Does the reaction of muslims to The Pope not show the incompatibility of Christianity and islam?

Question

There comes a time when we must accept that the idea that islam which is a brutal and barbaric religion, and Christianity are compatible, is a knoble lie. How much must we Christians endure to pacify the muslim population? We are made to accept there ways without comment. We are subjected to their refusal to assimilate to our British way of life and we are expected to be thankful for "multi-culturalism." We are not allowed to pass comment on any muslim without being termed racist. There is a limit to all patience. The recent attack on the Pope by muslims is simply an illustration of their inability to behave towards Christians as they demand to be treated themselves- Have they never heard of: Papal Infallability? I feel very sorry for people who have to live side by side with muslims, for they do not know when the axe will fall.

Answer 1

Famously, the then Cardinal Ratzinger once referred to Buddhism as a form of masturbation for the mind - a remark still repeated among deeply offended Buddhists more than a decade after he said it. Even his apology to Muslims at the weekend managed to bring Jews into the row.

No, the reaction of Muslims to The Pope shows us that this Pope is far from Infallible compared to his predecessor Pope John Paul.

I in no way condone the response of Muslim fanatics and hotheads - burning churches, and murdering Nuns. They just bring shame and discredit on their faith and themselves. Ironically - although it is lost on these fanatic hotheads - through their actions they help to reinforce stereotypes about the very thing they have taken offence at - namely saying that Islam is a violent and intolerant religion.

I understand the quote was taken out of context in Pope Benedict's speech. But never the less, I think it is shocking that a man who is the Spiritual head of a community of over 1 Billion souls, chose this clearly inflammatory passage, when he could have chosen something far more conciliatory, constructive and uncontroversial to make the same point about faith and reason, and the incompatibility of violence and religion without giving any excuse that he had insulted Islam. Something from the Bible for example.

I am sure Pope Benedict, a supposedly learned scholar - whose previous job until last year was in charge of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith (the successor body to the Inquisition) when he was then known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - knew the quote was from a bogus "debate".

A man of Pope Benedict's experience must have known this quote was inflamatory when he chose to include it, and that one of the consequences would be to fuel a violent Muslim reaction. Any fool could have told him the same. Pope Benedict had the hindsight of the experience of the Danish Cartoons episode. I can only conclude he has been wilfully mischievous.

Pope Benedict has also now insulted the Jews, it has been reported. In another speech shortly after his infamous Regensburg Rally, he said "Christians worshipped the cross because of the folly of the Jews and ignorance of Pagans and Gentiles." In an address of March 16, 2006, Pope Benedict said Jews must Convert to Christianity in order to be Saved.

From The Guardian: "Even worse, in his Auschwitz address, he managed to argue in a long theological exposition that the real victims of the Holocaust were God and Christianity. As one commentator put it, he managed to claim that Jews were "themselves bit players - bystanders at their own extermination. The true victim was a metaphysical one." This theological treatise bears the same characteristics as last week's Regensburg lecture; put at its most charitable, they are too clever by half."

But don't worry Jews can take it. I promise you we will not burn down any churches or murder any nuns.

The Guardian says "In the perceived clash between the West and the Muslim world - the Pope seems to have abdicated his papal role of arbitrator, and taken up arms in a rerun of a medieval fantasy."

"An elderly Catholic nun has already been killed in Somalia, in retaliation for the Pope's remarks; churches have been attacked in the West Bank. How is this papal stupidity going to play out in countries such as Nigeria, where the tensions between Catholics and Muslims frequently flare into riots and death? Or other countries such as Pakistan, where Catholic communities are already beleaguered? Or the Muslim minorities in Catholic countries such as the Philippines - how comfortable do they feel this week?"

"Two lines of thought emerge from this mess. The first is that the Pope's personal authority has been irrevocably damaged; how now could he ever present himself as a figure of global moral authority and a peacemaker after this?"

"The second is a more disturbing possibility: namely, that the Catholic church could be failing - yet again - to deal with the challenge of modernity."

For a Spiritual leader, Pope Benedict appears to have intellectual knowledge without spiritual substance and wisdom. He has been irresponsible and insensitive, and looked foolish especially when people are killed as a result of his thoughtless actions and decisions. Not Infallible to me.

Pope John Paul tried to build bridges between faiths and peoples.

Pope Benedict, however, seems intent on burning them. Hasn't the world got enough hatred and troubles without further enflaming the fires in these violent times.

Answer 2

Too many Muslims are two faced. They don’t want you to see the irony in Muslims being able to desecrate a Christian Temple in Jerusalem by spreading feces on images of Christ? But a Christian leader (the Pope) can’t remind people of what 14th century Byzantine emperor Manuel Paleolous II said about the profit Mohammad several hundred years ago. It wasn’t even the Popes own words or thought. He was repeating what Paleolous II supposedly said. . What’s with the hypersensitivity anyway?

