was the pope correct about islam?

Question

The pope talked of the agressive nature of islam and as repsonse various islamic factions bruned effigies of him. Their response was aggressive and only backed up the idea that islam and muslims are extremely agressive. Why does any criticism of islam lead to agressive responses from its people?

I Have asked a simple question about the nature of islam and have been met by agressive reponses by those supporting islam....this is exactly my point. Agression and burning effigies of the pope is not defending the islam faith.....this type of response is childish and hypicritical. I am not trying to stir up hate, i want open discussion which seems to be in contradiction to the islamic faith.

Answer 1

the pope should clean his own house before critisizing others.

Answer 2

I have refrained from answering any questions of this type, until i read a transcript of the Pope's speech, and I have to say it appears that very few other people have. The reason I say this, is because the impression that I got of what was said from reading comments, was very different from the impression i got when I read the Pope's own words.

first, he quoted from the Qu'ran, saying 'there is no compulsion in religion'; second, when he was talking about the passage and introducing the quote, he used the phrase 'a startling brusqueness...that astonishes', making it clear he was uncomfortable with the tone of the passage, and would expect any modern reader to be also; and, thirdly, it was only a minor part of the speech. So far, i have not seen or heard anyone comment of the rest of the speech.

the point of the speech, which was to a University, was that faith and reason are more than compatible, thay must go together. he was exploring the use of reason in exploring faith, and encouraging his listeners to use the two together.

It is incredibly sad, that most, though not all, seem to want to use this part of the speech as a political agenda, to attack Islam/Catholicism/Christianity/faith, or all of the above. it is also sad how easy it seems to be to do this.

i know this is not answering the question, but I felt it was all relevant. 'I don't know' is my answer to the question, but I suspect that it is because dialogue in islam is discouraged (sadly, a relatively modern phenomenom), and thus people have very little leeway to express opinions. i hope this all helps.

Answer 3

Your request for 'open discussion' on the subject of religion implies that some sort of logic should be introduced? Impossible, all you will get are quotes from various 'Holy' books, which mean nothing at all except to 'believers'.
All I can say about the pope and his little speech is that regardless of what context it was meant he should not have made it, what were his advisers thinking about?
Don't they know that to deride any other religion will upset people, or was it done deliberately?
I am atheist, I have no time for any religion, I try not to insult any religious group, if there was any way of having a logical discussion I would go for it, but I know its impossible, how can you 'debate' when your opposition just refers to 'chapter so and so, verse such and such'! All from books of fairy tales!
Can you imagine the uproar if the Muslim leader made a similar speech pointing out the aggressive nature of Christians back in history?
Would it be classed as inciting violence, I think so don't you?

Answer 4

"Was the pope correct about Islam?" One has to go to the source "The Koran". In the Koran as it was originally written and laid out. Then yes the pope is correct. But one also has to understand how "The Prophet" saw Christians, Either conform or be destroyed! Look back in history and read about the Crusades. Now you have some "moderate" Islam and you have those who are trying to show the "True Nature of Christ" Christ didn't Force anyone to "conform" He set the standard and let it stand. There are a lot in the Islam world that are doing the same with their Belief. So when you understand the injustice that their forefathers had experienced and suffered it provides one with a better basis for the animosity that they have for anyone supporting the “Christian” title. It would've been nice IF they could've been Shown How a True Disciple of Christ looked and responded. Because I can assure you Christ Never used a sword in His ministry nor did He call His disciples to weald a Sword in His defense. Look at Jon. 18:1-40. Also look at what tools Christ left in our charge to change the world Matt. 28:18-20. "Man" is the one who decided that they knew a better way in which to convert. And it was Man in his Pride and Folly that still leaves a gaping wound in the attitudes and Hearts of the Islam world. One has to understand History in its entirety Before jumping to rash conclusions from both sides. What I find troubling, is seeing the death toll among the Islamic who cry out to "Allah". But then, look at the History of Christianity. Christ said I became the sacrificial Lamb for the world. Jon. 3:16 And people have erroneously in The Past have used His Death to further their own warped Agendas All for the sake of their foolish Pride. Again Look at what Christ did for the Slave that was there. Look at how Christ looked at those who were gathered around the cross, Jon 19:1-42; 23:1-56; Mark.

