Soccer Dad: "Libraries put Bible on top shelf in a sop to Muslims"

February 19, 2009

"Libraries put Bible on top shelf in a sop to Muslims"

Now there's an intriguing headline: how is it that putting the Bible on the top shelf is accommodating Muslims?

Read on:

Librarians are being told to move the Bible to the top shelf to avoid giving offence to followers of Islam.

Muslims have complained of finding the Koran on lower shelves, saying it should be put above commonplace things.

So officials have responded with guidance, backed by ministers, that all holy books should be treated equally and go on the top shelf together.

Of course, there is a potential problem remaining: which books go on the shelf furthest to the left--indicating precedence and priority?

Fortunately, the libraries can dodge the bullet on that one: they can just put the Bibles on the left and the Korans on the right--since Arabic, like Hebrew, is written right to left, being on the right will satisfy Muslims while non-Muslims can be happy too.

Whew!

by Daled Amos

Posted by daledamos at February 19, 2009 11:26 AM

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