these statements can be found on numerous news websites:
"The Obama administration has gathered representatives from more than two dozen governments this week in an effort to address religious intolerance around the world. The goal is to bolster relations with Muslim countries angry about Western characterizations of Islam."
"The dialogue comes after years of complaints from Muslim governments about perceived offenses against their faith."
"countries agreed to work together to battle intolerance and the incitement of violence against people for their religious beliefs. And at an interfaith conference in July in Turkey, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton joined others in promoting the effort as a way to safeguard religious freedom without compromising free speech."
Good or bad?
Is it safeguarding religious freedom Or as some other websites declare --
Elizabeth Kendall, an international religious liberty advocate and analyst, declares: "Far from being a breakthrough for free speech the new Resolution 16/18, "Combating intolerance . . ." is actually more dangerous than resolution 2005/3,"Combating Defamation of Religion".
The religious defamation declarations, previously brought before the U.N. She went on to say: "The strategic shift from defamation to incitement actually advances the OIC's primary goal: the criminalization of criticism of Islam."
"As The International Islamic News Agency (IINA) reported on 1 Aug 2011, implementation of the resolution will require that domestic and international laws be enacted to prevent the incitement that results "from the continued defamation of religions." In other words, anything that could have been deemed defamation under Resolution 2005/3 will doubtless now be deemed incitement under Resolution 16/18 -- incitement which must be prohibited by law."
More radical websites see this as a pro muslim president bringing Shiara Law into America and supporting a Muslim take over of the world. Arguing that Muslims are grossly intolerant of Christians and persecution of Christians will increase while news of these persecutions will be silenced as criminal defamation against Muslims.
So what do we make of all this?
Personally I don't see a muslim takeover of the world as the picture prophecy gives us of endtimes -- they will make trouble but that will only "push" against the real power who uses it as an excuse to advance his own agenda (As per Daniel 11)
APPLICATION -?
On the one hand we know endtime persecution against minority religions (ie Seventh-day Adventists) will be incited by all manner of false witness against them. We are told -- "Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth." GC 592
Wouldn't it be good to have laws against this type of religious defamation?
But wait-- In order to show WHY we keep Saturday instead of the state declared "day of rest" we would show that Christianity substituted the day God sanctified and blessed for a spurious sabbath. And we would be accused of "criminal defamation" against the Christian world religion?
The time is soon upon us when to preach the 3rd angel's message will fall under the "religious defamation" laws and legal steps will be taken against anyone doing so.
We need to share it NOW, while we still have a period of grace.
To expose error while presenting truth will soon be illegal, even though there is NO evidence and no attempt of any "inciting" to any violence.
