Meedo, I did read your response several times.
The pope was delivering a speech at a university and teaching; teaching is part of his role. He wasn’t working to inflame anyone to act with violence against any one else.
In terms of treating others as I would have them treat me, well, I expect that I won’t agree with everything a Muslim teacher says, in part because I am not Muslim. I would not take offense at the disagreement. I do get upset when I hear people mischaracterize what Catholics believe, but I would disagree with anyone who decided that a violent response was warranted.
And I believe that the Media often portrays the more exciting responses in order to generate interest. I am curious as to what most Muslims think. That is one reason that I read this thread although I don’t usually visit this topic board.
Hello,
Teaching is the right for everybody. But you have to understand that the Pope is also a major Mega Political and religious figure. His views are almost doctrines. Quotes from Popes are usual for every catholic today. When a pope Quotes somebody he usually agrees with his views . Now the pope wants to Critisize Islam he could have done that by giving this task to the regular Catholic teachers at the shcool. Where the comments do not have the weight of the pope behind them . But If the comments goes directly from the pope and is headed towards the head of the second largest religion on earth, with descriptions of evil and inhumane, then what did you leave for dialougue?
You niether left a higher authority to arbitrate to nor your accusations were directed towards a minor figure in Islam .
The comments came in a collision fashion. From the head of the church to the head of a major faith. I know the pope di dit as a quote. But he didnt say he disagreed with the Quote either.
So what did we leave the muslims to think? I mean … we are not stupid. It simply means that the pope endorses this view regarding our religion. Which is ofcourse his right.
But the crux is that his views were public , which means that whatever Insulting views he had about the Muslim faith and founder is out on public . Sadly this leaves no where for Dialougue.
what do u expect me to dialougue with the pope about if he insulted my Prophet like that ?
As for condemning violent responses i do agree with you totally on that . But i dont understand why Voices that condemn violence is minimized and the small voice of violence is maximized.
Do people really think that Islam would gain anything by burning an embassy or attacking a church with a Molotov cocktail?
This happens to Mosques in America all the time and Muslims never blamed christianity for it.
Yes we have some idiots who dont even know the difference between an Orthodox church and a catholic church and they are idiots enough to think that if they are violent then they would achieve anything .
But what exactlly the point from blaming all muslims or islam for that . What do u expect to achieve? What do u expect Muslims to do that they are not doing?
Hate and blindness is in every faith . Hitler persecuted Jehovas witness and jews with numbers far more gigantec than any muslim violent idiot could imagine. Now you would reply to me and say that Hitler could not be a true christian. Then why do u blame Islam for someone whom the majority of muslims think is not a true muslim?
what amazes me really is the short sight that peopel have. Islam is not communism.
Islam is far from what the media portrays to be somthing that irritates it adherents. Its a refuge for them . And somthing they derive Inspiration from. Yes we are expeosed to Christianity and we are not ignorant about christianity . I have Bibles at home and i have read many parts of the NT . We have churches all over in My country and in my building i have 4 families out of 12 to be coptic Orthodox practicing Christians.
What i ma trying to say is that Islam is not a failed idiology like communism. It is a faith and people believe in it. It doiesnt deprive them from riding a ferrari or wearing blue jeans or watching a theatre play or having a private business. It will not collapse by the soft power of commercialism and niether military power will do anything but increase people holding on to the faith.
5th of the world is Muslim. They are not going any where soon. My idiea is that we should all live in peace and justice. I think Islam became the new enemy after communism.
I want honest christians to sit and listen to honest and sincere grieviances of the muslim world. and try to take radical measures to lift injusticeand occupation and support for dictatorships and foreign interference.
I think Sincere and honest listening with an underlying concept of accepting for others what i accept for myself is the only way to erase any animosity.
Thank you
