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Thursday, September 14, 2006
Pope's comments on Islam raise a storm - Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleologus The reference to this quotation by the Pope Benedict XVI in his lecture delivered on September 12 at the University of Regensburg has raised an unwanted and untimely controversy in the Muslim world. At a time, when the world seems divided on religious lines, the efforts to unite the people has received a setback by this controversy. The reverend Pope is within his rights in preaching Christianity but such comments could be explosive even if intended otherwise. News links: DNA Asia News Assyrian International News Agency Toronto Star The New York Times Blogger News Network is advertiser-supported, and your visits to our advertisers help BNN to meet its expenses. Help keep us afloat! posted by rajiv at 7:19 AM |
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18 Comments:
That sounds pretty tame compared to what we hear from some of the leaders of the "religion for peace"...
I don't think he said anything wrong. He was quoting someone else. Besides where ar all the apologies for what they say about people who are not Muslim. Recently, one of them said we were all going to hell. I think its time we stop worrying about what the radical Muslim world thinks and anyone who supports then
The comments of Pope are merely prejudice agianst Islam.He wants to provoke the Muslim community and then term as intolerance.In fact Islam is the religion of Peace and Jihad,in true spirit, is indirectly an attempt to demolish the evils which create havoc and inhumanity.
Pope's quote means he has given these words in suport of his own views,he(Pope) did not say that the Emperor was wrong.
This is the most provoking speech which is entirely against the facts.
Prophet Muhammad never taught to force anyone to Islam neither any muslim did so.This is all propoganda against Islam.
Who forced the female American reporter to embrace Islam who remained in the detention of so-called extremist and terrorist Muslims called Taliban. Moderate Islam is the true picture of our religion.If some people do wrong they are not representing Islam.
Pope's comments may seem tame but coming from a pontiff they carry a lot of weight. Quoting somebody inappropriately during a speech cannot be taken lightly especially at a time when media has already blown the theological debates concerning 'west vs east' way out of proportion. In light of recent events and one day after the 9/11 anniversary, his comments did nothing to prod interfaith diplomacy and harmony that one expects from somebody in his position. But it further er-affirmed the view many in the east have held about people in the west. ie The Westerners have always been insensitive and ignorant of Islamic values and its religious icons that Muslims treat with much reverence.
For me, this shows two things:
- the dangerous power of the media. This was a theological lecture for a public of scholars. It was not initially aimed at millions of people. The media, which are always looking for the sensational, singled out that quote, taken from its context.
- second, the state of submission in which we already are mentally towards the Muslim world. Those of our "intellectuals" who have studied Islam have voluntarily focused on certain harmless contemplative groups, like the Sufi, which are a unsignificant minority, and discarded many things, in particular the fact that any Muslim who converts to another religion literally risks his life, as recently happened in US-dominated Afghanistan.
A genuine dialogue requires also pointing out things that are going wrong with your partner.
This is what Benedict XVI did, in an extremely tactful manner.
The violence of the reaction shows that the only dialogue that is wanted from us is meek adherence and submission, and not frank dialogue.
Strangely enough, Pope XII confronted in 1936 nazism with his Encyclic "With Brennender Sorge". At that time, European democracies found that Mr. Hitler was not genuinely violent and should be accommodated. This is just a repeat.
SOME PEOPLE FORGOT THE LETTER SENT FROM THE PROPHET TO HERACLIUS EASTERN ROMAN EMPIRE EMPROR HOW HE INVITED HIM
to ISLAM ...THERE IS NO NEED TO INFLAME RELIgIOUS HATRED TOWARDS MUSLIMS
These latest comments will rapidly spearhead a terror attack by Islamic fundamentalists against the Christian world that will make past attacks seem mild. France and Italy, the primary supporters of The United Nations peace effort in Lebanon are the likely 'first strike' targets. However, after the damage is done and all is settled, Israel, their common enemy, will become the scapegoat that unites the forces of Edom (Rome/France) and Ishmael (Iran /Syria) against it. The will of this unified force will exert its attention to subdue Israel in every possible way, to contain it, to silence it, to put it back in the box, but their efforts will fail, because Torah prophecies declare this to be the final attempt to divert Israel's purpose. After this, only one 'truth' will be clear to all the world and Israel will progress to fulfill its purpose.
So, what is it about Israel's people that has caused them to be the subject of continuous reproach?
Answers at www.beingholy.com
Eileen says: "...Recently, one of them said we were all going to hell."
Oh no a muslim condemned some one to hell. I love it when people that live in glass houses throw stones. I get condemned to hell every time i walk to class by Christians. Christians will agressively try to convert you en route to a date. While muslims are taught to respect other's religion and not try to convert them unless they inquire
And the fact that the pope represents the entire catholic community globally means saying that has put a huge uneccessary rift between the catholic and muslim community now. John Paul was a much better leader than he is. He instead tried to find common ground calling Islam a "beautifully misunderstood religion of peace"
Are you kidding me.....don't make me laugh. If the Muslim's are really offended by the pope's comment, quit being scared of your OWN religious members and tell them to quit blowing up innocent people. You are way behing the power curve if you really are sincere about how peaceful the muslim religion is, stop wasting everyone's time and clean up your own backyard.....you have a lot of clutter that needs to be cleaned up!
Media, Media, Media...ok, so what was said before and after that qoute???...
I've watched documentaries about Hitler before, for academic purposes, does that make me someone who agrees with his views?
