Pope Benedict XVI recently made a speech which has now allegedly fanned flames in the Islamic world. YNet, an Israeli webwite, wrote:
Arab op-ed: Pope’s remarks may lead to war
Muslim world newspapers filled with articles slamming pope’s remarks; ‘it is clear that such remarks only contribute to the fueling of the fire raging between Islam and the West,’ op-ed published in al-Sharq al-Awsat says.
Roee Nahmias
Published: 09.16.06, 21:32
The recent remarks made by Pope Benedict XVI on Islam are threatening to ignite the entire Muslim world.
Op-Eds published in the Arab newspapers slammed the pope even after the Vatican’s apology.
The most extreme opinion was voiced by Hani Pahas in the London-based Arabic-language daily newspaper Al-Hayat, who wrote “the pope’s comments may lead to war; we fear that the pope’s statements may lead to a war that we, Muslims and Christians alike, are trying to prevent through dialogue between East and West."
Pope Benedict was "extremely upset that some portions of his speech were able to sound offensive to the sensibilities of Muslim believers and have been interpreted in a way that does not at all correspond to his intentions."
Further, Iranian newspapers said that the Pope's comments were the result of a US-Israel plot to distract attention from the resistance of the Shiite militant group Hezbollah to Israel's offensive on Lebanon.
Pope Benedict's speech in his native Germany on Tuesday, September 12th, referred to a link between Islam and jihad, or "holy war", and quoted a 14th-century Byzantine emperor who said innovations introduced by the Prophet Mohammed were "evil and inhuman."
The Pope explored the historical and philosophical differences between Islam and Christianity, and the relationship between violence and faith, in his speech at Regensburg University.
Stressing that they were not his own words, he quoted Emperor Manuel II Paleologos of the Byzantine Empire, the Orthodox Christian empire which had its capital in what is now the Turkish city of Istanbul.
The emperor's words were, he said: "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."
Benedict said "I quote" twice to stress the words were not his and added that violence was "incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul."
"The intention here is not one of retrenchment or negative criticism, but of broadening our concept of reason and its application," he added in the concluding part of his speech.
"Only thus do we become capable of that genuine dialogue of cultures and religions so urgently needed today."
However, I will say what the Pope cannot: Emperor Manuel II Paleologos of the Byzantine Empire was correct. Muhammad did command that the word of Islam be spread by the sword and, yes, that is evil and inhuman.
What portion of this is difficult to comprehend?
BZ
I agree with your assessment. Very good post.
ReplyDeleteYour assesment is much nicer than mine, You know how I feel about the Muslim religion, It's a cancer and it needs radiation treatment.
ReplyDeleteThe Pope quoted a 14th century author, Anyone who has read any part of the Satanic bible, known as the koran also knows it is the truth.
The Muslim faithful have a real problem with the truth so when it is spoken they must violently protest.
This is a PC world and the Pope has fallen prey to same. Most unfortunate indeed.
ReplyDeleteWe in the West take two steps forward and one step back.
We are on the cusp of taking one step forward and two steps back.
BZ
The difficult part on Islam that a lot of people cant understand, is the words of Islam. Using whatever means (be it murder, torture, subjugation, lies or whatever. ) to convert the rest of the world to Islam.
ReplyDeleteThe problem whith his remarks is the muslim street does not understand them. If the Pope would have included a papal decree to bomb mosqes and burn shrines, they would understand better.
ReplyDeleteFirst cartoons and then this its becoming hard to see Islam as a religion of peace. And I agree with the Emperor also.
ReplyDelete09 18 06
ReplyDeleteSadly you are right. I am afraid that even though he spoke with reason, that they will take it to the End Days. This is scary to me because he seemed to ignite them although he spoke with reason. And I think he probably used bad taste making a public speech like that given the climate of tension between the West and Islmaofascism. Then again, he is the POPE he should be able to say whatever he wishes with impugnity.
All true, everyone. And now, if you have not heard, Muslims are being advised to "leave America" due to forecasted strikes on NY and/or DC.
ReplyDeleteIf only that were true -- the "leaving" part.
It'll never happen. Propaganda.
BZ
The thing to remember is what the Pope said is irrelevent. If he had made a statement to the effect of "I had lunch today with an Islamic scholar and we had a discussion about the role of Mohammed's brother in the early growth of the Muslim religion", the next morning the Mujahedeen Shura Council would be showing his speech on Al-Jazeera translating it as saying "The Pope accused Mohammed and his brother of being homosexuals and declaring that Mohammed's words came not from Allah but from another prophet whom Mohammed was sexually engaged with", and staging mass rallies and protests across the Arab world. Remember that the "Danish cartoons" incident had nothing to do with the actual cartoons in Jyllands-Posten but rather three additional pictures not in the Danish newspaper and in fact one that has absolutely nothing to do with Mohammed in the first place that was merely doctored up.
ReplyDeleteThese people know nor care anything about facts, and its a mistake to be worried over what the Pope said: in the end, his words are distorted anywyas.
FCLC: In essence, correct. I would add that, for "penance," it was demanded that the Pope renounce Catholicism and embrace Islam.
ReplyDeleteYeah right.
BZ