Are MUSLIMS proving to the World their Fanatical? Over-reacting to a political cartoon & now the Pope...?

Question

quoting the AP:
Benedict "thus sincerely regrets that certain passages of his address could have sounded offensive to the sensitivities of the Muslim faithful and should have been interpreted in a manner that in no way corresponds to his intentions," Bertone said in a statement.

He noted that earlier during his German trip, Benedict warned "secularized Western culture" against holding contempt for any religion or believers.

Bertone said the pontiff sought in his university speech to condemn all religious motivation for violence, "from whatever side it may come." But the pope's words only seemed to fan rage.

IT IS A SIN TO TAKE SOMEONE OUT OF CONTEXT especially when they "CONDEMN ALL RELIGIOUS MOTIVATION FOR VIOLENCE..."

ARE MUSLIMS PROVING TO THE WORLD THEY ARE FANATICS by constantly over-reacting?

foofoo,

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. YOUR LEADERS AND PEOPLE ARE SHOWING THEMSELVES TO BE EXTREME!

Taimur,
The purpose of the Pope making a quote from centuries ago is because it bears relevance to todays terrorism. There was a relevant point to making the quote which you apparently missed or didn't understand.

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

now stop making excuses.....

The pope also quoted a 14th-century Byzantine emperor who said innovations introduced by the Prophet Mohammed were "evil and inhuman,,,

why quote what some person said 700 years ago.

if pope really wanted peace between christians and muslims,, then whats the need of quoting that ??? why not to quote what other non-muslims says about Muhammad pbuh.

"His readiness to undergo persecutions for his beliefs, the high moral character of the men who believed in him and looked up to him as leader, and the greatness of his ultimate achievement - all argue his fundamental integrity. To suppose Muhammad an impostor raises more problems than it solves. Moreover, none of the great figures of history is so poorly appreciated in the West as Muhammad." [W. Montgomery Watt, MOHAMMAD AT MECCA, Oxford, 1953, p. 52.]


"Muhammad was the soul of kindness, and his influence was felt and never forgotten by those around him." [Diwan Chand Sharma, The Prophets of the East, Calcutta 1935, p. l 22.]

Answer 3

These nasty people twisted what the Pope said. They have a chip on their shoulders. His Holiness merely quoted an emperor from many centuries ago and made it clear that the words were not his own. Of course the Muslims, who exist to kill and maim and cause tension in the world, seized the opportunity to burn effigies of the Pope and stir up more hatred. Their behaviour just proves what we already knew: that these people are brainwashed into hating non-Muslims and want to see them all dead.

Answer 4

Most of the ones in the streets protesting have not even read the WHOLE article that the Pope said.

Have you?

They just fly off the handle based on some radical Imam instead of trying to understand the truth about what was said.

Muslims need to start thinking for themselves.

Before we had people KILLED over a cartoon.

Grow up already

Peace!

Answer 5

They sure are. Those who blame the media for portraying Muslims as Not peaceful need to blame the thousands of Muslims that march with banners screaming for the death of America, death to Jews, etc..etc.. The media records what the camera sees, and for those that don't know it..Islam does not mean peace, it means submission to God. Now does this sound peaceful?...: "Fight and slay the pagans [Christians] wherever ye find them and seize them, confine them, and lie in wait for them in every place of ambush" (Surah 9:5)

"Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the last day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and his apostle nor acknowledge the religion of truth of the people of the Book (the Jews and the Christians) until they pay the Jizya [tax on non-Muslims] with willing submission and feel themselves subdued." (Surah 9:29)

They've killed Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, and each other, and now Ayatollah Ali-Al Sistani is calling for death to gays and Sunni Muslims...so don't tell us that Islam is peaceful because my own Muslim friends have admitted that if they followed the Koran 100% then we'd all be dead or under their submission.

Answer 6

no muslims shouldnt have reacted with violence. Especially against the middle eastern churches.

but if anyone thinks emporer palpatine -- errr -- pope benedict and those homosexually oriented dutch cartoonists weren't intentional in their hate filled digs against the Prophet and Islam are a bunch of damned fools.

Answer 7

It's no use, it really is. You people are not getting it. Islam is not about violence. But you wont let that idea go. So you're going to teach us what our religion is all about? I don't think so. We know what Islam is and it sure ain't what you're saying it is. You have no right to insult Islam because you are believing the lies on the internet and the media. Look for the truth. Ask a muslim. Anything, just don't believe everything you hear and don't assume muslims are terroristd because they are not!!!!

Answer 8

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 9

Muslims are over reacting to suit their cause.

Answer 10

I think everyone is trying to gain sympathy to their cause by reacting to, controlling and/or manipulating the media. (If it is within their power to do such)