The Imam Celebrated by the Church of Sweden: "The Jews are Behind the Islamic State!"

Part III of a Series: The Islamization of Sweden

by Ingrid Carlqvist
June 29, 2016 at 7:00 am

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/8322/sweden-church-imam

Translation of the original text: Imamen som Svenska kyrkan hyllar: "Judarna ligger bakom Islamiska staten!"
Translated by Maria Celander

Translations of this item:

Priests are afraid to talk about Jesus during mass. — Eva Hamberg, priest and professor, who in protest resigned from the priesthood and left the Church.
The Church of Sweden may be headed towards "Chrislam" -- a merging of Christianity and Islam. Swedish priests, noting the religious fervor among the Muslims now living in Sweden, enthusiastically take part in various interfaith projects.
"There are reliable sources from Egypt, showing that the Saudi royal family is really a Jewish family that came from Iraq to the Arabian Peninsula sometime in the 1700s. They built an army with the aid of British officers fighting the Ottoman sultanate." — Imam Awad Olwan, with whom a priest, Henrik Larsson, is cooperating in an interfaith project.
"The involvement that the Church of Sweden has shown for the vulnerability of Christian Palestinians, has been replaced with indifference to the ethnic cleansing of Christians in Syria and Iraq. In these countries, it is mostly Muslims who commit the atrocities, which is evidently enough to make the Church of Sweden concentrate on climate change and environmental issues instead." — Eli Göndör, scholar of religion.

The Church of Sweden has departed from being a strong and stern state church. In the past, Swedes were born into it and, until 1951, no one was allowed to leave the church. These days, however, it is an institution that has very little to do with Christianity or Jesus. Sweden now, according to the World Values Survey, is one of the world's most secular countries; every year a large number of Swedes leave the church.

It used to be that only atheists left the church; now it is the devout Christians that leave -- in protest against the church's increasingly questionable relationship to the Christian faith.

When, for example, the current Archbishop, Antje Jackelén, just before being appointed, participated in a question-and-answer session in the fall of 2013, and one of the questions was: "Does Jesus convey a more truthful image of God than Muhammad does?" surprisingly, the would-be archbishop did not immediately say yes, but instead involved herself in a long monologue about there being many ways to God. Evidently, this upset a lot of parishioners. A high-profile priest and professor, Eva Hamberg, resigned from the priesthood in protest and left the Church of Sweden.

"This made me leave faster," she told the Christian newspaper, Dagen. "If the future Archbishop cannot stand by the Apostles' Creed, but rather, rationalizes it, then secularization has gone too far."

Hamberg, who has conducted research on the secularization process, said that in Sweden, secularization has escalated ever faster -- even within the Church of Sweden. As an example, Hamberg said that Antje Jackelén does not believe in Immaculate Conception, but says it is a metaphor. Hamberg also said that there is a lack of reverence before the Triune God, and that the priests are afraid to talk about Jesus during mass.

"There is also a clear lack of tolerance within the Church of Sweden. The candidates [for the position of archbishop] were all very keen to talk about dialogue, and that sounds great, but it is all just empty phrases. The church leaders, in fact, persecute dissidents. If you do not agree with the ordination of women, you will not get ordained. The ceiling is incredibly low."

When Antje Jackelén won the election and became Sweden's first female Archbishop, it was time for the next shock. As her motto, she chose "God is Greater" -- "Allahu Akbar" in Arabic. Jackelén referred to 1 John 3:19-21, which says:

"This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything."

However, few believe the choice of motto is anything other than an open flirt with the Muslims of Sweden. In Islam, "Allahu Akbar" are the first words heard in every call to prayer, from every minaret around the world, and it is the cry we hear time and again in connection with Islamist suicide bombings, decapitations of non-Muslims, and terrorist attacks.

Archbishop Jackelén's choice of a motto was not an exception; merely the most visible sign that the Church of Sweden may be headed towards "Chrislam" -- a merging of Christianity and Islam. Swedish priests, noting the religious fervor among the Muslims now living in Sweden, enthusiastically take part in various interreligious projects. Last year, Stockholm's Bishop, Eva Brunne, suggested removing the cross from the Seamen's Church, enabling Muslims to pray there.

