One Person at a Time, Gently

Here's another innovative activist's approach. I received the following letters from a person who wishes to remain anonymous:

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Dear Citizen Warrior,

You understand the importance of persuasion. It is not just the information we present, it is also the manner and the order in which it is presented which makes it persuasive or not.

Here is a link to the 3 best lectures on Islam ever. And by that I mean the most persuasive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfR3EmBs2nQ (divided into 15 segments)

He covers Islamic theology, the sharia and human rights, and how Christians can reach out to Muslims.

I'm so impressed that I'm going to invite a different person over to my house every week to watch the first 6 segments. (People who are influential in the community, like ministers of religion, policeman, lawyers and university lecturers.) In the invite I'm telling them that there is popcorn and drinks.

When they leave I will give them a copy of "The Third Choice" with http://markdurie.blogspot.com.au/2011/02/twelve-bad-ideas-for-21st-century.html


Keep up the good work.

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I've started sending the following to those in the know (on Facebook). Hopefully it will make some of the hotheads amongst us a little bit more tactful.

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Hi _______,

You don't know me but we hold many similar concerns. I too am deeply concerned about the influence of Islam in my country and the apathy and ignorance of our leaders.

I've decided to invite a different person over to my house every week to watch the first 6 segments of the following:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfR3EmBs2nQ (I think most will watch the other segments in their own time after watching these.)

If those lectures don't open a person's eyes to what we are dealing with, nothing will. They are the best introduction to Islam I've seen (and I've been researching this since before 9/11). I can understand why Pamela Geller, Allen West and Ravi Zacharias recommend Mark's book.

In the invite I'll tell them that there will be popcorn and drinks.

And when they are about to leave I will give them a copy of "The Third Choice" with http://markdurie.blogspot.com.au/2011/02/twelve-bad-ideas-for-21st-century.html

It is not just the content of those lectures which is important; it is the methodology he uses. Mark introduces the nasty side of Islam very gently. One of the problems with Islamic theology is it is so awful that most people find it hard to believe that it could actually be that bad. As the lectures progress more and more pieces of disturbing information are introduced. A bit sprinkled here and there. Not too much in one go. He references the decisions that Saudi judges make to the Quran and Hadith. And sometimes refers to some of the more embarrassing decisions which come out of Al-Azhar university, showing from Islam's most respected texts and commentaries the basis for those decisions.  And before you know it, wham! He starts to really hammer Islam. Mark explains the horrors of sharia and the doctrines on which it is built. It is Mohammed's teaching and example which is the root cause of all Islam's problems. Taqiyya is subtly yet clearly exposed. (Surprise surprise, they are not perverting Islam; it is Islam which is perverted.) Mark says there is a reformation happening in the Islamic world, it's called Al Qaeda.

The Q&As are brilliant. Dr Durie destroys a lot of myths about Islam while addressing many of the assumptions which prevent people from seeing Islam's true nature and impact on the world. He also gives much helpful advice. (e.g. What he would say to his son or daughter if they told him they wanted to convert to Islam.)

I believe we could get many of our "progressive" associates thinking (fingers crossed) if we persuaded them to watch those lectures (watch the first 2 segments and you'll understand what I mean when you see how gentle he is).

And who can resist popcorn?

Popcorn is very persuasive stuff.

If you take the time to listen to all 3 lectures I'm sure that by the time you reach the last few segments you will be as enthusiastic about them as I am.

One person at a time. That is how we are going to win this thing.

You can find the videos for those three Calvin Seminary Conference lectures here:

http://www.markdurie.com/videos-and-audios

It might be easier than watching them in segments from YouTube.