The Pilgrim’s Protest

By Dr. Warren Larson

A Dutch Catholic bishop’s recent admonition that everyone refer to God as Allah produced a storm of protest. The incident illustrates widespread polarization on who should use the term “Allah” and is indicative of the pervasive confusion as to who God really is. A Muslim spokesman for CAIR (Council of American-Islamic Relations) quickly endorsed the comment, a view that seems to be line with the Qur’an: “We believe in the revelation which has come down to us … our God and your God is one” (29:46). According to this theory, all Muslims, Christians and Jews believe in, and worship the same God. At the other end of the spectrum is Robert Morey, who for many years has popularized the theory that Allah was originally the moon god, worshiped in Arabia long before Muhammad. This article will attempt to show that both positions are simplistic and fail to address the most important issues in our discussion with Muslims about God.

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While many long to curl up on the couch or lie in a hammock with their favorite book, on a beautiful spring day, I long to ascend the stairs in my house to the place my wife calls the ‘man room.’ There I watch my favorite movie, on my Panasonic Hi Def, 42” Plasma screen TV, connected to my 5.1 Dolby surround sound system playing at concert hall pitch, with the movie spilling across the screen courtesy of my JVC DVD player.

But what are my favorite movies? How does a film get lucky enough to go from sitting on the shelf at Best Buy to my DVD player? My viewing falls into two categories. These two categories give me a sense of purpose when it comes to my films. They help me set parameters and allow me to focus (pun intended) on the reason why I watch what I watch.
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It was a surprise to me when Gina Russo, our editor-emeritus, mentioned to me a few weeks ago that our next issue would be our 2-year anniversary issue. As I thought about how to commemorate this milestone, I thought perhaps it was time to offer some musings about my role in the whole enterprise.

For those who do not know, The Pilgrim’s Protest was born in a Hebrew language class in the spring of 2005. One day, after a particularly passionate class discussion, I challenged the class to discuss their ideas about campus, church, and world issues in a printed format, a student newspaper. To my surprise, they took up the challenge, and The Pilgrim’s Protest was born. From the beginning, I have felt that my role was one of directing and channeling the energy flow of students into constructive, honest conversation. (Please read our original manifesto reprinted in this anniversary issue.)
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Five Initiatives for CIU

On Wednesday, March 28, Bill Jones presented five initiatives with ten objectives that Columbia International University will be pursuing. Please send TPP a sound off and let us know what you think of these initiatives.

1. Enhancing campus life for our students
-Study and improve housing conditions and suggest additional options (unless building new dorm)
-Increase amenities such as Internet, and electrical capacity in dorms
-Present a proposal to the Board to consider NCCAA II athletics

2. Clarifying how Spiritual Life will be formed in all delivery systems.
-Main campus & other delivery systems

3. Strengthening our academic offerings
- Launch the Business & Organizational Leadership Program in the undergrad
-Inaugurate the Center for Christian School Education

4. Expanding our delivery venues -Provide initial offering of an online M.Ed.
-Provide initial offering of an online M.A. Missions
-Add another location

5. Reaching and maintaining 1000 headcount with 400 new students
- REAL Marketing (regions, events, alumni, leveraged partnerships) with focus on undergrad and graduate programs by discipline

The Pilgrim’s Protest asked the members of the college faculty to turn in a list of their 5 favorite books and 5 favorite movies. My list of books demands little explanation, mostly theological and exegetical tomes, the kind of books a Bible professor is expected to enjoy. My list of movies cries out for further clarification. My favorite movies are anything but thought-provoking. They are: The Princess Bride; What about Bob?; Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark; Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade; and Napoleon Dynamite.
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