Gatestone Institute called her closest associate, Diocesan Priest Bo Larsson, to ask about this proposal.

Gatestone: Can the Christians in Muslim countries expect the same service in mosques?

Bo Larsson: "No, I don't think so. To Muslims, the buildings have such a holy dignity."

Gatestone: But not to Swedes?

Bo Larsson: "Apparently not. But there are already many mosques in Sweden."

Gatestone: So why the need to pray in the Seamen's Church?

Bo Larsson: "You know, it was just a suggestion. Many people on social media got it into their heads that this means Brunne is no longer a Christian, but that is not true of course."

Gatestone: So we Christians should show Muslims respect, even though they do not respect us?

Bo Larsson: "I think so. That is my opinion. I have been a priest for 40 years. We are still the largest church in Sweden, and so we must provide opportunities for Muslims and Jews."

Gatestone: "Are you saying 'If you cannot beat them, join them?'"

Bo Larsson "That is one way to look at it."

Gatestone: The Church of Sweden is known for its positive attitude towards homosexuals. Your own bishop, Eva Brunne, is openly gay. Yet you support Islam, which persecutes homosexuals?

Bo Larsson: "That is a difficult question to answer. But sure, it is terrible that gay people do not have any rights in Muslim countries and cannot live openly. Terrible."

Gatestone: And you still want to support this religion?

Bo Larsson: "There are Christians who are opposed to homosexuality, too, you know."

Gatestone: Who want to hang gays?

Bo Larsson: "No, maybe not. But I think you're oversimplifying. What we want in Sweden is a dialogue with the Muslim people."

Gatestone: Have you discussed homosexuality with Muslims?

Bo Larsson: "No."

Gatestone: Do you think you can change Islam in Sweden into a tolerant, open-minded religion?

Bo Larsson: "There are fundamentalist Christians in the United States who do not accept homosexuals."

Gatestone: But do you think there is a difference between not accepting and wanting to kill?

Bo Larsson: "I have never heard a Muslim say he wants to kill homosexuals."

"Chrislam" has gone farthest in the immigrant-heavy Stockholm suburb of Fisksätra, in which 8,000 people, speaking 100 different languages live. There, the Church of Sweden is now raising money to build a mosque -- a project named "House of God" -- next to the existing church. This is how the project is described on its official website:

"The House of God represents a desire for peace, and real work in the spirit of peace. We are building a mosque adjacent to the existing church in Fisksätra. Between the church and the mosque, a glass enclosed, joint indoor square will be built. The House of God is unique, and an example of the cooperation and religious dialogue that is so important in our time. Come join our work!"

Gatestone called Henrik Larsson, a priest and one of the founders of the House of God project. He assured us that Islam is peaceful and democratic, but then gave some other answers indicating that he may not be so enthralled by this religion after all.

"We Christians have also done some horrible things over the centuries," he said. " We have burned witches, we have colonized other countries, and sided with different armies throughout our history. I think all religions can be used in a similar way."

Gatestone: Are you saying that we live in 2016, and that they are still stuck in the 1400s?

H. Larsson: "If that. They are striving towards creating a society like the one that existed right after the Prophet Muhammad's death, and that means we are talking 600s, 700s and 800s. That is their ideal. But there is also an Islam searching for new ways, a European Islam, those who want to try to be Muslims within the democratic and secular society."

Gatestone: Many Muslims in Sweden seem not to want to adapt to Swedish culture. Look at all the rapes and sexual assaults at public swimming pools.

H. Larsson: "Yes, it is not easy for Afghan boys who have grown up in a society where women have to throw a sheet over themselves before leaving the house; of course they are marinated in an attitude towards women miles away from ours. Of course they should not be allowed to do that, but it is no wonder that there are conflicts. But they need to learn how we see men and women here in Sweden."

