Hussein Bogere & Jane Nafula
21 March 2008
CHRISTIAN leaders here have condemned Libyan President Col. Muammar Gadaffi's Wednesday's assertion that the Bible is a forgery, with some calling for an apology for the remarks they say "ridicule the very foundation" of the Christian faith.
A statement from the Church of Uganda called Col. Gadaffi's remarks "divisive" and "unfortunate."
"God has blessed Uganda in recent years with very good relations between Christians and Muslims," the statement said.
"One example is the Inter-Religious Council, which works very well together for the common good of the country. It is unfortunate that a visitor should come and try to divide our country, and to ridicule the foundation of the faith of 85 per cent of the country he is visiting."
While celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Prophet Muhammad, Col Gadaffi said the current version of the Bible is a forgery because it does not mention the coming of Prophet Muhammad yet both Prophets; Moses and Jesus foretold his coming.
"The Bible we have now is not the one that was revealed to Issa (Jesus) and the Old Testament is not the one that was revealed to Musa. It means that it (Bible) has been forged," Col. Gadaffi said.
His remarks were always bound to cause a boil that will take great proportions to lance in a deeply religious Uganda.
"Many scholars have proven the accuracy of the Bible, and God Himself has shown it to be true. We do not understand African hospitality in that way," the statement signed by the Rev. Canon Aaron Mwesigye, the provincial secretary Church of Uganda read.
In a separate interview, Canon Mwesigye said Col. Gadaffi's statement "would create religious problems. The founder of Islam, Muhammad is dead and he is in the grave. The founder of Christianity died but resurrected and the whole of this week, we will be celebrating his resurrection and he is a basis of the Holy Bible. We believe in someone who is alive."
Pastor Martin Sempa of Makerere Community Church referred to Col. Gadaffi's comments as "an insult for which he must apologise."
"His insensitive comments are scientifically inaccurate. His comments are very embarrassing to historians," Pastor Sempa said yesterday.
The outspoken pastor also observed that Col. Gadaffi's comments are borne out of his ambition to create an Islamic state for Africa. "We completely reject this idea," he said. "Let him continue building mosques for Muslims."
He also said that Col. Gadaffi risks undoing the religious tolerance that has existed in Uganda for many years and could easily take us back to the 1890s.
Assistant Bishop of Kampala Diocese who doubles as the Chairperson of the Uganda Joint Christian Council, Northern Uganda Taskforce, the Rt Rev Zac Niringiye was cautious, appealing for restraint from Christians.
"Everyone should remain calm. Jesus loves everyone including Christians, Muslims and pagans," he said. The Spokesperson of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Hajji Nsereko Mutumba could not comment. He said the council was not in charge of the Colonel's visit. Pastor Joseph Sserwadda of the Victory Christian Centre said, "Gadaffi is ignorant of the Bible. He made such a statement because he lacks information and we are not amused at all".
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