Bakke Globalscape Podcast 001.flv
The first podcast by Bakke Graduate University, we first go to Zurich to hear about a government initiative that will restrict Muslim mosques from building the identifiable minaret's, announce a new book by C. Neal Johnson, and a reminder about URBANA.
BE SURE TO GIVE YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE PODCAST QUESTION; THE ROLE OF CHRISTIANS WHEN INITIATIVES LIKE THE ONE IN ZURICH RESTRICT THE RIGHTS OF RELIGIOUS GROUPS.
Posted by Robert Steinhagen at 12/11/2009 7:27 AM 
Categories: Zurich,URBANA,Neal Johnson,Business As Mission
Tags: Neal Johnson Robert Steinhagen
Categories: Zurich,URBANA,Neal Johnson,Business As Mission
Tags: Neal Johnson Robert Steinhagen
I believe Christians should be involved in this sort of action because we should stand against whatever policy infringes upon the basic rights of humans one of which is the right of personal belief. Even we believe that Islam is wrong, i think we should concede the right to people to be wrong. Christians should always seek common grounds with people of other faith to press for human freedom
Reply to this
Loved the humor. Loved the neutral nature of the question and your invitation to dialogue. Would have liked to have a concise summary of both sides of the issue being debated up front. But this is a great beginning. I'm excited that these will be done from city centers around the world, and deal with real-time issues that relate to urban transformation.
Reply to this
I suppose as a Christian I could say that it is a good thing that the shoe has not been on the other foot when the churches were built that have defined cityscapes the world over w/ their spires topped w/ crosses. This action feels like it comes out of a posture of fear and control that is unworthy of the followers of Jesus Christ.
Reply to this
In Ireland, north and south, we have witnessed the results of religious discrimination. We should support the concept of free speech and of the right to practice your religion even though we fundamentally disagree with much of Islam. Is it better to support secularism? In a country so associated, historically, with the protest of the Reformation there should be a greater sense of the continual need for reformation. I suspect that contemporary Switzerland is more concerned with the look of the city and it's architectural value than any religious interest of whatever form. At a time when Islamists see themselves fighting against the west and all it stands for the timing is unfortunate. Would the presence of a strong Islamic community not present the Church of Jesus Christ with a God-given opportunity?
Reply to this
Interesting to observe the attempts of Swedish lawmaker to preserve the allusion that Swedish Christianity lives beneath these ancient buildings with towering spires and sacred crosses. Today real Christianity in Sweden as in much of Europe no longer resides within these majestic historical buildings but in the humble homes of a new generation of believers who are serious about living out their relationship with Jesus within their families and communities. For them its not about symbols and monuments telegraphing a message to the world but about transformation of individuals, families and communities. Thank God that although many of these historical churches that dominate the physical landscape of the cities are but empty shells of a bygone area, the church is alive and growing in the homes, hearts, and families of the nation.
Reply to this
I realize that the topic is being positioned as religious one, but I'm not sure that it necessarily needs to be so.
The structure, architecture, history and built environment all go into the making of a city's identity. Changing that built environment can have an effect on the personality of the city and, frankly its health and vitality. Taken out of the realm of Zurich vs. the Muslims it's a little clearer.
What if, rather than a muslim minaret, it was, say, a Home Depot that wanted to alter the skyline, and thereby the texture of Zurich? I think for me the question is, can a community have a say in the way in which their built environment looks? This isn't to say that a Home Depot couldn't be built in Zurich, but rather how its built and what it looks like when its finished. That's the question here. Granted a weightier one. But its not that a mosque cannot be built. But rather there are those wanting to have a say in what it looks like once its finished.
In the urban neighborhoods in which I've lived, I've longed for a louder community voice into the way in which things are built in our neighborhood (including churches). Unfortunately, more times than not the will of the builder, whether they be Home Depot, the newest Mosque or First Community Church, has outweighed the desire of the community and their hopes for the neighborhood.
Reply to this