Henrik Larsson celebrates the imam with whom he is cooperating in the "House of God." His name is Awad Olwan, a Palestinian who came to Sweden in the 1960s. According to Henrik Larsson, Olwan is a modern Muslim, who became an imam late in life and likes democracy.

But when Gatestone called Olwan, to ask why he supported the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) in the 1970s and refused to denounce the Munich massacre at the 1972 Olympic Games, he at first pretended not to know what the PFLP was. The BBC has described it as "Combining Arab nationalism with Marxist-Leninist ideology, the PFLP saw the destruction of Israel as integral to its struggle to remove Western capitalism from the Middle East."

Olwan: "Oh, well, yes, we had a lot of different organizations back then, but forget that -- that is history now. It meant Palestine Liberation something. I really do not remember to be quite honest."

Gatestone: You refused to denounce the attack on the Jewish Olympians in Munich?

Olwan: "Yes, that's right, but that was in the 70s! I don't remember what I said then."

Gatestone: Is your attitude different now?

Olwan: "Yes, of course. It was murder and nothing else."

During our first conversation, Awad Olwan claimed to be very positive towards Jews. He said that there are no Jews in the House of God is simply because there is no Jewish congregation in Fisksätra, but that the organizers have invited a Jewish choir and are cooperating very well with them.

During our second talk, however, other thoughts emerged. When Olwan was asked some questions about the Quran and the hadith, he began cursing and saying that everything was the fault of "those f**king Mecca-Arabs."

Gatestone: Are you saying Islam is not the problem; that it is the Saudi interpretation of Islam that messes everything up?

Olwan: "Exactly! And their religion [Wahhabism] was invented by a British imperialist 200 years ago. I cannot say anything more, because then I am an anti-Semite and whatnot."

Gatestone: What is the truth about the Jews?

Olwan: "Okay, there are reliable sources from Egypt, showing that the Saudi royal family is really a Jewish family that came from Iraq to the Arabian Peninsula sometime in the 1700s. They built an army with the aid of British officers fighting the Ottoman sultanate. After that, they created the Jordanian army and so on and so on."

Gatestone: Are you saying this is the reason the Jews are so quiet?

Olwan: "Yes. I wrote in my book that the purpose of ISIS/Daesh is to shift the focus from the Arab-Israeli conflict, and make this a conflict between Sunni and Shia -- and they have succeeded. And now, they will erase the entire Middle East. You will see! It is Catholic land, Muslim land and a lot of other crap countries just to justify the existence of a Jewish state."

Gatestone: I read online that many believe it was Mossad and the Jews who started ISIS?

Olwan: "Yes, that is a common theory in the Middle East, but if you say that in the West, you are told that you are a conspiracy nut and that you have no evidence. But here's the deal: You cannot wage war against strong forces without having weapons delivered every day, you need planning and logistics. These are not f**king terrorists who have learned how to wage war on the internet, these are highly trained, highly skilled people. I have to go now."

Gatestone: Are you referring to the Jews?

Olwan: "Exactly, exactly."

Olwan is most likely a typical example of an imam who shows a conciliatory and friendly attitude towards naïve Swedish priests, but with a bit of encouragement, admits his hatred of Jews. He is, it seems, not too fond of the Church of Sweden's friendly attitude towards gays, either.

Since the Church of Sweden became one of the first Christian communions in the world to approve gay marriage in 2005, more and more priests have come out as gay. In 2009, when Eva Brunne was appointed bishop of Stockholm, tongues wagged that the church is now being ruled by the "Lesbian League." The Church of Sweden has participated in the Pride Festivals in Stockholm on many occasions, and several churches have allowed themselves be LGBT-certified. The price for this may be that the church will be forced to cut certain passages from Bible. Ulrika Westerlund, the chairperson for the RFSL (Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Rights), has warned the church: "There are elements in religious scriptures that are used against LGBT persons. Then we have to discuss if you want this certification, we do not want you to quote these passages from the Bible."

Henrik Larsson, the priest, sees a problem with imams constantly condemning homosexuality as a sin -- an Islamic tenet that presumably can never change because Allah said it [Quran,7:80-84.IG]. "We have to hope they catch up with us there. It was not so long ago that Christianity preached the same things."

