Truth About The Crucifixion — Page 179
make public comment on the London Conference also stems from our awareness that Christianity has often indulged in aggressive and negative attacks on the central tenets of other religions, attacks of a sort comparable to these Ahmadiyya attacks on the central Christian tenet. While we agree that Christianity has often indulged in aggressive and negative attacks on the central tenets of other religions in language which was open to serious objection, we cannot agree that the belief of the Ahmadiyya. Movement and its publication through a conference, or otherwise, that Jesus was an exalted divine messenger and that nothing should be attributed to him which should be inconsistent with his high status as a divine messenger, is an aggressive or negative attack. . The recognition by the Committee that "the death of Jesus. Christ on the cross may seem a scandal and an affront to divine justice” is a welcome announcement. This raises the hope that if the reality of these questions is expounded to our Christian brethren with love and true understanding they will give up their wrong tenets and will recognize that the belief that Jesus died an accursed death on the cross and that an innocent one was punished for the sins of the guilty would not only “seem" but would truly be a scandal and an affront to divine justice. . We are happy that the British Council of Churches, through this Committee, has invited the Ahmadiyya Movement to conversations in the future in London and elsewhere on the difference between us. . We accept this invitation and desire that these conversations should be held in an atmosphere of love and courtesy. We propose that these conversations should be held in London, Rome, a West African capital, an Asian capital and in the United. States of America, on dates and conditions to be agreed upon between the parties. . We would also welcome opportunities of dialogue with the representatives of the Catholic Church on the doctrinal differences between us, either separately or in combination with other. Christian Churches, including the British Council of Churches. 185