Australia: the Muslim Billboards Controversy
In recent months a Christian-Muslim controversy has preoccupied the population of Sydney. A Muslim outreach group, MyPeace [www.mypeace.com.au/] under the leadership of Muslim Australian activist Diaa Mohamed, has erected a series of large billboards promoting Islam in prominent positions around the city. So far three billboards have been erected, variously declaring “Jesus: a prophet of Islam”, "Abraham, Noah, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad: Prophets of Islam" and ''Mary and prophet Jesus: read about their lives in the [Qur’an]”.
Explaining the motives of MyPeace, Mr Mohamed referred to widespread misunderstanding of Islam among non-Muslims, stating that the billboards were primarily designed to clear away misconceptions. “We've been accused of trying to convert people to Islam and all that sort of stuff. If this was a campaign to do that, I would say it openly,” said Mr Mohamed. “This particular campaign was just to build bridges and extend a hand."
Reactions from Sydneysiders have been mixed. Two of the billboards were quickly vandalized, with the one carrying the words “Jesus: a prophet of Islam” having the final two words torn off. There was also a spate of complaints to the Advertising Standards Bureau, declaring variously that the billboards were insulting to those who held Jesus to be the Son of God, that Jesus should not be associated with an “aggressive religion”, and that the billboard advertisements were upsetting to children. The Bureau quickly dismissed the complaints.
Protests also appeared on various online blogs. One blogger, describing himself as an “overworked emergency room doctor, a father and resident of Australia” wrote: “it’s great that the spotlight be turned onto Islam … [it] has most thoroughly shielded itself from examination and scrutiny by the harshest laws, against what is so ironically called blasphemy, and by requiring nothing other than total submission from its adherents, while demanding utmost respect from non-believers.”
Responses from the church have been mixed. Catholic Bishop Julian Porteous insisted that Jesus "is more than a prophet. He is the Son of God. He is acclaimed Lord and Saviour of humanity… In Australia with its Christian heritage a billboard carrying the statement `Jesus A prophet of Islam' is provocative and offensive to Christians. … these billboards should be withdrawn, along with others which carry messages directly offensive to Christians."
Some other Christians, while clearly concerned by the Islamic initiative, nevertheless saw it as providing an opportunity for Christian outreach. Prominent Sydney Anglican clergyman John Bales wrote in Eternity magazine: “It's a terrific opportunity of … discussing who Jesus really is… our response ought to be to come back and say: 'What you've said is a half truth. We agree that Jesus is a prophet but he's so much more than a prophet. He's our Saviour and our Lord'.”
Reverend Ian Powell, minister at St Barnabas Anglican Church, decided to reply with his own sign on Sydney's M4 motorway, which read, "Hey Aussie Muslims, glad you want to talk about Jesus. Love to chat more."
The billboards debate masks a number of deeper issues that call for attention. First is the claim by MyPeace that they are not trying to “convert people” to Islam. The MyPeace website clearly shows that the organizational goal is Islamic da’wa (mission). And the mission methods are not always as congenial as the billboards campaign, as evidenced by the presence of a video of the infamous late Muslim anti-Christian polemicist Ahmed Deedat on the homepage.
Another underlying issue is the question of asymmetry that has been identified in a number of media responses to the billboards campaign. Pastor and Journalist Peter Hallett puts it well in writing “Imagine a large billboard in Saudi Arabia or Pakistan saying, ‘Jesus Christ, greater than Mohammad’. Not going to happen… [An] important discussion would be the relative freedoms of people of different faiths in Islamic countries…”
Furthermore, the question of funding cries out for attention and investigation, to determine whether this campaign is funded in part or in entirety from Middle Eastern sources.
With MyPeace announcing further advertising via billboards, bus posters, and ads on radio and television in coming months, this controversy is likely to increase considerably in intensity.
This article first appeared in "Evangelicals Now", August 2011
Explaining the motives of MyPeace, Mr Mohamed referred to widespread misunderstanding of Islam among non-Muslims, stating that the billboards were primarily designed to clear away misconceptions. “We've been accused of trying to convert people to Islam and all that sort of stuff. If this was a campaign to do that, I would say it openly,” said Mr Mohamed. “This particular campaign was just to build bridges and extend a hand."
Reactions from Sydneysiders have been mixed. Two of the billboards were quickly vandalized, with the one carrying the words “Jesus: a prophet of Islam” having the final two words torn off. There was also a spate of complaints to the Advertising Standards Bureau, declaring variously that the billboards were insulting to those who held Jesus to be the Son of God, that Jesus should not be associated with an “aggressive religion”, and that the billboard advertisements were upsetting to children. The Bureau quickly dismissed the complaints.
Protests also appeared on various online blogs. One blogger, describing himself as an “overworked emergency room doctor, a father and resident of Australia” wrote: “it’s great that the spotlight be turned onto Islam … [it] has most thoroughly shielded itself from examination and scrutiny by the harshest laws, against what is so ironically called blasphemy, and by requiring nothing other than total submission from its adherents, while demanding utmost respect from non-believers.”
Responses from the church have been mixed. Catholic Bishop Julian Porteous insisted that Jesus "is more than a prophet. He is the Son of God. He is acclaimed Lord and Saviour of humanity… In Australia with its Christian heritage a billboard carrying the statement `Jesus A prophet of Islam' is provocative and offensive to Christians. … these billboards should be withdrawn, along with others which carry messages directly offensive to Christians."
Some other Christians, while clearly concerned by the Islamic initiative, nevertheless saw it as providing an opportunity for Christian outreach. Prominent Sydney Anglican clergyman John Bales wrote in Eternity magazine: “It's a terrific opportunity of … discussing who Jesus really is… our response ought to be to come back and say: 'What you've said is a half truth. We agree that Jesus is a prophet but he's so much more than a prophet. He's our Saviour and our Lord'.”
Reverend Ian Powell, minister at St Barnabas Anglican Church, decided to reply with his own sign on Sydney's M4 motorway, which read, "Hey Aussie Muslims, glad you want to talk about Jesus. Love to chat more."
The billboards debate masks a number of deeper issues that call for attention. First is the claim by MyPeace that they are not trying to “convert people” to Islam. The MyPeace website clearly shows that the organizational goal is Islamic da’wa (mission). And the mission methods are not always as congenial as the billboards campaign, as evidenced by the presence of a video of the infamous late Muslim anti-Christian polemicist Ahmed Deedat on the homepage.
Another underlying issue is the question of asymmetry that has been identified in a number of media responses to the billboards campaign. Pastor and Journalist Peter Hallett puts it well in writing “Imagine a large billboard in Saudi Arabia or Pakistan saying, ‘Jesus Christ, greater than Mohammad’. Not going to happen… [An] important discussion would be the relative freedoms of people of different faiths in Islamic countries…”
Furthermore, the question of funding cries out for attention and investigation, to determine whether this campaign is funded in part or in entirety from Middle Eastern sources.
With MyPeace announcing further advertising via billboards, bus posters, and ads on radio and television in coming months, this controversy is likely to increase considerably in intensity.
This article first appeared in "Evangelicals Now", August 2011