Gatestone: Do you hope and believe that Muslims can change, even though some hurl homosexuals from rooftops, hang them and flog them?

H. Larsson: "Yes, it is awful. But I believe that people are innately good at heart."

Awad Olwan does not agree with Henrik Larsson. He thinks the Church of Sweden's attitude towards homosexuality is a great sin:

"I disagree with them. Homosexuality is not good for the morals of society, and it is not what Jesus and Moses stood for. It is better if the whole thing with homosexuality in public life becomes a parenthesis."

In the meantime, as the Church of Sweden is busy developing "Chrislam," it never acknowledges that in the Middle East, Christians are being killed and effectively eradicated. In 2015, Eli Göndör, a scholar of religion, wrote in the magazine Dagens Samhälle:

"The involvement that the Church of Sweden has shown for the vulnerability of Christian Palestinians, has been replaced with indifference to the ethnic cleansing of Christians in Syria and Iraq. In these countries, it is mostly Muslims who commit the atrocities, which is evidently enough to make the Church of Sweden concentrate on climate change and environmental issues instead."

To be fair, in February 2016, the Church of Sweden did do something for the Christians of the Middle East -- it encouraged congregations and individuals to pray for them. The words Islam or Muslims were not mentioned in the appeal.

Gatestone called the Church of Sweden's information service, to ask if the prayers had helped.

"I cannot answer that," the voice on the phone said. "Can you send an e-mail with your question, and I'll ask my colleagues to get you a reply?"

While Gatestone Institute stands by the articles written for it to date by Ingrid Carlqvist, Gatestone is no longer affiliated with her in any way.

© 2024 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

Related Topics: Sweden

Recent Articles by Ingrid Carlqvist

Sweden: The Silence of the Jews, 2016-08-16
Sweden: Summer Inferno of Sexual Assaults, 2016-08-13
Sweden: Increasing Violence by Asylum Seekers against Swedes, 2016-08-05
Sweden: Rampant Sexual Assaults Steam On, 2016-07-07
Swedish Politicians: "Islam is Definitely Compatible with Democracy!", 2016-06-08

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Comment on this item

21 Reader Comments

Kyra Nelson • Jul 1, 2016 at 13:33

I used to think the conflict was between good and evil. Now I see it is between people who are smart enough to tie their own shoes and those who are just not up to the task intellectually.

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Eric Jan Kamp • Jun 30, 2016 at 15:58

The archbischop's motto "God is the greatest " is a flirt towards Islam. There are so many other inspiring words in the Scripture on hand, but Antje Jackelén chose precisely that sentence. It reminds me Pope Francis, who is too committed in " interfaith Chrislamic dialogue ". In the context of his "Mercy-theology" he often refers to the Creator as " Merciful and Compassionate " ( Exodus 34,5-6 ), just not to make feel Allah excluded. Every Quranic surah in fact starts exactly with that reference.

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El Cid • Jun 30, 2016 at 14:35

Very detailed interviews. Thank you.

One interpretation: The Church of Sweden is returning its roots: Antisemitism.

In that light, it is not surprising that the priests can ignore elaborate conspiracies where Israel's biggest foes are in fact created by the Jews themselves.

Reminds me of the Nazis: The Jews are the evil capitalist bankers, AND, they are the Russian communists!

It is remarkable, however, that nothing seems to change. We Jews are still a very, very small group of people. We sure sound mighty important! (sarcasm intended).

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El Cid • Jul 1, 2016 at 01:49

We are important! Jews are important, and will remain so. Through cataclysmic scenarios, Jews have survived.

After the scourge of the Merkel and Obama types, downfall of Europe and the looming shadow of an Iranian bomb, none of which have been created by Jews, (except the Jewish click in America who funded Obama), coupled with the fact that Muslims are killing Muslims, one may find that Israel is one of the prime places on earth to live.

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Russell • Jun 30, 2016 at 05:45

The Swedish churches that follow this road to Chrislam can lead to anything but death are totally blind to the true nature of Islam.

