Saturday - September 16, 2006
Here We Go Again
I was reminded of all this recently, when I read… of part of the dialogue carried on - perhaps in 1391 in the winter barracks near Ankara - by the erudite Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleologus and an educated Persian on the subject of Christianity and Islam, and the truth of both.
In the seventh conversation...the emperor touches on the theme of the holy war. Without descending to details, such as the difference in treatment accorded to those who have the “Book” and the “infidels”, he addresses his interlocutor with a startling brusqueness on the central question about the relationship between religion and violence in general, saying: “Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.”
The emperor, after having expressed himself so forcefully, goes on to explain in detail the reasons why spreading the faith through violence is something unreasonable. Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul. “God,” he says, “is not pleased by blood - and not acting reasonably is contrary to God’s nature. Faith is born of the soul, not the body. Whoever would lead someone to faith needs the ability to speak well and to reason properly, without violence and threats.”
-- Pope Benedict XVI
“Faith, Reason and the University: Memories and Reflections”
University Of Regensberg, Germany
September 15, 2006
By my interpretation, what the Pope was trying to say was “give it a rest, people - let’s drop the violence and talk to each other”. Sounds reasonable to me. That’s probably why the Muslims don’t get it. They’d rather be angry than right. The furor is mounting just like the bloody Mohammed cartoons a few months ago.
Fresh Criticism Of Pope’s Remarks
(BBC) - September 16, 2006 07:45 GMT 08:45 UK
Criticism is continuing to pour in from religious and political leaders in the Muslim world following remarks by Pope Benedict XVI about Islam. Pakistan’s president, Pervez Musharraf, spoke of sinister tendencies to link terror with Islam which gave rise to an ominous alienation with the West.
Pope Benedict, who is back in Italy, is said to be upset at the way in which his remarks have been interpreted. At the same meeting, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Pope had to do more to calm Muslim emotions.
“The Pope must not take lightly the spread of outrage that has been created,” he said, quoted by Malaysia’s Bernama news agency. “The Vatican must now take full responsibility over the matter and carry out the necessary steps to rectify the mistake.”
In Germany, the Pope’s homeland, Chancellor Merkel said the Pope had spoken in favour of dialogue between religions, “which is something I also support and consider urgent and necessary. “What Benedict XVI emphasised was a decisive and uncompromising renunciation of all forms of violence in the name of religion,” she said. The Vatican has also rejected the interpretation of the pontiff’s remarks as an attack on Islam, and has said he intended no offence.
(NEW YORK TIMES) - September 16, 2006
There is more than enough religious anger in the world. So it is particularly disturbing that Pope Benedict XVI has insulted Muslims, quoting a 14th-century description of Islam as “evil and inhuman.”
The Vatican issued a statement saying that Benedict meant no offense and in fact desired dialogue. But this is not the first time the pope has fomented discord between Christians and Muslims.
In 2004 when he was still the Vatican’s top theologian, he spoke out against Turkey’s joining the European Union, because Turkey, as a Muslim country was “in permanent contrast to Europe.”
A doctrinal conservative, his greatest fear appears to be the loss of a uniform Catholic identity, not exactly the best jumping-off point for tolerance or interfaith dialogue.
The world listens carefully to the words of any pope. And it is tragic and dangerous when one sows pain, either deliberately or carelessly. He needs to offer a deep and persuasive apology, demonstrating that words can also heal.
It’s not going to get any better any time soon unless we start fighting back ... at both enemies. If we sit idly by and allow this to go on, we will only have ourselves to blame when it all comes to a bloody head - and that day is coming soon. Sooner than you think. Speak up now or resign yoursleves to a life of “submission” to an evil and inhuman philosophy, conceived in hatred, spread by warfare and culminating in theocratic servitude. History has already recorded centuries of proof of this evil and simply waits for us to either fight or submit before writing the next chapter in a book our children and grandchildren will read when they judge us in some far, distant future. It’s all up to you. The time is now ....
Posted by The Skipper
on 09/16/2006 at 03:06 AM
Filed Under: • Religion • RoPMA •
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