Philip Friesen

The Great Arab Conquests, initial thoughts

The Great Arab Conquests: How the Spread of Islam Changed the World We Live In, by Hugh Kennedy In the introduction to Kennedy’s book, the author contends that we can really know almost nothing about the first century of Islam, because the data is sparse and mostly anecdotal, but the material we do have is precious, mainly in how it reveals the official story of what happened from the perspective of a...

Philip Friesen

IN HONOR OF COLUMBUS (A play with tongue in cheek for Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Minneapolis)

(A play with tongue in cheek for Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Minneapolis) Copyright Philip E. Friesen SCENE I,  Somewhere in Spain Bishop (B) & Monk (M) Monk:  I just heard some news! Bishop: Yes, what news? M         (In a hoarse, excited whisper) This Italian guy, Columbus, is asking the king for ships and men to sail to India. B         What a crazy idea!  They’ll fall off...

Philip Friesen

GOD AND VIOLENCE, a presentation at the Islamic Center of MN Oct. 6, 2014

GOD AND HUMAN VIOLENCE PART I MOSES AND SOCIAL CONTROL Every city has its police and every nation its army for the purpose of controlling violence. When all else has failed, the bottom line is to meet violence with greater violence. Moses reformulated the basis of social organization as a revelation from God on how to build a peaceful society. However, the Bible is not primarily a revelation of laws, but...

Philip Friesen

Muslim/Christian Dialogue: My Recent Contribution

IS JESUS THE SON OF GOD? How the disciples understood the term, and how Jesus deepened their understanding   Philip E. Friesen Presentation at the Islamic Center, Fridley, MN on Sept. 7, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. by Representative evidence from the synoptic gospels-            (The synoptics use the term 24 times.) Matthew 16:13-17 13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he...

Philip Friesen

Congressional Medal of Honor for Consciousness Objector

Mennonites like me have traditionally refused to participate in war as a matter of conscience, and this tradition was profoundly challenged during my college years at a Christian school where I grew in my faith under the tutelage of a number of godly veterans. Recently I learned a story that I believe will challenge every believer regardless of one’s convictions on this issue. On Saturday, May 5, 1945...