By Navar Watson
Mel Minion has traveled to 65 countries during the past many years, discussing religion with different types of people. In his travels, he noted one recurring conflict – the war between Christians and Muslims. The religious uprisings in Africa only solidified his observations.
“It soon became apparent that the Islamists were going to take over,” Minion said. “I really didn’t think that our government had a clue of what was going on.”
The 20-year Noblesville resident recorded his thoughts in a 41-page book, “A Brief Outline of Religious History: And the Growing Danger Ahead,” published in April under the name “M.M.”
“People need to know that there are a group of people in this world who want to take over,” Minion said. “They want to subject every other religion to their religion. I don’t think a lot of people are aware of it.”
Minion began researching this topic three years ago, when he thought he would just write a white paper. But as situations grew worse – with the uprisings in Libya, Algeria and Egypt – he decided to write full book.
The cover of the book shows contrasting pictures of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and the Hagia Sophia, a mosque-turned-museum in Istanbul. Inside, Minion provides an overview of present-day and past religions. He introduces the “religious war” between Christians and Muslims and suggests a solution at the end.
The answer to the Muslim intolerance, he wrote, is pluralism.
“You’re not going to change anybody’s religion,” Minion said. “We need to be tolerant of other people’s beliefs … and not force our beliefs on other people.”
While writing the book, Minion said he “couldn’t do justice” to the dozens of resources on the same topic. He included references for further reading.
“I’ve had a number of people who say that they liked [the book]. I’ve had a number of people who have not really commented,” Minion said. “I’ve had nobody say it isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.”
