Nazir-Ali and Redding

Posted by johnhouk on Apr 12, 2009
 John R. Houk
© April 11, 2009

The Islamist Watch blog has posted a piece that is wondering about the contrasts within the Anglican Communion.

The contrast is between Michael Nazir-Ali (Bishop of Rochester, England) and Anne Holmes Redding and former Episcopalian Priest (Anglican Communion) residing in Seattle, WA.

Michael Nazir-Ali is a Pakistan born British citizen that has risen to the Episcopal position of Bishop. Now here is the irony of Nazir-Ali: he rebukes the stand of the Archbishop of Canterbury (the Big Dog of the Anglican Communion) Rowan Williams for proclaiming Sharia Law is an inevitable reality that the UK should validate as part of the rule of law.

Nazir-Ali is extremely anti-radical Islam and appropriately points out that Sharia Law would (and IS) dilute the British Christian heritage that has made the UK a land of individual freedom. Radical Islam will “emphasize the solidarity” of the global Muslim community. In other words Islam promotes intolerance and Christianity promotes Liberty.

Nazir Ali has survived deep animosity in Britain from Islamists who resent his outspoken critique of radical Islam. "It is a matter of public record that I have received death threats from militant Muslims," he told the Jerusalem press conference. Earlier this year, the Bishop of Rochester sharply criticized Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams’ suggestion that Britain recognize some aspects of Islamic law. Last month, he criticized the Church of England’s reluctance to share the Gospel with Muslims. (FrontPage Magazine)


It is with sadness that Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali is stepping down from his Episcopal Office in England to aid Christians who are a minority in areas in which intolerant Islam dominates. A risky decision to share the Gospel in areas that it is a capital offense to convert away from Mohammedanism.

Then there is former Priest Anne Holmes Redding. The key word is former. For even the Left Wing Episcopal Church in America recognizes that one cannot be both a Muslim and a Christian and serve as an Episcopal Priest representing Christianity. That is the very ludicrous position that Anne Holmes Redding demanded to be accepted for. Fortunately the Big Dog in the America’s (or at least in the line of authority) Episcopalian Left leaning denomination defrocked Anne Holmes Redding.

For Redding to be a good Muslim according to Mohammedan revered writings, she may have to kill herself for being a Christian. By the way, do not be fooled by Muslim apologists that attempt to tell a critic of Islam that the slaughter the kafir writings must be seen in the light of peaceful Islamic writings. That Muslim apologist has either not educated their self fully in Mohammedan theology or has a complete Muslim theological understanding and is attempting to deceive the critic of Islam. The principle for this in Mohammedanism is called abrogation. In short the murderous writings mostly from Medina outweigh the peaceful writings mostly from Mecca.

JRH 4/11/09
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Very Different Clergymen, Very Different Departures

by David J. Rusin
April 11, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Islamist Watch

As Christians prepare to celebrate Easter, two notable Christian clerics — each playing a unique role in the debate over Islam and multiculturalism — are preparing new lives for themselves.

Michael Nazir-Ali, the outspoken Anglican bishop of Rochester, England, has announced that he will depart his position a decade ahead of schedule. According to a statement released by the diocese, "Bishop Michael is hoping to work with a number of church leaders from areas where the church is under pressure, particularly in minority situations, who have asked him to assist them with education and training for their particular situation." Specifically, his future efforts will focus on besieged Christian communities in Muslim nations such as Pakistan and Iraq.

Nazir-Ali's exit will leave a void, as he has been an important contributor to the discourse on Islam and the West. Last year he published an essay arguing that Britain's multicultural policies have destroyed societal cohesion and promoted insularity among Muslims, to the point that some cities now feature "no-go areas" ruled by Islamists. In addition, he hammered Archbishop Rowan Williams for suggesting that the implementation of Shari'a law in the UK is "unavoidable" and criticized the Church of England for being timid about converting Muslims.

In other news, the Episcopal Church has defrocked Seattle priest Ann Holmes Redding, who declared in 2007 that she is both Christian and Muslim. Redding insisted that her embrace of Islam would have no impact on her ability to remain a Christian and serve her congregants, but the church disagreed. Last year a committee determined that she had "abandoned" her flock by "formal admission into a religious body not in communion with the Episcopal Church." She was deposed after refusing to resign the priesthood. The Seattle Times reports that she "said she was sad at what seems to her to be a narrow vision of what the church accepts."

The near-simultaneous announcements about Nazir-Ali and Redding offer striking contrasts. Three observations:

    • These individuals are polar opposites on the public stage. Nazir-Ali is one of the most vocal foes of multiculturalism; Redding is the very embodiment of it.

    • Some limits do exist on the multicultural accommodations criticized by Nazir-Ali. Redding is free to believe whatever she wishes, but she has no inherent right to continue representing a faith community from which she deviates fundamentally.

    • While Redding may openly practice her unique religious fusion in Christian-majority America, Nazir-Ali's new work reminds us that the adherents of minority faiths endure grave dangers in many Muslim-majority lands.


With Redding having begun to write her memoirs and Nazir-Ali set to remain a leader of conservative Anglicans, surely we have not heard the last from these fascinating figures.
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 Nazir-Ali and Redding
John R. Houk
© April 11, 2009
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Very Different Clergymen, Very Different Departures
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