The Pope's recent comments have been proven true by the Muslim reaction to them. True or false?

Question

Is there any other religion where the adherents are so angry about every little thing? Oh! And Islam wasn't spread "by the sword"? Tell that to the Persians.

Answer 1

What follows below is my response to a friend’s email concerning the same issue as what is being discussed in this forum:

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Its one thing for the common street hoodlum, or radical foot soldier, in Muslim countries, to be enraged by the comments made by the Pope. I don’t expect many of them to take time to deliberate the issue, or subsume the Pope’s comments in the proper context. They are reactionary beings. However, you would think that Imams’ and other Muslim clerics would me more academic in their reception of comments made by other religious leaders, affording their colleagues on the other side of the religious spectrum a fair hearing. Instead these so called learned men of Muslim upbringing are just as reactionary as the ruffians on the streets of Palestine, or the insurgents attacking their own people in Iraq.

It’s bizarre that both Jews and Christians are called to make concessions and penance to placate Muslim sensitivities, and yet any offense to Christian ideals or people by Muslim authorities is met with deafening silence. When Christian churches are burned to the ground, when our iconography is desecrated because of Islamic militancy, and when death threats are levied on our most revered religious figures, no one in our ranks cries out for apologies or even reparations. No calls for the destruction of Mosques; no command for the assassination of Muslim leaders; and no vitriolic statements from our religious leaders are made concerning Muslim clerics. Even when the more radical fringe of Christendom – men like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson – make inflammatory remarks concerning Muslims and Islam, there is a large outcry from both mainline Christianity and the western secular media denouncing their statements as inane and immoral.

It is the Muslim world that has failed dismally in their efforts to do the same. We always point the incriminating finger at those within our fold that act in a manner that is in discord with what we believe to be the noble thing to do. Muslim “moderates” standby quietly giving tacit approval to the aggression of their more “radical” brethren.

Muslims constantly lament the disproportionate military response to 9/11 that Bush has made. Many in the Christian wing and in the rest of the western world have called him on it, and criticize him constantly for it. Yet when Muslim people attack Christian churches for something as trivial as a cartoon or an insensitive statement made by another Christian, no one talks about the Muslim disproportionate reaction. At least our attack of Afghanistan and Iraq, though focusing on the wrong people, returned violence for violence. Muslims, in reaction to mere rhetoric, returns temporarily hurtful words with violence. Words are eventually forgotten; a loss of life has repercussions that never really go away. You tell me who is responding in a more disproportionate fashion? Who in this scenario is responding more unjustly?

I wonder if Muslims realize how utterly feeble minded they look every time they respond like this? I am curious if “moderate” Muslims are cognizant of the fact that the more they remain mute concerning the wrong doings of their radical counterparts, the more the rest of the world will see them as one in the same? For my part, I a little doubtful as to how divergent “moderate” Muslims are ideologically from their “radical” colleagues. Both of them believe that Muhammad is the supreme prophet, one who supersedes even Jesus in divine significance. Muslims of both “radical” and “moderate” stripe believe that Muhammad is also the ultimate paradigm of human behavior; a model that should be emulated as close as possible. Both, if truly candid, must acknowledge that Muhammad, UNLIKE Jesus, who is the Christian’s primary example for living, was a military commander that took part in violence, order assassinations, and engaged in all the brutality associated with a military enterprise. He ordered the execution of those whose only sin was to ridicule him. These are historical facts attested to in their Qu’ran, Hadith, and secular Arabian history. Maybe the so called “moderate” Muslims don’t vocalize dissent against the “radicals” in their midst because they know, in their heart of hearts, that those the world likes to marginalize as “radicals” really represent the manner of behavior Muhammad would have condoned. The “moderates” remain silent, so as not to underscore their secret agreement with “radical” tactics and their own cowardice at not acting on principles they agree with.

I am disappointed at my Pope for apologizing for statements that are truthful. The truth is always offensive. Jesus made statements to the Pharisees that were infused with controversy. He never apologized for them, despite how inflammatory they might have been. There is no need for Pope Benedict XVI to qualify his statement with an appeal to proper context. Even as an isolated statement, the statements by the Byzantine emperor, that the Pope was quoting, are a truthful assessment of Islam’s prophet. The Catholic Church needs stop being politically correct. The Catholic Church needs to cease abiding by a culture of appeasement. Why should the Pope apologize for the narrow minds of those who cannot read a statement in its context, or who cannot admit to the dark side of their faith? Contrition and forgiveness are foundations to the Christian faith, but to be contrite, when one is not at fault, makes a mockery of reconciliation. If the church continues to be spineless like this, even I will want to leave it.

Answer 2

The most depressing thing about this category is the sheer shallowness of the thinking here; but then, it's the same shallowness that perpetuates religion in the first place, and that includes both Islam and Catholicism.

For what it's worth, 'billthedude' (above) has provided you with a worthwhile answer to this question. Also 'Don H', (below), who's underlined the point that all religions are equally capable of selective amnesia, and equally adept at historical revisionism.

Hmmmm, I think I'll go off to a more entertaining category now : )

Answer 3

My thoughts are that the reactions of the Muslim community ironically support the statements the pope made (the previous pope made negative comments about buddhism and no one worried about violence from irate buddhists). On the other hand, the pope is, again ironically, engaging in the same dynamics that fundamentalist Muslims engage in: demonizing others. He's just another high-level religious leader that promotes partisanship, really the same as any islamic leader except in matter of degree.

Answer 4

Yeah, Muslims need to chill out with the hate thing as well as so called Christians who preach hate against certain groups of people. The human race has a lot to learn when it comes to live and let live.

Answer 5

He has only proved that he engages in the same bigoted hate mongering that the Muslims who give other true muslims a bad name like to use.

Answer 6

Outrage at his comments should be directed at the Muslim extremists, not at the Pope who was merely quoting a Byzantine ruler from about 600 years ago.

Answer 7

Here is a link to the English translation of the Pope's controversial speech: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060912_university-regensburg_en.html

With love in Christ.

Answer 8

Wrong. There are lots of fundamental xians who preach hatred and display bigotry. Just listen to any self-righteous TV preacher who loves to go on about liberals!

Answer 9

My, aren't they testy? I read the text of his speech and all he did was refer to some ancient theological discussion that he found interesting and relevant to the issue of peace. Muslim fundamentalists are just like Christian fundamentalists; they pick and choose whatever text suits their fancy. Pope Benedict was simply trying to bring some clarity to their obvious errors in interpreting Mohammed's true intent. I wish he'd take on the Southern Baptists next. It's nothing short of evil the way they distort the Gospel in order to line their own pockets, manipulate politics and pass judgment on all those sinners Jesus loves so much.

Answer 10

True. Every time something happens there are demonstrations, don't these people ever go to work? They should spend some time being productive and maybe their lives could improve. I have never heard of any other religion that preaches hate and intolerance of others.

Answer 11

What the Pope quoted was absolutely correct. Just ask anyone who has fallen to their sword. Ask the Christian Kosovars who are being ethnically cleansed right now.