Funny way to show a "peaceful" approach, as far as Islam.
Where are all of these "Muslim Leaders" with their "outrage" when Muslims are committing "inhuman" terrorists acts all over the world in the name of Islam, killing and torturing their own people, and spreading hate and fear throughout every single mosque in every single country in the world?
Islam is a religion of barbaric hatred, and murder. There's no reason for anyone to think anything differently. When is the western world going to learn that we're dealing with complete evil that cares nothing for compassion, understanding, or civilization?
We all watch in horror as innocents are beheaded on the world news and do you hear a single cry of outrage from a single "Muslim leader"? Absolutely not! Their silence tells the truth.
Christians and other world religions had better wake up and realize that we are truly facing the greatest evil perpetrated on mankind in centuries. In fact, the world news doesn't even report the Pope's comments, they report on the Muslims rioting in the streets because of his comments. That's the news not the Pope's comments.
When can we expect to see Muslims rioting in the streets because Muslims are torturing and murdering each other in the streets of Bagdad or killing women and children all around the world to further their religion?
If Islam is a peaceful, tolerant religion how could it have so easily been hijacked by "extremist"? Deep down Islam agrees with the "extremists". How could anyone of any religion send their children to blow themselves up in a suicide bomb attack? This is Islam.
Islamic governments should allow their populations to be educated, to hear dissenting opinions. Instead they're people are refused basic education, forced into ignorance and taught to blame all of their problems on the western world and force fed from birth their twisted view of Islam to ensure their own power.
ThanQ all for your comments...
John Pangia, I agree that Pope's comments are 'tame' compared to some other religious leaders. But being a public figure and a reverend, he must rise above petty issues that are on the lines of "which is a superior religion?"
Eileen, He might be quoting someone else but he could have chosen someone else to quote! Radical Islam or for that matter any other 'radical' religion can not be supported by any sane soul. But if we keep on expecting apologies for what certain bigot elements say about 'non-believers', we will be chasing birds.
Yousuf2004, the debate about what is wrong and what's not is eternal. In fact, some so-called 'evolved souls' have gone on to the extent that there is nothing absolutely right and nothing absolutely wrong - everything is contextual. A murder may be a crime if the victim is innocent and completely justified if the victim himself was the wrong-doer...My point is that none of the 'GODS' of any religion ever preached violence. The culprits are the wrong-interpretors of religious texts and notions.
Graham, I competely agree with your views. Instead of finding fault with religions, we are better off if we make a better human being.
Rokonkoma, I agree...media blew the entire episode out of proportions. Imagine, watching the same news item over 24-48 hours on the news channel as if the event keeps on repeating every hour!!! Having said that, I cannot condone what the Pope did. He is a mass religious leader and if he also goes on denouncing others' faith, what makes him different from other religious leaders.
Overall, I think the best, but a utopian, solution to this mess is to discard every religion and follow just have one religion - HUMANITY!
Regarding Pope Benedicts comments. As I look to the top of the spire of a mosque, I wonder what the crescent moon and ths sword mean. As I have read, from descriptions of the ancient Babylon gods, the cresent moon, was the symbol of the god of war and the sword was the implementation method. If not the god of war and his sword, then what else does it mean?
The violent response to the pope"s comment substantiates its validity. Islam knows only one response to issues: death and destruction. It is truly a religion of hate and cannot be a godly faith. It is a faith that angers God because it sanctions the unwarranted killing of God's highest creation, man -- made in God's image. God will surely destroy Islam when he is ready to do so.
The reaction to the Popes comments just proves that ISLAM IS a Radical So called religon. If this is not true, then Why have not the Moderate Muslim come out againt the radical response!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i think that what people are forgetting here is that this "religious leader"(pope) has done is taken his position for granted...doesnt he realize that people of every walk of life all over the world are listening to what he has to say..someone with that kind of power positon has to make sure that he chooses his words wisley..reguardless of what religion he is speaking..what happend to allowing people to worship as they wish...reguardless of islamic leaders doing nothing in the past when people of "their religion" have killed eachother...what have christians all throughout histroy done..but we dont see anyone screaming about that...yes indeed.."people that live in glass houses should not throw stones"....practicing what we preach should come 1st and before anyone on here decides that they hate somene for the religion they practice....remember that when ever you point fingers at someone...you have three pointing back at you.....i have a few words to say to the pope and anyone else out there practicing a religion that reads from the christian bible.....MATTHEW 7:1-5:
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull the mote out of thine eye; and behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast the mote out of thy brother's eye."
does that sound familliar? practice what you preach......
Here are a few small citations from the quran.
"Fight and slay the pagans
(infidels) wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem of war." - Sura 9:5
"Prophet, make war on unbelievers and hypocrites, and deal rigorously with them." - Sura 9:73
"Let not the unbelievers think they will ever get away. They have not the power to do so. Muster against them all the men and cavalry at your command, so that you may strike terror into the enemy of God and your enemy... Prophet, (Muhammed) rouse the faithful to arms! If they (the non-Muslims) incline to peace (accept Islam) make peace with them." - Sura 8:59
"If they reject your judgement, know that it is Allah's wish to scourge them for their sins." - Sura 5:49
"Believers (Muslims), take neither Jews nor Christians to be your friends: they are friends with one another. Whoever of you seeks their friendship shall become one of their number, and God does not guide (those Jewish and Christian) wrong-doers." - Sura 5:51
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