The Pope's words on Islam

[Robo40]

Robo, in Turkey it has recently been open season on priests. The ostensibly secular government has been vociferious in attacking the pope. There was a recent book published there on assassinating the pope. Even in Egypt the leader of Al Hazar university, as close to a Muslim pope as they have, actually encouraged the violence. I think that charity does not mean being blind.

No one accused the IRA of being a religious organization. In fact they are marxists. They had no religious goals. This is quite different then Islamic terrorism. The Irish are amateurs in comparison. The Church did condemn terrorism and had no trouble doing so. I have yet to see anything comparable in Islam.

Thats what i want to get at. When we talk to Muslim’s and ask " Do you agree/ sympathize with the 9/11 hijackers or other Muslim Extremists? Unfortunatly many will say yes. If you ask Christians the same thing about Abotrtion clinic bombers they will say no…And many Christians are split on the war on terror. I guess it gets to root of the teaching.

 

[Prometheus1974]

Contarini;1502703:

pro_universal;1502484:

Wrong or right (it looks like a theology discussion goes nowhere on this board-I was lucky to find your post in the mix here), I don’t think it’s unpredictable that offense would result. Just imagine if he had used a quote from medieval times about “usurious Jews” as a jumping off point for talking about faith and economics.

I have difficulty imagining crowds of Jews rioting, vandalizing and burning churches, burning the Pope in effigy, and shooting nuns in the back. I also have trouble imagining Jewish rabbis calling for the Pope’s resignation.

Do you think Muslims are the only ones who ever feel offense? I am offended every time a Muslim states that Jesus is only a prophet. To me as a Catholic, that is blasphemy. However, I defend the right of any Muslim to say that: we in the West have a Christian tradition of having respect for intellectual discourse and freedom of speech. Christians don’t waste time blaming Muslims because they are offended by what Islam teaches. Apparently the Muslim world has not yet discovered this. Or have I missed the loud chorus of Muslim leaders defending the Pope’s right to say what he believes, and quote whom he wants?

 

[Prometheus1974]

Someone earlier asked about bigotry:

Well not just the muslims, the Indians like to burn things. Regardless of religion. Indians can tend to be aggressive.

Uh, did anybody catch this gross stereotype?

 

[Prometheus1974]

Please explain how the above quote is support for terrorism. America is an enemy of Iran. Iran is an enemy of America. Not all conflicts are terrorism. Similarly, being anti-American does not make a terrorist.

“Tens of thousands shouting ‘Death to America’” doesn’t just hint of supporting terrorism? When do you see tens of thousands of Americans protesting around an American Christian church leader shouting “Death to Iran?” Do you see the difference between the Islamic world and the Christian world?

If the Ayatollah Jannati was not promoting terrorism, please include quote where he quiets the crowd down and remonstrates against their violent attitudes so clearly against his peaceful religion Islam.

 

[cestusdei]

sufi, we don’t have to run by Muslims what we say. Muslims need to grow up and not kill people who say things they don’t agree with. The problem is on your side not ours.

 

[ssejllenrad]

This topic isn’t closed yet? Well I guess it never will be… I side with the Pope and the Church no matter what. Muslims can say what they want. The Pope never said anything but the truth!

 

[kepha444]

**** ****ssejllenrad…I agree with you but…whats that old sayind about caching more bees with honey???

 

[tequilamac]

**** ****ssejllenrad…I agree with you but…whats that old sayind about caching more bees with honey???

Sorry, but the Pope cannot operate that way. There is this old saying called the eigth commandment included in which is the little catechetical passage about false flattery or unwarranted praise being from the devil. So I doubt the Pope will engage in false flattery of Islam in order to catch Muslims anytime soon.
If you really look hard at many old sayings, they re not the pearls of wisdom of wise sages, but the work of the devil.

 

[estesbob]

Sorry, but the Pope cannot operate that way. There is this old saying called the eigth commandment included in which is the little catechetical passage about false flattery or unwarranted praise being from the devil. So I doubt the Pope will engage in false flattery of Islam in order to catch Muslims anytime soon.
If you really look hard at many old sayings, they re not the pearls of wisdom of wise sages, but the work of the devil.

The Pope must speak the Truth and sometimes there is no way to dress the Truth up!

 

[bahati]

Several posts back, the question was asked about violence.

The point was that the dialogue between Muslims and Catholics would need to rely on learning, respect and patience as opposed to anger, contempt and violence.

Many posts seem to display contempt for Islam.

I do not think Benedict XVI intended to equate Islam with violence. I do not think that Benedict XVI intended to show contempt for Islam and for Muslims.

I do not think Benedict XVI shares the views of many of the posters who proclaim that Benedict XVI is right and that Benedict XVI speaks the truth in regards to Islam. Benedict XVI did not condemn Islam. Benedict XVI did not condemn Muslims - even the violent ones.

Benedict XVI denounced violence as being irrational, unreasonable and inconsistent with the will of GOD.

And, Benedict XVI asks for improved dialogue with Muslims. Benedict XVI did not encourage anyone to feel and/or display contempt for Muslims and contempt for Islam.

Bahati

 

[coral]

An intelligent, articulate and reasoned response to the Pope’s speech by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf:

click here

 

[cestusdei]

If we show contempt for Islam what will happen to us? That’s right. They will try to kill us. The problem is not our negative view of Islam or exercise of free speech. The problem is Islam and it’s tendency towards irrational violence.

 

[sadie2723]

If we show contempt for Islam what will happen to us? That’s right. They will try to kill us. The problem is not our negative view of Islam or exercise of free speech. The problem is Islam and it’s tendency towards irrational violence.

I could not agree more.