2006-09-16 10:14:31 · 8 answers · asked by Mr Y! Answers 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Please do not abuse this answer. I just want a straightforward response. and should he aplogise if he hasnt already done so?
2006-09-16 10:15:02 · update #1
To simplify: He quoted a pope from the middle ages who said that Mohammad preched evil. He was pointing out the difference between anciant and modern tolerances.
2006-09-16 10:18:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
PB was giving a speech at a university in Germany, where he once was a faculty member. The main topic of his speach seems to have been "can we have a reasonable expectation of the nature of God, ie, is God reasonably logical"?
Near the beginning of his speech, PB quoted from a series of dialogues a certain Byzantine Emperor had with a "learned Persian", back in the 13th century. The Emperor was a learned man and a Christian. He had read both the Bible and the Koran. In the part quoted by the Pope, the Emperor suddenly took the Persian (read: Muslim) to task for the actions of many of his fellow Musims in their pursuit of Jihad (holy war). Basically, the Emperor challenged the Muslim because"there is nothing new about Islam", he saw Muslims spreading their faith not by conversation, but by bloodshed. The Emperor said this kind of "conversion" was ungodly, because it went against the very logic of the nature of God.
Muslims seem to be in an uproar because of the "Islam had produced nothing new or good" quote. They expect PB to denounce this saying, and if he doesn't, then THAT means that the Pope supports this belief!
I find this position illogical. First, PB was quoting from a centuries-old conversation; the words do NOT originate with him. Second, the point PB is trying to make has to do with knowing God's nature logically; he was not addressing jihad or Islamic tradition. Third, the point of jihad was taken by the Emperor while he was currently under siege in Constantinople! What do you expect from a man who understands that if his enemy prevails, any who won't submit to the Koran will be killed?
Once again, the crowds have been stirred up by sound bites. The entire speech, if it is read, is rather bland. I don't think that PB should be called to apologise for quoting anybody from over 1,000 years ago. That is just stupid!
2006-09-16 17:34:03 · answer #2 · answered by MamaBear 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ON HOLY WAR
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."
2006-09-16 17:33:30 · answer #3 · answered by Mr Slug 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the pope quoted 14th-century Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus who said: "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."..it was understood by muslims that "Muslim people spread their religion by violence"...
2006-09-16 17:29:21 · answer #4 · answered by ellehcim 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he said:islam is a religion which is spread with sword.it seems like that.it is an insult to islam and muslims.he is from fourteenth-century.
2006-09-16 17:24:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He was trying to make a point that violence and faith do not go together. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060916/ts_nm/pope_islam_dc_5
2006-09-16 17:30:52 · answer #6 · answered by Heather B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Truth is hard to digest.
2006-09-16 17:17:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
"Mary had a little Lamb"
I mean, dude, what does it take to anger muslims...nothing!!!
2006-09-16 17:19:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