The Muslims can dance in the streets; shout and yell; raise their fists all they want to but I do not believe the Pope owes Muslims an apology for anything.

Some have contended the terrorists are a form of radical Islam and a small minority of the faith. They say the large majority of Muslims are a peaceful people. I am beginning to wonder about these claims when I see the reported millions in the streets protesting what the Pope repeated.

Two faced or what? Is Islam a peaceful religion or a violence based religion? By what I am seeing and hearing, I would have to conclude the latter.

Answer 3

Muslims have as a world voice put themselves in the place of God. That is, they think they are infallible or so it appears. Now I know this statement I made is a generality made toward people claiming to be the voice of Muslims but until we hear from other Muslims we must react to that voice.
No one can have it all. There must be compromise and therein lies the problem not with the word of Islam but with those espousing that word.
I see many factions in the Muslim world, each claiming to be the voice and each a piece of a larger puzzle so that no matter what the issue is they will come down as the victim. That is why you do not hear Muslims condemning other Muslims. Then the remainder of the Muslims may say off the record that...well...you know we don't really agree with that small faction, but never on the record. This is how I see them operating.

Answer 4

I am appalled at your attitude, as if the Christians and Jews are innocent bystanders. Didn't you watch the news recently when the Israeli army mowed down the innocents in Palestine and Beirut ? The catholic church cannot sit back on it's laurels either during their reign of terror they murdered 9 million women for witchcraft offences. There will never be multi-cultural-ism while peoples attitudes are like yours. Oh and by the way you try saying the same thing about Jews and their anti-Semitic warriors get on the bandwagon and they can be lethal. As for Papal Infallibility it was invented by Popes for Popes religion should be classed as a crime against humanity.

Answer 5

So, on the evidence that is the hyperbolic news coverage of this non-event and people's reactions to it around the world, you seem to have decided that all muslims are extremist fanatics - well done!! - objective thinking (not!). I also like the way you characterise Islam as barbaric when the Pope will not advocate the use of condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS, will not support any rape victim who feels they may need to get an abortion. Also - what the hell is "knoble"???? Anyone who follows any faith blindly without independently and objectively putting that faith through rigourous testing is a sandwich short of a picnic anyhow - that goes for Christians, Muslims, Scientologists - any religion. Religious belief can help you get through bad days and help you move forward in a positive, altruistic manner in your life, but anybody (yourself included ) who uses religious belief to stir up bad feeling about others that aren't of the same mind as you or perhaps have ancestry in different continents, is a coward and a moral weakling. We must all embrace each other and each others' beliefs. Don't be so steadfast and inflexible and stop looking for the bad in everybody - what goes around comes around

Answer 6

The very actions of the Muslim "Leaders"proves that they are Totally Inflexible and have no wish to Live in a civilised manner with the rest of the world , Non stop Insistence that they are the only ones with the "True Religion" to the extent of Preaching Death to the Infidel , Bombing and Murdering without compunction == their Philosophy is "Our way - OR - No way"

Answer 7

It would be nice if people could learn to tolerate each other.

This goes for Christians as mush as it does for muslims or anyone else.

Everyone has a right to their own opinion. Neither side has the right to say that opinion is wrong. Neither side has the right to force their beliefs on another.

As far as I'm concerned it makes everyone that does that look like bratty kids who haven't learned how to share.

It is not good marketing, if you will, for your side. It just makes me disappointed in mankind.

Answer 8

Muslims will never accept that we live in a multicultural society. They want everything their own way and think that everyone else should live their way. If we go to a muslim country we have to abide by their laws and religions but when they come here they seem to be able to get what they want, when they want it!

What's wrong with this picture???!!!!

Answer 9

the Pope apologised today,this is a sign that he is a true christian as that was what our Lord Jesus admonished us to do.Even as i christian i strongly object to it.It also shows that Islam is a selfish religion that cares only about its feelings,don't they think that billions of Christians,not just the catholics are appalled by the humiliation the pope is going through because of some illiterate view on the word "QUOTE"
they might as well criticise him if he quotes the part of the bible that says all those that kill would go to hell i.e those Muslims who killed a Nun and other bombings that have taken place.

Answer 10

It shows how the opportunist media will take any chance to confound the world's two major religions. Instead of reporting that the Pope gave a lecture on the evils of killing in the name of religion, they quoted an example he gave as his own words. As a result, many people have died. It's time a few editors were put on trial for inciting murder.