Answer 5

When you get a people that are so passionate about there faith things like this is bound to heppen. Some may show it and others may not. The statement that the pope made about Islam isn't correct. Because it's a fact theat Islam:
1)Is a religion of peace
2)is tolerant
3)treats everybody equally
Islam wasn't actually brought by the sword that's an exaggerated opinion as if that was the case even Christianity was brought by the sword by the crusaders etc...This can be proven historically by a well known country: Spain. Spain was under Muslim rule until the crusades arrived and virtually killed and forced many Muslims to convert. The Prophet Muhammed, however, wasn't violent in nature or anything. The only time he actually fought was when it was neccessary. You see, the common mistake people tend to make is:
1)Listening to the media
2)Listening to propaganda
3)Judging a religion by the followers
The media is to blame for many things as it tends to "add a little spice" to things. For example, yes many people protested when the pope said that statement but many didn't as well. Many Muslim communities only expressed there concern by speaking about it and not protestin etc...But the ones that did, especially violenty only got media coverage. Why? Because the media is biased and that's a well known fact.
Another thing is propaganda. People spread hate and say that Islam equalls terrorism, or Muslims treat women badly or that 72 virgins story. Meanwhile None of this is true because no matter what people say about Islam, Islam teaches it's followers to be kind and peaceful and treat ALL people fairly. The 72 virgin things is also fake. So Propaganda plays an imporatant role that is why you can't believe everything you see and hear.
Another important fact to consider is judging a whole religion by it's followers, the ones that get media coverage anyway. Not all people, whether it be Christian, Jew etc...follow there religion. there is bound to be certain people who don't follow it properly. This is exactly the case in Islam. Al-Qaeeda and co. are "representing Islam" which isn't correct as Osama and co. Is not a prophet and they might not be the perfect Muslims. the ironical part of all this is that we live in a world of politics and religion plays a very important tool in politics. So now Islam has to be shown as a cult and Muslims are terrorists etc... But this is not a fact.
There are over a billion Muslims world wide, would it be fair to say that all of them are violent and evil? No. Has anyone met all the muslims of the world? No.
It's actually not critism itself that leads to some muslims acting that way. There are many other factors involved. A lot of Muslims feel disrespected especially after that picture of the Prophet Muhammed (p.b.u.h) was drawn. It's like if you allow someone to trample all over you, you inviting them to do it again and again which is not wanted by the Muslims. Take a bully for example, if you allow him to do it once, the chances are better that he'll come back

Answer 6

Some militant Muslims seem to be on the lookout for an excuse to fly off the handle and persuade others to do likewise at the slightest provocation. Yet they are provocative in displaying a statement outside each mosque which is deeply offensive to Christians, namely that God has no son. What if Christians were to react aggressively against this inflammatory statement?

Answer 7

The pope was merely quoting a Byzantine predecessor. I find it quite ironic that the comments on their aggressive nature sparked more aggression. The Koran, the scripture for Muslims, clearly says that Islam is to be spread by the sword. So of course, any means necessary including violence will erupt as a result of connotative negative comments, let alone when they are spreading their faith. With the exception of the Crusades, Christians do not spread their message "by the sword", but rather by the love and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Messiah. How I wish that Christians would have the zeal that Muslims have when the name of Jesus is blasphemed.

Answer 8

Because the majority think the same...you can mock any other religion (say christianity for an example) and know one bats an eyelid but if you so much as mention the word islam in the wrong kind of tone its off with your head...and the pope was just reading out a quote...i dont know if thats his own feelings on islam even though he was reading out the truth.

Answer 9

I really get mad about this, as muslims has this two face 100 % of the time, the Pope and me, we have the reason to have our points of views and that is all, we are entitled to have our opinion without people become that level of stupidity, is the reason muslim countries are so heavily under developed is the mentallity.

And the funny thing is that they could only got mad but they could not really counter answer:

"What Muhammed brought new to world that is not inhuman and evil"

Anybody that sees muslim countries, now that since 15 century, muslims are very well known.

Answer 10

Well...
The problem here is one of simplification. The MEDIA showed images of angry Muslims, but we shouldn't be led to believe that a few images represent the Muslim world. Some Muslims are extremely fundamental in their religious worldview, and these are the ones we see.
As for Benedict, I think it's a matter of historical interpretation. As people living in 2006, we might say that Islam spread violently. But with proper historical consciousness, we might also recognize that societies ere more violent in the seventh century, and Islam was using the cultural paradigm it knew. Christianity, too, has not been immune from violence.
What's important to take from Benedict's speech is that NOW, violence is not in accord with God's will. We should worship God, but not impose worship violently. We should dialogue to solve problems, but not resport to violence when dialogue becomes difficult.
I think if Benedict could have rethought his remarks, he would have stated them more like this.

Answer 11

RIGHT OR WRONG.........How about this for food for thought.......the area of the brain in which faith originates has been identified....It is the same area in which the placebo effect is centred...... there have been instances where pretend operations have "Cured" Parkinsonian symptoms!! ....Faith therefor is an important part of a healthy and balanced holistic self and there for stands as the core to an individuals potential.......... This IS whether God IS or NOT.... BUT and this I believe is the point.........

Purity of heart What ever ones RELIGION is the determining factor.......

The TRUE intention of ones will as expressed through ones heart is the measure of the good or God that is within ones life and one's belief or FAITH in those actions, words, or even thoughts, providing that one has what I call "purity of intent". Purity of intent is the measure of one's worth to firstly one's self in order to bring balance to one's life, but how others see you, and most importantly treat you.

Go and be with Love and purity of intent in you heart and above all have belief and FAITH in all that you do.........

I am full of this Rubbish!!!