Sunday, September 17, 2006

Nazinger on Islam

I'm not one to defend the words of a Catholic pontiff, but I have to say, a lot of Muslims are really thin-skinned here. From Deutsche Presse-Agentur ("Anger mounts in Muslim world over pope's Islam remarks," September 15, 2006; reposted on Monsters and Critics News):
Anger mounted across the Muslim world Friday over remarks made by Pope Benedict XVI during a visit to Germany this week in which the pontiff quoted a 14th century Christian emperor as calling aspects of the legacy of Islam's Prophet Mohammed 'evil and inhuman.'

...

The pope's remarks came Tuesday in Regensburg in his home state of Bavaria, when he was quoting a conversation that took place in Ankara in the year 1391 between Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleologus and an educated Persian on Christianity and Islam.

'Show me just what Mohammed 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 pope quoted Manuel as saying.

As head of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is banned by law but tolerated in Egypt, was calling on Pope Benedict to apologize, the Vatican was attempting to shore up criticism of the pontiff on a day that saw a new Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, take office.

One of the first tasks awaiting Bertone, an Italian, who becomes the Vatican's new 'prime minister' will be to repair the damage caused by Benedict's remarks.
As if some Muslim, at some point, didn't have a legitimate (or in many cases, illegitimate) gripe about Christianity.

Even Protestant Christians have, by and large, come to respect the fact that their beliefs can be criticized, and have been, and will be. Nevermind that in this case, the guy in the funny hat (oops) was just quoting somebody. He wasn't saying Muslims were evil. He was saying somebody said Muslims were evil...and it was said seven centuries ago.

1 comment:

Seven Star Hand said...

Hello Rick and All,

More proof that religion is the opposite of truth, wisdom, and justice

Now we have the infallible Grand Inquisitor (the pot) lecturing Islam (the kettle) about spreading religion through violence (dark deeds) and quoting a Dark Ages text while the USA and Europe are in the midst of the Neo-Crusades. Does anyone else see the irony and absurdity in this situation? Dear Pope, ever heard of Karma? What goes around comes around.

The West has killed far more Muslims than they have killed westerners, yet our press and leaders can only see Muslim desperation in the face of western military and economic dominance, (all in the name of God and country), as the sources of evil in this world.

Guess what guys and girls, war is evil, no matter what the excuse or cause or who is doing the killing. Any idiot who thinks the Creator would judge religion, war, or profiting at the expense of others as wise or acceptable activities has a very big surprise in store.

Here is Wisdom...