people, a conviction that those they are killing are evil, an obsession with God, prophets,…… Continue reading “American Sniper” Glorifies US State Terrorism
They cause anger, social panic, and fear. We have been told that their culture is overwhelming and that they are breeders of terrorists and other types of criminals. People claim that they must be crushed before “we” lose “our” way of life. I am talking about two groups – Jews of 20th century Europe and…… Continue reading Yes, Muslims are the New Jews of Europe
The recent Paris attacks may have been a product of French and “foreign intelligence” agencies, according to several recent reports. The killings may be added to the long string of “false flag” attacks carried out by intelligence communities. A “false flag,” according to Global Research, is designed to: … Carry out or facilitate a spectacular atrocity. Blame it…… Continue reading Intelligence Agencies Are Behind “False Flag” Paris Attacks, Reports Claim
The Jerusalem Post reports that members of the Israeli state are using the recent attack on a French kosher supermarket in Paris to expand West Bank occupation settlements. On Monday, Zahava Gal-On, leader of the Meretz Party, requested Israel’s parliamentary Election Committee to accommodate for Jewish “refugees” by expanding Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land. Such an act suggests…… Continue reading Israeli Minister Cynically Takes Advantage of Attacks on French Jews By Expanding West Bank Settlements
Amidst the hysteria following the Charlie Hebdo incident, a critical event took place, going virtually unnoticed by media. Representatives on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC recently held a press conference about the urgent need to declassify the 28 pages of the 9/11 Senate report, which, according to Anti Media, “implicates terror aid and funding from…… Continue reading Charlie Hebdo Incident Overshadows Press Conference Implicating Saudi Arabia in 9/11
Thanks to what RTE should be on YouTube for filming this discussion and writing up the following short description about Dr. Boyle’s book. *** United Ireland, Human Rights and International Law Dr Francis A. Boyle Professor of International Law, University of Illinois During the past three decades, international legal expert Francis A. Boyle has dealt with…… Continue reading The “Irish Famine” Constituted Genocide – A Discussion With Dr. Francis Boyle
In recent years researchers have highlighted the US government’s use of sexual humiliation as a form of torture. For example, this article highlights how children were sodomized in front of women by American terrorists at Abu Ghraib, and this piece looks at how American officials ordered prostitutes to menstruate on so-called “terrorists,” also at Abu Ghraib. Several thought-provoking questions come out of these…… Continue reading The Sexualization of Torture: An American Obsession
Journalist Bob Woodward writes: In the first months of the Obama presidency in 2009, Chuck Hagel, who had just finished two terms as a U.S. senator, went to the White House to visit with the friend he had made during the four years they overlapped in the Senate. So, President Obama asked, what do you…… Continue reading When Hagel Warned Obama of New World Order
Today, the term ‘Famine’ is generally used to describe the terrible period in human and Irish history, in which Ireland lost over two million people. Many of us understand that it wasn’t a ‘Famine’ because the British Crown and their puppets in Ireland had the ability to feed the Irish people. An Gorta Mór, or ‘Great Hunger’ seems…… Continue reading Facts About An Gorta Mór (The Great Irish Hunger)
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