Last week Pope Benedict gave a speech at the Regensburg University in Germany. Pope Benedict, who was once a professor at Regensburg, was speaking on the subject of the historical and philosophical differences between Islam and Christianity with an emphasis between the relationship between violence and faith. Questioning the concept of holy war, Pope Benedict quoted a 14th-Century Christian emperor who said Muhammad had brought the world only “evil and inhuman” things. Pope Benedict was quoting from a book recounting a conversation between 14th century Byzantine Christian Emperor Manuel Paleologos II and an educated Persian on the truths of Christianity and Islam. The entire quote was:
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.
During the speech the Pope 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.” As a matter of fact, Benedict ended the speech with a “clear and radical rejection of the religious motivation for violence, from whatever side it may come.”
However, the damage had been done.
Turkey’s top religious official asked for an apology for the “hostile” words.
In Indian-administered Kashmir, police seized copies of newspapers which reported the Pope’s comments to prevent any tension.
Turkish Prime Minister, Tayyip Erdogan, insisted that the pontiff apologize to the Muslim world. Erdogan said Benedict was speaking “not like a man of religion but like a usual politician.”
Morocco recalled its ambassador to protest “offensive” remarks by the pope.
The grand sheik of Cairo’s Al-Azhar Mosque, the Sunni Arab world’s most powerful institution, condemned the pope’s remarks as “reflecting ignorance.”
Mohammed Bishr, a senior Muslim Brotherhood member in Egypt, said, “We need the pope to admit the big mistake he has committed and then agree on apologizing, because we will not accept others to apologize on his behalf.”
In West Bank attacks on four churches, Palestinians used guns, firebombs and lighter fluid, leaving church doors charred and walls scorched by flames and pocked with bullet holes. No one was reported injured. Two Catholic churches, an Anglican one and a Greek Orthodox one were hit. A Greek Orthodox Church was also attacked in Gaza City. A group calling itself “Lions of Monotheism” said the attacks were in protest of the pope’s remarks on Islam.
The prime minister of Malaysia, with a large Muslim population, demanded that Benedict retract his remarks and not “take lightly the spread of outrage that has been created.”
In Lebanon, Hezbollah and Lebanon’s top Sunni Muslim religious authority denounced the pope’s remarks, with the militant Shiite Muslim group warning of a global religious schism.
Finally, a Roman Catholic Nun, who was serving people for 38 years in Nairobi, Kenya, was shot to death by Muslim attackers. Sister Leonella, 65, quietly said, “I forgive, I forgive” as her attackers fled the scene.
OK. Muslims are upset that a Pope read a qoute that indicated that Muslims should not be associated with evil actions or treating people in an inhuman way. Call me silly, call me simple, but if you want to convince the world of your real identity you need to act in a way consistent with your desired image. I have an idea, how about starting by calling all of your adherents to not commit evil acts or treat people in inhuman ways? The reaction of Muslims is an indictedment that the original quote struck a nerve of truth. Where is the outrage from Islamic leaders regarding the actions of those who threw fire-bombs at churches? Where are the Islamic leaders regarding finding the murderers who pulled the trigger on sister Leonella? The silence is deafening… or is it confirming?
You want to convince me that Muslims aren’t evil? Based on the evidence, what else should I believe? If all the evidence points to an obvious conclusion, to conclude anything else would be insane.
Bonus question: Why is every media outlet scared to death to call Muslim actions evil or at least wrong? I have yet to see one commentor candidly and clearly speak toward this subject.
The answer to the bonus question is obvious: they don’t want to end up like Sister Leonella.
“The Pope said our religion is violent! Let’s go blow up some churches in protest!”
If it takes a media outlet to comment on that, then we (Christians as well as the American people) need a brain check.
Yeppers! The violent Muslim reaction to the Pope’s words says it all. If more people came out against this stuff there would be less fear. There is strength in numbers and right now too many are scared that they will be the next target.
Call a spade a spade.
Islam at it heart promotes violence, and a “believe or die” form of mission work. It is evil and controlling at the core.
Wait…maybe I should delete my name or change it here….oh well. 😉
Those that are moderate Muslims, and I have a good friend I work with that is, simply do not adhere to the literal teaching of the Koran, and that is fine with me.
Very similar to us who take the Bible literally as opposed to those who like the take the feel good happy parts out only, and not deal with some of the hard teaching. Thankfully God’s word does not condone violence as a means of bringing converts as Islam does.
We are all about feelin’ the love of Jesus and spreading God’s fame.
Can I get an Amen to that!
“Those that are moderate Muslims, and I have a good friend I work with that is, simply do not adhere to the literal teaching of the Koran, and that is fine with me.”
I was reading an article yesterday that referred to the common Muslim as “moderate” and “secular.” Huh? 😕
It’s good to see that other world religions have similar issues. “Are you a Christian? Yes, my parents went to church.”
I understand that not all followers of Islam carry guns, but what about the leaders of Islam who are supposed to know the difference? If there is one group that should be held accoutable, it must be the leaders shepherding their people. I get it that there are always those in any faith-movement who run toward the edges, but the silence on this issue makes it seem that the edges are actually living in the middle. Do you think we are running toward a clash of West and Middle East?
News Flash… Islamic clearics and scholars speak out… and ask the Pope to resign. The full statement by the almost 1000 leaders says, “jihad was not terrorism” and that “Islam was not propagated with the sword, but it became popular and was accepted by the oppressed peoples of the world because of its universal values and teachings. Jihad is waged to rid an area, state, or the world of oppression, violence, cruelty, and terrorism, and bring peace and relief to the people. History is full of incidents where Muslims waged jihad to provide relief to people of many faiths, especially Jews and Christians.”
Wow, either I have totally misread the news reports regarding Muslim’s beheading of infidels in the name of Islamic religion or Islam needs a public relations firm.
I think the moderate Muslims and those moderate leaders are also scared for their lives and is why they are quiet.
Quick Poll:
Is Islam is a religion of Peace?
(FYI: “Islam” is taken from the Arabic root “Salema” which can be defined in terms of peace, submission and obedience).
Something that disturbs me almost as much as the violence of the Islam adherents, is this incredible repression and INTOLERANCE of certain words or thoughts. To the Muslims and many in the West, it is unthinkable that the Pope would have the temerity to say what he said-even if he was only quoting an Emporer from half a millenia ago. Certain thoughts are not speakable-period, and if they are uttered the wrath of the “offended” will come down on the speaker. Our ability to speak freely is being taken away by the over-sensitivity of the masses. Disgusting!