Algeria funds the reconstruction of three religious buildings in Bosnia

[Djamila]

I'll place this is the Christianity section because it has to go in either Christianity or Islam, and Algeria repairing a Muslim site in Bosnia isn't really as exciting. Also, two of the sites are Christian, one is Islamic - so - here it goes - hahaha.

The government of Algeria has committed funds to rebuild three very, very, very important religious buildings in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These three buildings were the most heart-felt losses, of all the religious buildings destroyed, among Bosnians.

The first is the Orthodox Christian Church of Mostar, which was the largest Orthodox Christian Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It's destruction was the most devastating loss for Bosnian Serbs during the entire war. Following an Orthodox Christian siege of Mostar, Muslims and Roman Catholics in that city expelled the city's Orthodox Christians and dynamited the church, and - brace yourself:

Literally pelted the fleeing Orthodox Christians with the pieces of their own church. One young girl was killed.

The second is the Ferhadija Mosque of Banja Luka, formerly a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Mosque was dynamited at the beginning of war, with Muslim prisonners at the Omarska concentration camp forced to eat a soupy paste made of some of its pieces. The remaining pieces were carted away and secretly burried so that the Mosque could never be rebuilt with its original stone.

When the corner stone for the Ferhadija Mosque's reconstruction was supposed to be laid a few years ago, Orthodox Christians - who now dominate Banja Luka's population - rioted. They even set fire to the buses former Muslim residents arrived in while they were still inside.

And the final is the Roman Catholic Monastery in Plehan. It was destroyed by Orthodox Christian soldiers during the war and, as one of the holiest sites for Roman Catholics in Bosnia, it was especially devastating.

And a related story: http://www.topix.net/r/0tULL2i6IBtv...hiu882sVKty=2FcX=2FydLqUpK6itVCeFuhjLY=2F8=3D

 

[Djamila]

A few glimpses at how much work their is to do.

The Orthodox Christian Church of Mostar as it looks today:

The Ferhadija Mosque as it looks today:

And the Roman Catholic Monastery at Plehan today:

 

[Muffled]

I met a Serbian in the USA who was very bitter about the burning of Christian churches in the former Yugoslavia but bitterness is not the Christian way, forgiveness is.

Even so there appears to be very little of it in this world.

I think it is appropriate that Algeria has taken this action since they have had their own similar problems lately.

 

[James the Persian]

I met a Serbian in the USA who was very bitter about the burning of Christian churches in the former Yugoslavia but bitterness is not the Christian way, forgiveness is.

I agree, but as the burnings and desecrations of Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries continues even now and right under the noses of the KFOR troops who are supposed to prevent it, I can't bring myself to condemn those who find that it is simply too early to forgive.

I am happy to see anyone help with rebuilding one of our churches but especially to see that a Muslim country is helping as it shows that the two communities can live in peace and help one another. I pray that Algeria's example will make a good impression on the people of Bosnia.

Djamila,

Could I please ask you to refrain from referring to Serbian war criminals as Orthodox Christian soldiers? They may have claimed to be Orthodox, they may have been members of my Church, but their actions belie those claims. The assorted nationalists, criminals and psychopaths that perpetrated those crimes may have claimed to represent the Church but in fact represented the exact opposite of our faith.

James

 

[Djamila]

Djamila,

Could I please ask you to refrain from referring to Serbian war criminals as Orthodox Christian soldiers? They may have claimed to be Orthodox, they may have been members of my Church, but their actions belie those claims. The assorted nationalists, criminals and psychopaths that perpetrated those crimes may have claimed to represent the Church but in fact represented the exact opposite of our faith.

James

Yeah, that's not a problem. I just always have trouble wondering what to say to a Western audience, you know?

If I say Bosnian Serb soldiers - firstly, it implies Serbia wasn't involved; secondly, people in the West probably don't know what the term means, Bosnian Serb.

So I try to mix it up so people know "Bosnian Serb = Orthodox Christian", otherwise it will just be confusing.

But I'll try to remember! And if I catch you saying Islamic terrorist I'll kill you. LOL

 

[James the Persian]

Yeah, that's not a problem. I just always have trouble wondering what to say to a Western audience, you know?

If I say Bosnian Serb soldiers - firstly, it implies Serbia wasn't involved; secondly, people in the West probably don't know what the term means, Bosnian Serb.

So I try to mix it up so people know "Bosnian Serb = Orthodox Christian", otherwise it will just be confusing.

But I'll try to remember! And if I catch you saying Islamic terrorist I'll kill you. LOL

Fair enough. I don't think that I post much on the terrorism issue in any case, so that's unlikely to happen. My only concern was that the phrase 'Orthodox Christian soldier' implies that they were fighting on behalf of the Church and/or that the Church condones their actions. Neither is the case. Given that to a very large degree the differences between the groups in the former Yugoslavia are purely religious, it seems rather redundant. Croats are traditionally RC, Bosnians Muslim and Serbs Orthodox and everyone pretty much knows that. That doesn't mean, by any means, though that all Serbs are committed or even practicing Orthodox Christians and so drawing attention to the putative religion of the soldiers appears rather as an attempt to blame their actions on that faith, even though I accept that this was not your intention.

James

 

[Djamila]

Fair enough. I don't think that I post much on the terrorism issue in any case, so that's unlikely to happen. My only concern was that the phrase 'Orthodox Christian soldier' implies that they were fighting on behalf of the Church and/or that the Church condones their actions. Neither is the case. Given that to a very large degree the differences between the groups in the former Yugoslavia are purely religious, it seems rather redundant. Croats are traditionally RC, Bosnians Muslim and Serbs Orthodox and everyone pretty much knows that. That doesn't mean, by any means, though that all Serbs are committed or even practicing Orthodox Christians and so drawing attention to the putative religion of the soldiers appears rather as an attempt to blame their actions on that faith, even though I accept that this was not your intention.

James

Okay, you may keep your head for now. Xx

 

[Doodlebug02]

Wow! I am so happy to see that these religious sites will be rebuilt!

 

[Muffled]

Fair enough. I don't think that I post much on the terrorism issue in any case, so that's unlikely to happen. My only concern was that the phrase 'Orthodox Christian soldier' implies that they were fighting on behalf of the Church and/or that the Church condones their actions. Neither is the case. Given that to a very large degree the differences between the groups in the former Yugoslavia are purely religious, it seems rather redundant. Croats are traditionally RC, Bosnians Muslim and Serbs Orthodox and everyone pretty much knows that. That doesn't mean, by any means, though that all Serbs are committed or even practicing Orthodox Christians and so drawing attention to the putative religion of the soldiers appears rather as an attempt to blame their actions on that faith, even though I accept that this was not your intention.

James

Even if the soldiers/terrorists were acting on behalf of a religious group, it would still not be a guarantee that they were adhering to their faith. The RC church fought battles to have their Holy Roman Empire but empire is not what Jesus ever intended.
There are Imams who supported Bin Laden but his actions are not those that Allah permitted in the Qu'ran.