I will say at the outset that Muslim extremists all over the world are not doing themselves any favors by their blatant and violent overreaction to a quote that the Pope made during a recent lecture. Let's take a look at the reasonable vs. the unreasonable for a moment.
The Pope had returned to his alma mater recently to deliver a lecture to the theologians present. Within the theological world all historic documents are considered. Granted, much of what was written in years passed has been repudiated. Yet it is the mark of a good theological school and a good theologian to consider past statements from others who were considered major voices in the field. The Pope offered a quotation that clearly delineated the differences between Catholicsm and Christianity on the one hand, and Islam on the other. The intent was to provide a basis for discussion and dialogue with other theologians. The quote, admittedly, placed Islam in a very negative light. Yet no one as of yet has been able to show that what was said in that quotation was not true. In fact, the reaction of the extremists Muslims to the quotation only proves that the quotation IS true.
The statements cited in the Pope's lecture centered on the concepts of holy war and the spread of Islam by the sword. The result has been a venomous and hate-filled reaction among many Muslim sectors around the world, including death threats against the Pope, the desire to assassinate the Pope and other Catholics, and the hanging and burning of the Pope in effagy. These extremists have vowed holy war against the Vatican.
This being the case, then how is the quotation the Pope used in his lecture erroneous in any way? The extremists' reaction is only serving to prove the point.
Admittedly, not all Muslims stand in accord with the extremists, and this cannot be stressed enough. There have been many voices among Muslim populations that have disavowed any association or approval of the actions and words of the Fundamentalist extremists. Further, the Catholic church has had its own seasons of less-than-admirable tactics in the desire to spread Christianity, i.e., the Crusades. However, the Pope made it clear in the lecture that Catholicism has come a long way since that time, resting on a rational and reasonable approach of peace, acceptance, open dialogue, and understanding. Perhaps his point was that Muslims can do the same thing since both groups have had their experience with more violent methods. Sadly, this point has been lost in the hostility that has ensued among Muslim extremists.
In the meantime, we must bear in mind that the extremists are very dangerous. This IS a life and death matter. As long as there are those who are intent on wiping 'the Infidels' from the face of the earth, we all must take heed. I am afraid that even more violent times are ahead.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
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3 comments:
So you think the pope should be bringing up such inflamatory words, given his standing as the spokesmen for the cathoic church?
I want to know why people in the west always give a break to Christians but use things like this to blast away at Muslims!?
The Pope was giving a lecture to other Catholic theologians at his alma mater. He was making no official policy statement as Pope but quoting a Catholic theologian from the past to use as a springboard for thought and discussion.
With the regard to the suggestion that incidents like this are only an excuse for those of us in the West to blast away at Islam, bear in mind two things. One, I stated that not all Muslims agree with or engage in violence. This is done by extremists. Second, never forget the tone, tenor, and imflammatory words used by Muslim extremists toward Christians and the West as a whole. The concept of 'Holy War' is evidence enough that the main goal is the annihilation of the 'infidels' who refuse to convert to Islam. Enough said.
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