Mr Khatami (the former President of Iran) talks to Father Dave

[shelajet]

christians don't know that shiites do not belong to islam although they claim that they are muslims . shiites = christianity . both are modified and violent religion . don't waste your time to say that's not true . but use your time to prove me that i am wrong if anyone can .

[shabirmcbul]

irans state shiasim has also acted brute n cruel regime histort bears witness how safavids butcherd innocent persians so to force them into ther state religion of shiasm

[tehshah1]

mention that to your Muslim friends Father and see what they think about it?

Good luck on trying to bridge the gaps, you have a hard way ahead of you.

[tehshah1]

I wish you would ask him to mention one period of history when "Muslims, Christians, and Jews have lived peacefully side by side" ?

well he would have a hard time proving that point. until as recently as early 20th century, non Muslims in Iran were forced to wear signs indicating their faith so Muslims won't communicate, trade with, or even touch them by mistake !!!

[fatherdave]

Not sure what your sources are on this. I'd be grateful if you'd let me know

[tehshah1]

i would be glad to provide you with the sources, here is the wikipedia link for where you can read more about how jews were treated. simply look under "Safavid and Qajar dynasties(1502-1925)"

and let's not forget this is the era (starting with the Safavids) when Shiaism became the official state religion and everyone was either converted by force or ...the rest is history.

And for the record, the guy who you are putting your hopes of dialouge in is also a Shia of almost the same degree.

[fatherdave]

My hope for greater undestanding between Christians and Muslims is not centred on any one person, though I do see Mr Khatami as one who is keen to dialogue.

As to the history of Christian/Muslim relations in Iran, it is far less black and white than you depict. Relations over the years have been affected by various political pressures, as is the case today. Even so, there are still large churches in Tehran, the largest of which is known as the Church of the Converts (ie. converts from Islam)

[tehshah1]

well you do get mixed messages from inside Iran sometimes, but assuming that people are free to convert from Islam to other religions makes it difficult to believe the behavior of the government when they phone and threaten people who form study groups with their friends to study and discuss texts from religions other than Islam, as they had done to some people i personally know.

[tehshah1]

Converting away from Islam is an automatic sin punishable by death according to Islamic laws, not according to particular politics of any specific system of government. I would like to see that sort of laws abolished as well, just like you do i'm certain, and not only for converts to Christianity and Judaism but for all religions, including Bahai's who are still the largest non-muslim minority in Iran, after all the executions and years of being treated as third class citizens.

[tehshah1]

Also, you can look for the history of Zoroastrians in Iran and find the reasons that caused them to mass-emigrate to India.

Anyways, the point is that we have a tough road ahead, and it would be better to have a clear background before compromising. I appericiate that you are working towards mutual coexistence, I also wanna see that all over the world...hey after all, if coexistence was respected by khatami and people like him i woulnd't have had to leave my country.

[phitomex]

KHATAMI <3

[arashjan]

mage khatami ingilisi balad nist ???

[tehshah1]

cheraa  andaze nanjoone karoubi balade

[Dilawer15]

He really a fantastic leader of Iran Such like Ahmedi NIjad And Mosavi...

[fatherdave]

Can't disagree with you there bro :-)

[OGHAD]

sheikh mansour is a legend

[mehdi7it]

we LOVE u KHATAMI