In October, a group of 138 Muslim scholars, clerics and intellectuals came together to issue an open letter entitled “A Common Word Between Us and You,” a statement that sought to declare common ground between Christianity and Islam.
A short time later, the Yale Center for Faith and Culture issued a response that was signed by 100 Christian theologians and ministers that welcomed the effort, stating:
"Given the deep fissures in the relations between Christians and Muslims today, the task before us is daunting. And the stakes are great. The future of the world depends on our ability as Christians and Muslims to live together in peace. If we fail to make every effort to make peace and come together in harmony you correctly remind us that “our eternal souls” are at stake as well.
We are persuaded that our next step should be for our leaders at every level to meet together and begin the earnest work of determining how God would have us fulfill the requirement that we love God and one another. It is with humility and hope that we receive your generous letter, and we commit ourselves to labor together in heart, soul, mind and strength for the objectives you so appropriately propose."
The Christian Right's response?
"Betrayal"
- Patrick Sookhdeo
"Naiveté that borders on dishonesty."
- Albert Mohler
"(The Christians wanting reconciliation) have left the (card) table without their pants — that is, they’ve been taken and may not even realize they’ve been taken."
- Gary Bauer
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/2008/01/religious_right_27.html