What's in a Name?

RADIO NETHERLANDS --

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Breda Tiny Muskens has made the headlines today with his appeal to all believers to make a conciliatory gesture to Muslims by calling God Allah. The Protestant newspaper Trouw [link] places the appeal on its front page.

Trouw writes that on last night's television programme Network [video link] Bishop Muskens pointed out that Allah is the Arabic word for God. The bishop explained that he had worked for eight years in Indonesia. "There God is called Allah during the Mass. Why don't we do this as well?" Bishop Muskens says he doesn't expect much approval for his idea within the short term. "But I'd be interested to see how it is in another hundred or two hundred years."

Why don't Muslims call Allah God?

De Telegraaf also places the bishop's controversial appeal on its front page, along with the reaction of the Council of Dutch Protestant Churches, which says it has no intention of even thinking of the suggestion. The Chairman of the Council, Gerrit de Fijter, says it is true that Allah is the Arabic word for God, but "We're not in Indonesia or another land, we're in the Netherlands where we call Him God."

He also says that he "wants to continue using the word God in relationship to the Father, the son Jesus and the Holy Ghost, and if we say Allah this isn't possible." De Telegraaf interviews Christian Democratic MP Liesbeth Spies, who says using the word Allah isn't in accordance with Dutch tradition. She says: "You can also turn it around. Why don't Muslims call Allah God?" However, the spokesman for Roman Catholic bishops in the Netherlands. Pieter Kohnen, says Bishop Muskens' proposal might not be a bad idea. "We've been looking for the right words to describe God's greatness since time immemorial. Muskens has made an interesting suggestion."

COMMENT: Some Dutchies have tiny minds.