In an islamic world, would the Pope be killed for not accepting islam?

Question

For muslims who respond to this question..... I read the koran, studied it if you will, and did not find anything therin to contradict my very valid question.

Is is not true certain muslims have already stated, that America has been offered the chance to convert, and having refused to do so, has opened itself to destruction?

I am a Doctor of Philosophy, and continually take pleasure in adding to my store of knowledge, regardless of its source.

POKI POKI

I would take you more seriously if you had not used invective.

I well remember a Christian nun, (apart from the recent sad case), being killed by a muslim in Cairo 2 years ago.

I also remember the American missionary and his very young children being burned to death in their Jeep by a crowd in Pakistan.

The list goes on and on.

To further clarify my position;
I am not racist
I am not anti-islamic
I am not in favour of killing
I am not prejudiced against any other religion, colour, or creed.

Answer 1

Mutmaina, you quote the quran in sura 2;256 which says there shall be no compulsion in religion. But i tell you, that this is the only place in the quran that you can confidently point to such a statement of tolerance in religion. And i i will tell you why this is. This part of the quran was written at the early stage of Muhammeds mission, when he was just settling down in medina. This peaceful attitude was necessary in order to get the co-operation of the jewish tribes and christians who were in the majority in Medina. Muhammed said he believed in all the jewish prophets, and that he didnt bring any new religion. At that time he did not have enough people to wage war. when, however, he had rasied enough military manpower, he began to launch out against those he suspected did not believe in his religion. From then on, we see a diferent side to the quran. "So when you meet in jihad, those who disbelieve smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly" Sura 47:4.

In an islamic world, people could be killed for less than not accepting islam. But yes, its very possible the pope would be killed in an islamic world, but i really dont think the pope would choose to live in an islamic world.

Sunamwal, I believe the head of the orthodox church you are talking about in a muslim country is the head of the Greek orthodox church in Istanbul. Although it should be noted that Istanbul was formerly Constantinople which belonged to the greeks and was taken from them by the ottoman turks by means of war and killing many people. They even took over the main church of Christendom and converted it to a mosque. So i dont think you are quite right in saying everyone is welcome in muslim countries. They were there already before the muslims came. Once again, the same can be said of the churches in pakistan and hindu temples there. They once were part of India before the muslims managed to take them forcefully from them.

Answer 2

No. It is an emphatic 'NO'. Probably you know that the headquarter of some orthodox Church(perhaps more than one!) is in a Muslim country and they have their own Holy Pope? He gets State' protection, protocol, patronage, priveleges ! Do you know that the Sacred places of Sikh religion are in Pakistan and that the State spends money on the shrines ? Do you know that some Hindu sacred places are also in Pakistan, like the historical Church buildings (magnificent Cathederals) which are similarly respected and kept under the operational control of the concerned elders of the Religion. One Hindu temple was recently renovated, and yesterday, the birth-place of the 4th Sikh Guru which had been converted into a place of worship, centuries ago, in Lahore, was finally renovated and made into an operational place of worship by the Sikh. A big delegation had come from India to witness the formal ceremony. How many more examples do you need, sir ? The Catholic Pope would be most welcome to Muslim Palestine and shift his headquarter from Rome to Jerusalem.

Answer 3

I have said time and again that Islam doesn't force anyone in the matter of religion. If you read history without any prejudice you will find that Islam is the ONLY theocracy which allowed freedom of religion, moreover they offered others to have their own legal systems under the islamic rule. It was voluntary for non-muslims living under muslim authority to come to muslim courts for justice. The so called super power of today, US, doesn't have that, the state has infiltrated the homes of people, where a child could call 911 and get his parents arrested, no authority whatsoever.

There is a difference between practitioners of a religion and the religion itself. Try to realize that! If practitioners are not following it correctly that doesn't mean the religion is bad.

Qur'an says ...

"There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever disbelieves in the Shaitan and believes in Allah he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle, which shall not break off, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing." (2:256)

Answer 4

I suspect the extremists would prefer to shoot a few nuns and burn down some churches (in other countries of course) as is their usual wont.

Perhaps it's time to bring back the college of the inquisition.

Answer 5

Yes

Answer 6

No. I think in some countries you can be killed if you were born a Muslim and convert to another religion, however.

Answer 7

you people know so little about the Muslim world yet you insist on acting like smartasses.

have you ever heard of the coptic Orthodox christian Pope in Egypt? his name is Father Shenouda!! he's the Pope of all Coptic christians and he lives in a Muslim country with christian minority. never been attacked or even disrepected by any muslim.

Answer 8

Yes if he would not accept Islam. I would also like the Pope to accept Christianity.

Answer 9

"There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever disbelieves in the Shaitan and believes in Allah he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle, which shall not break off, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing." (2:256)

Answer 10

ABSOLUTELY: In an Islamis world anyone whi did not accept Islam would be killed.