this is what the pope said......?

Question

As Pope Benedict XVI faces criticism from Muslim leaders for remarks made during a speech in Germany, the BBC's religious affairs correspondent, Rahul Tandon, looks at earlier views he expressed during his time as a cardinal.
This is not the first time Pope Benedict has been at the centre of criticism for his views on Islam.

Before becoming Pope, Cardinal Ratzinger, as he was known, was considered a theological conservative.

He appeared to be uncomfortable with Pope John Paul II's attempts to improve dialogue with the Islamic world. His predecessor was the first pontiff to step inside a mosque, during a visit to Syria in 2001.

During his time as a cardinal, Pope Benedict opposed Turkey's bid to join the European Union, saying it belonged to a different cultural sphere, adding that its admission would be a grave error against the tide of history.

And in 1996, he wrote that Islam had difficulty in adapting to modern life.

'New barbarism'

However, since his consecration, Pope Benedict has surprised many with his attempts to improve dialogue with the Muslim world. He is due to visit Turkey in November as part of that process.

But there have been signs of his earlier views.

Last year he accused Muslim leaders in Germany of failing to steer their youth from what he described as the darkness of a new barbarism.

Pope Benedict is under increasing pressure to clarify the remarks he made during his speech at Regensburg University.

For many, that will require a clarification of the relationship he wishes to develop between the Catholic Church and Islam

Answer 1

The key issue at stake in the battle over what he said is this: Will the West stand up for its customs and mores, including freedom of speech, or will Muslims impose their way of life on the West? Ultimately, there is no compromise: Westerners will either retain their civilization, including the right to insult and blaspheme, or not.

More specifically, will Westerners accede to a double standard by which Muslims are free to insult Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism, while Muhammad, Islam, and Muslims enjoy immunity from insults? Muslims routinely publish cartoons far more offensive than the Danish ones. Muslims routinely show agression to those they find offensive, Muslims routinely show open support for Islamo-facists terrorists, Muslims routinely re-arrange history all the way back to the crusades so they can play the victim card...Are they entitled to dish it out while being insulated from similar indignities?

The deeper issue here, however, is not Muslim hypocrisy but Islamic supremacism. What we need to ask ourselves non-Muslims, is should we submit to their taboos for fear of violent reprisal??

Answer 2

Alright, I'm Catholic myself but my mother is Muslim and even though officially I'm Catholic I take what I like from Islam and other non-Christian religions so I obviously get offended when comments like these are made about Islam or any other religion.

The Pope quoted a historical text from the Byzantine empire that denounced the prophet Muhammed's teachings (the founder of Islam) as evil and inhuman among other things.
The point of him doing that I have yet to understand and the last I heard he is sorry for the reaction his comments caused but not the comments themselves. I am not justifying the murder of people in light of this, but Muslims have every right to be upset. I am pissed off and I am Catholic!! For someone who is trying to build bridges between the Catholicism and Islam Benedict is doing a really bad job!! I have no idea what was running through his mind when he said those remarks nor do I care. He was stupid.

Some people say this proves that Islam is a violent religion, never mind that comes from ignorance and the lack of education about Islam but how would you feel if a highly infleuntial religious figure like the Pope denounced a Catholic figure's teaching as evil and inhuman. You would react the same way.

If the Pope truly wants to make things right, he will apologize for saying the remarks. But he won't.

Alright, I'm done.

Answer 3

Moslems are merely over-reacting to the whole issue. They're just a real big bunch of ignorants and are very much proving that by carrying out demonstrations and protests in a civilized 21st century world. What are these people trying to prove? They're just showing the world how ignorant and fickle minded they are. Moreover, I agree that the Pope should not have commented or referenced to a sensitive issue like this, however, isn't that the truth of the present day crisis we're facing all over the arab world and otherwise? Which religion preaches war and beheadings I ask? Why do we have only Islamic terrorists in the world? Why do they behead innocents shouting praises to God? Christianity is a religion of love and forgiveness and the Holy Father has shown just that, by being humble and saying sorry for what he spoke.

Answer 4

The pope is a very intelligent man indeed. This is exactly why I would expect a more differentiated statement from him. His point is well taken, but could have been communicated without a historical quote that insults Mohamed.

Religious tolerance usually does not grow when the words 'bad' or 'evil' have been sown to describe another faith.

When you put him in line with Tony Blair and George W. Bush, I get seriously disturbed. His role is spiritual leader - not war-mongerer.

Answer 5

Below are key excerpts as reported by the BBC. For the complete speech, click on the link in the reference section below.

[Pope Benedict is saying]
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."

Answer 6

I rarely agree with the Pope, being very much a Protestant.
But in this I believe he is right.
It's Muslim leaders who need to answer why they have not steered their youth away from Islamic radicalism or condemned tyranny and terrorism in their religion.
Of course, Roman Catholicism has blood on it's hands too, the Pope should make a public apology for historic persecutions and seek to recompense the descendants of Roman Catholic victims.
It would be a great example to set for the Muslims.

Answer 7

I see that you pasted a news story, but I don't see what the pope actually spoke. I read the entire speech, and it was directed at the point that violence in the name of religion is incompatible with the nature of God, regardless of the religion. Benedict is a pretty smart guy. You should read it. And no, I'm not Catholic.

Answer 8

You start off by saying "this is what the pope said," but in all that I see only two words that are supposed to be quotes. If you want to show people what the pope said, you might want to actually try quoting him.

Answer 9

Now the pope says he is upset, should he apologize for his remarks on Islam?
Yes 59% 60716 votes
No 41% 42460 votes
Total: 103176 votes http://edition.cnn.com/POLLSERVER/results/27419.exclude.html

Answer 10

It is too bad the pope could not have quoted the Koran and the Bible rather than an obscure medieval text.