But that's OK, the Imams will befriend the useful idiots, lie to them, hide the truth, lead them along the path to submission and once they have enough power the Imams will declare the Chrislamists "apostates", The LGBT group "sinners" for whom killing them is a mercy. Then the 7th century rules will be applied. Bodies will fall from buildings and heads will roll.

We must pray for a Christian revival in Sweden. A REAL ONE based on relationship with the risen Jesus Christ and not a deadly illusion led by man-made churches and priests who are hirelings.

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Prof • Jun 30, 2016 at 01:00

If only the British bookmakers weren't so busy with other challenges right now, we could probably get interesting odds on how long Sweden lasts. The law of the land does not apply to an ever growing percentage of the population, and now we're throwing out the strongest unifying force of all - our religion.

Sad to watch. Sadder still to live in these times!

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iDECIMUS • Jun 29, 2016 at 20:56

I still cannot understand the scale of stupidity and indoctrination evident in Swedish people.

It is simply mind boggling.

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Telh • Jun 29, 2016 at 20:31

What a shame that the Church of Sweden has turned its back on Christ. They are they type of people being referred to in Matt 7:21-23 I would not like to be in their shoes.

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Mike O'Neill • Jun 29, 2016 at 19:35

'Syncretism' is the term for blending of different religious practices. Israel was warned against this (see Old Testament Bible) and with good reason. In the lands they were promised (and gradually took over) some of it happened. That was with religions found in the areas occupied. The prophets railed against it and overcame it.
Sweden is doing it with an imported culture and pseudo-religion and the way back to 'proper' Christianity will be much harder, even if attempted, or allowed. The oft-stated phrase 'this will not end well' is most apposite. That is, if it ends at all.
It's not looking good, anywhere, and us RCs are not being very sensible at this point in time.

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Count Pierre Bezukhov • Jun 29, 2016 at 18:47

These "Christian" priests are really very confused. How do they propose to merge into a form of "Chrislam" and still preach, let alone believe, that Jesus is the son of God, is God, and died on the cross for the redemption of mankind, rose from the dead and returned to the Father in heaven? Islam denies every one of those tenets of Christianity and regard all of the most important parts of Christianity as a terrible crime against Allah punishable by death. Obviously the church will be subsumed by the Mosque as very much the inferior part of the whole and the priests will have to stop preaching Christianity.
Islam of course is quite happy to go along with this nonsense, drawing the imbecile apostate "priests" into the Muslim web where they will be parceled up and dealt with.
If only these wide eyed halfwits of the Swedish church would just read the facts about Islam, or having read it believe it, or having believed it have the guts to act accordingly; how about reading the Gospels and act on them? But no; they would rather delude themselves with the make belief fluffy cuddly Islam of their imagination and the deception of the Muslims. These so called Christian priests are a disgrace to the church, traitors to Christ and a grave danger to the people of Sweden. By the way Allah is NOT the same "god" as the God of the Christians.

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Barbara Griffith • Jun 29, 2016 at 16:52

I personally think that all of the countries in Europe will eventually fall for this garbage and then find themselves unable to reverse course. It looks like the Church of Sweden has decided to join the Muslims. No wonder the Church is losing so many members.

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viraj

Barbara Griffith • Jun 29, 2016 at 22:59

Very difficult to decide a course of action. If all start leaving, there might come a juncture when the "peaceful" ones just take over the church itself and convert the same into a mosque. On the other hand, attending a church where people are not comfortable will be mental torture.

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Mickey Oberman • Jun 29, 2016 at 16:07

"Olwan: "Okay, there are reliable sources from Egypt, showing that the Saudi royal family is really a Jewish family that came from Iraq to the Arabian Peninsula sometime in the 1700s. They built an army with the aid of British officers fighting the Ottoman sultanate. After that, they created the Jordanian army and so on and so on."

".....reliable sources from Egypt....."
" An oxymoron from an oxi moron. "....and so on and so on...."
He could be the new caliph.

