Do you feel the pope's speech about Islam is more than just a quote?

Question

Do you think it is an indirect insult to Islam? What do you find offensive or inflammatory about the speech?

Answer 1

Maybe if the Muslims read the speech....
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060912_university-regensburg_en.html
They would understand he meant nothing like that. But more to inspire thought about what our different culture have gone thru, and to give thought to past assumptions. But, as usual, too many people have misconstrued the meaning....and now many Islamics are in a violent outrage.....uhm.

Answer 2

If some muslim leader called Jesus evil, you would go attack that country. I saw a documentary on PBS that showed that musliums were a lot more kinder during their reign of Jerusalem, exactly the same way now USA is in its own country. The Christians and jews would kill every one not their religion. Infact their was a very pious group of christian who believed in Jesus's lineage and they were all maassacred. If you read the history u will find out how evil the ancient popes were. You guys are hypocritical to the point of stupidity. Remember Bush said that God told him to attack Iraq, how evil is that. Hitler was a christian.Why are u bigots always insulting Islam. Like Jerry Falwell and The little Graham. We do not insult u all. Infact all my friends think its foolish to think that Jesus was a God. How could God be so weak. I am not totally religious but my logic does tell me that God gave him the power of miracles and he was a great prophet of God. May peace be on him.

Answer 3

In very simple terms he asked a question that had been asked before and many, many times since! Going back to that period in time and consulting the written records of that particular meeting.

At that meeting were many leading figures of the day, the incumbent Pope, many revered men of Islam and many other revered and influential men.

Thr Pope asked?

Why it was necessary for the prophet, with a sword in his hand, to step forth and preach Islam;and upon its dismissial or rejection he then commaned that all those who had objected, dismissed it, voiced against it, be put to the sword and so should all those who will not bow down to it or accept it!

At the meeting little was said by way of answer, but amongst all present there was great sorrow expressed in that no one could foresee when it would end and what could be done to make it end!

There was no argument or fight at that meeting, only the total realisation that its cruel and evil violence had to be curtailed and ways would have to be found to outlaw it! .

The leaders of Muslims today are no less inclined to remedy the situation either. Only more and more totally unreasonable demands and threats whenever they are ignored. The so called leader of Iran with his vile language, demands and threats! Nothing, not even the remotest intent to curb the evil clerics of Islams Iran, and the many, many others, who by their behaviour only enflame, incite and muster the mass's of their indoctrinated muslims to assinate, kill, riot and impose total Islam across the world.

We shall never be able to sit down with such fanatics and talk of peace, understanding, tolerance and respect for each and all religions, its revered acceptance and place in the culters of differing societies! Islams Clerics shall never allow it! And,more to the point, Isalms clerics have got to be brought to heel, or destroyed, before they plunge the world into the dark abyss of global War!

Answer 4

Yes, he decided to take advantage of the current situation by uttering words he know would inflame to futher the cause of his Church.

What was offensive about his speech is that being the apex of the Catholic world, he chose words that were utterly ignorant and the opposite of what Islam stands for and what the Prophet (p) brought to this world.

He has unfortunately exposed him ignorance for all the Muslims to see.

How many converts do you think he'll win this way?

Answer 5

I do not think the pope's speech was meant blow the embers of the already smoldering furnace of religious bigotry. It was ill-timed I admit, but it may also have been blown out of proportion. People make mistakes, even the pope whom the catholics regard as infallible.
We should learn to look beyond those mistakes and be reasonable men because that is what reason is for - understanding. Religion was made for man, and not man for religion. What mistake man does religion always forgives.

Answer 6

I guess the truth hurts. The majority of Muslims are proving to be as disgusting as we thought. These morons proclaim jihad on everybody for everything. I think we should turn the Middle East into a parking lot. Why do people put up with so much $hit from these animals.

Answer 7

By the way things are going, the extremist Muslims are proving him right.

Seriously, why it is that Islam is the only religion that has to go apeshiit whenever someone makes a joke about their religion? First there was that Mohammed drawing controversy, now this. Imagine what they'd do if someone decided to do a sitcom where Mohammed was a secret agent like James Bond?

Answer 8

Yeah, the Pope must have known it would cause a stir, and plus they have vatican officials which check his speech before he broadcasts it to the rest of the world.
He isn't as ignorant as what some people think. He knew what he was doing was wrong and now he has to pay the price.

Answer 9

My impression too was that he was speaking in general, but my Muslim friend said that the Pope can't be so idiot not to be aware of the consequences, and I guess she's right. Perhaps the Pope just wanted to provoke a debate or I don't know...

Answer 10

It means that centuries ago, this was the viewpoint, and it's not changed because they have not upgraded their behavior.

If you quote somebody's opinion, this cannot be offensive, it is only an opinion, but of you have a history of not respecting other people's opinions, then you get upset because the truth hurts.

There is not a group of people during these times that are more hated or reviled then these fanatical zealots.