Sufi is to Islam as the United Church of Christ is to Christianity.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

That's the analogy from the "good" side, to make a counterpoint to the "evil" analogy posted elsewhere (about the most evil elements in both cultures).

The Cordoba House community center (aka the "Ground Zero" "Mosque") is a Sufi project. Sufis are the pacifists, anti-violence Muslims. People who need some love.

Check this out - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufi - and, if you're one of those people who doubt that 2+2=4 if it's Wikipedia that's saying it, follow the outside links. Or Google.

[Xipe Totec]

1. Deleted by poster nt

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. Wha? Scientology is the non-violent, pacifist branch of Science?

:wtf:

[Critters2]

3. I'm UCC, and I wish we were pacifist and non-violent. We're not,

to our great shame (I'm a pacifist, but I'm actually at odds with the leadership of my denom on this). Mennonites and Brethren are pacifist and non-violent. The UCC's leadership is liberationist, which believes violence can bring positive social change. In fact, the UCC is the only mainline denomination that does NOT have a peace fellowship. Embarrassing, I know, but those are the facts.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

6. What kind of violence do they usually endorse?

[Critters2]

7. Since Vietnam, they've been skiddish about speaking out against war

though there were some efforts against the Iraq war early on. But the leadership has endorsed liberationist movements, like some in Puerto Rico (I can't recall the name of the org right now, but strong UCC ties), and Central America.

Pacifists endorse no violence, but the UCC will not take an absolutist position on violence, as the historic peace churches do. As a Pacifist, I've been told, by UCC clergy that I'm in the wrong denomination. And I'm reminded of it regularly...like the time a chaplain in military uniform read Isaiah 9 in a worship service at General Synod. Yeah, we don't want anyone to get the mistaken idea that we actually believe in that peace nonsense. :puke:

[Xipe Totec]

4. Sorry, I was thinking Wahhabism

I removed the post.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

5. As per Critters2, I may have committed a similar error in search of an analogy.

But to outsiders like me, the UCC does have a reputation of being "nicer".

[Critters2]

8. That reputation is built largely on the UCC's progressive positions

on glbt and racism issues. On war and peace, we are sorely lacking.

[Fuzz]

9. C'mon, they are all the same. Just like all christians are just like the god hates fags people.

Right?

[provis99]

10. Sufi is to Islam as hippies are to squares.

fixed it for ya.

[dkf]

11. All I know is you can't replace a black box full of "Muslims want to kill us"

With a vague description like "but American Muslims are ok", especially when we have seen a few examples of Americans going radical. Differentiations in teachings and segments must be pointed out.

The other problem is that the typical American has the curiosity of a gnat when it comes to researching topics like this. If it is not provided and spoonfed by the media don't expect much.

That is why this mosque situation is a teachable moment and if it is done the right way can be helpful while if done the wrong way will firm up even more negative opinions.

Liberals have a history of embracing the rabble rousers while conservatives do not. That is the definition of liberal vs conservative. Conservatives want to keep things the same. Liberals/progressives want change.

[The_Commonist]

12. I was explaining it to a friend recently...

...who wouldn't have know from the UCC. (neither do I , frankly)

I said the Sufis are sort the Rastafarians of Islam. Ooooo... Scary!

[guitar man]

13. Shhh!!!

Don't let the teabagging morons hear you, if they think they might be liberals then they'll REALLY hate them. :silly: