Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Hay River (Sep 16/02) - A group of Christians recently gathered in Hay River to learn more about Islam.

They heard from Gordon Dyck, a Christian missionary from Edmonton who has travelled extensively in about two dozen Islamic countries.

Dyck, who was dressed in traditional Moroccan attire for his public address at Hay River's Centennial Library, offered an outline of Islam from a distinctly Christian point of view, comparing the different world views of the two religions.

"It is critical to understand how they see their world," he said, noting Islam will affect Canadians as the Muslim population grows in this country.

Dyck, who has worked as a missionary in southern Africa, explained Muslims see everything in the western world from a religious perspective. For example, as western countries are largely Christian and those countries produce most of the world's pornography, he said Muslims view pornography as a result of Christianity.

Dyck also explained Muslims view their religion as affecting all aspects of society. That key philosophical foundation means there is no separation of church and state.

"Islam is a consummate way of life. It is not a religion as we see it."

However, he noted there are two aspects of Islam. One is the mainstream religion of peace practised by the vast majority. The other is radical Islam, which seeks to enforce conservative religious fundamentalism on all aspects of life and often places practitioners at odds with their own governments.

In particular, he explained that radical Muslims, such as Osama bin Laden, find it an abomination that infidel armies are present in Islamic nations, especially Saudi Arabia, which contains the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

Dyck said some people became fearful of Islam with last year's terrorist attack on the United States.

"We can't live in fear," he said, adding Christians must come to understand and learn how to relate to Muslims.

"The greatest propagator of fear is ignorance," he said.

And he believes it is improper to blame a whole religion for the actions of a few.

Pastor Darrel Desrosiers of the Hay River Pentecostal Chapel agreed that it is important to develop a better understanding of Islam.

Sometimes Christians get a one-sided picture and lump all Muslims together, he noted. "It's really unfair. There are good and bad people in every group."