THE DEBATE
Back ten centuries ago, the Pope decided that all the
Muslims had to leave Jerusalem. Naturally there was a big uproar from the
Muslim community. So the Pope made a deal. He would have a religious debate
with a member of the Muslim community. If the Muslim won the debate, all the
Muslims could stay. If the Pope won, all the Muslims would have to leave.
The Muslims realized that they had no choice. They looked around for a champion
who could defend their faith, but no one wanted to volunteer. It was too risky.
But they finally picked their representative, an old Mullah who unknowingly
agreed without knowing what he was getting himself into. He agreed only on the
condition that neither side be allowed to talk but communicate by miming. The
Pope agreed.
The day of the great debate came. The Mullah and the Pope
sat opposite each other for a full minute before the Pope raised his hand and
showed three fingers. The Mullah looked back at him and raised his middle
finger…
The Pope waved his fingers in a circle around his head. The
Mullah pointed to the ground and stamped his foot.
The Pope pulled out a wafer and a glass of wine. The Mullah
pulled out an apple. The Pope stood up and said, 'I give up. This man is too
good. The Muslims can stay.'
An hour later, the Cardinals were all around the Pope
asking him what happened. The Pope said: "First I held up three fingers to
represent the Trinity. He responded by holding up one finger to remind me that
there was still one God common to both our religions. Then I waved my finger
around me to show him that God was all around us. He responded by pointing to
the ground and stamping on it, showing that God was also right here with us. I
pulled out the wine and the wafer to show that God absolves us from our sins.
He pulled out an apple, reminding me of the first sin. He had an answer for
everything. What could I do?"
Meanwhile, the Muslim community had crowded around the
Mullah in total astonishment. "What happened?" they asked.
"Well," said the Mullah, "First he said to me that we Muslims
had three days to leave Jerusalem. I told him up yours. Then he told me that
this whole city would be cleared of Muslims. I said none of us leaving this
land!"
"And then?" asked a woman.
"He took out his lunch and I took out mine," said the
Mullah.