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Mickey Oberman • Jun 29, 2016 at 15:53

Sweden is finished. It is soon to be declared the newest Muslim caliphate.

I am sure that Merkel, Obama and Trudeau are looking on with envy.

Pity the poor, stupid Swedes....... But not too much.
They are getting what they deserved.

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Jeff Page • Jun 29, 2016 at 10:53

Just another direct route to killing Christianity in Sweden forever. Roll over lay me down and do it again! Cowards! Brainless dimwits who can't see the folly of what they are doing. Sweden needs to change direction and damned quick or the indigenous people will be a minority and ruled totally by Muslims within a decade the way they are headed. How can so many people be so stupid all at once? It defies all logic. There must be something in the water or is the government using some kind of additive in the food? Nothing sane has come from the mouths of their politicians, they appear to be just caving in to Islam on all levels. Pathetic and Stupid!

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viraj • Jun 29, 2016 at 10:01

Is there no authority above the Archbishop to redress this?

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Ingrid Carlqvist

viraj • Jul 4, 2016 at 16:37

No, the Archbishop is the top of the Swedish Church. She can do whatever she wants.

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Ingrid Carlqvist • Jul 6, 2016 at 04:16

I am sorry to hear that she is top of the Swedish Church. Then it would seem all is lost as her misguided endeavours will go ahead.

Surely not all Swedes are part of the Swedish Church, thus giving some traction against the countries political and religious takeover?

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Peter Hyatt • Jun 29, 2016 at 09:35

Is this the meaning of "synagogue of satan"?

The Church of Sweden long ago abandoned the ideology of Christianity to fit what it wanted.

What I don't understand is this: Since Christ claimed to be the exclusive access to God, and condemned all other roads, why not just find a different ideology to follow, than to pervert Christian ideology?

Or, why not come out of the closet and say the magic words and be a Muslim?

Or, why not admit their god is the god of multiculturalism, who is an angry tyrant feigning tolerance while he demands the sacrifice of children, as well as the sacrifice of reason and science, and destroys lives with a slow, deliberate suicide?

In the very least, this would be honest.

Instead, they call it 'Christian' but cut, copy, paste or simply delete, anything they wish, at will, while maintaining the title. Perhaps for the paycheck...?

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Michael Waugh • Jun 29, 2016 at 08:53

Swedes clearly continue to destroy themselves and their established religion. This is their affair, and the fault of their politicians. I feel sorry for the population. This is a warning to the civilised West.

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Michael Waugh • Jun 30, 2016 at 02:18

A terrifying article! Bo Larsson must be deaf, dumb or blind to deny that the Muslims have verbalised the fact that they are out to kill anyone who is a homosexual. Along with missing the world wide statements that they will kill anyone who is a non believer.

Eva Brunne (a lesbian) has her days numbered. Has anyone seen the name connection to Adolf Hitler's girlfriend, is there some connective lineage.

Bo is helping to build a mosque in Fisksatra, well done Bo. This of course fits well into the integration plan and the ultimate annihilation of the Swedish people and the country by the Muslims who must be laughing their heads off.

If the Bo and the Eva think that they can alter the teachings of the Bible to match the whims of the Muslim community, they have a serious lesson coming to them. I do not think that CHRISLAM will be followed worldwide, based on the fact that the Muslims are killing, raping and murdering people around the globe. Already rustlings of self preservation are becoming apparent such as Brexit, other countries also are not happy with the rules and regulations relating to immigration and the interference within their country. EU was and is in trouble.

There maybe two inherent factors to this weird couple. Sweden has low libido and never enough available men. Swedish men drink which reduces the population and also interest in procreation. The influx of immigrants has raised the sexual appetite. Could be that Swedes are on a sexual high which unfortunately will culminate in mass murder of their kind and beheading.

Bo & Co are a disgrace to their church and to the Swedish people. If more and more people are leaving the church then they should long ago have considered why that is and worked accordingly.

These two also cannot just change the tenants of a religion on a whim, one must look higher up the chain to see where the real culprits are working the strings.

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