One MAJOR problem in dealing with Islam is that there is no one "voice" but a collection of individuals who interpret the Koran according to "their" understanding.
The Holy Father made one mistake - he presumed the Muslims had the intelligence to comprehend his citation within the context of his address. Unfortunately, his rational comments fell on the deaf ears of bedouins. Islam is a cult, not a religion.
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<< Islam is a cult, not a religion. >>
Even elevating it to the level of "cult" is to flatter the death-and-destruction-worshiping and false-fuhrer-following islamanazi ideology.
And, by referring to the islamanazi ideology as a religion, His Holiness similarly erred, albeit more egregiously.
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Absolutely correct.
I don't know if you read The Anchoress, but if you haven't read this update from her, here is the link
http://theanchoressonline.com/2006/09/16/for-popes-and-presidents-it-feels-like-1981-out-there/
What part of the speech has upset the Muslim terrorists?
n the seventh conversation (*4V8,>4H - controversy) edited by Professor Khoury, the emperor touches on the theme of the holy war. The emperor must have known that surah 2, 256 reads: "There is no compulsion in religion". According to the experts, this is one of the suras of the early period, when Mohammed was still powerless and under threat. But naturally the emperor also knew the instructions, developed later and recorded in the Qur'an, concerning 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 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". 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 (F×< 8`(T) 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... To convince a reasonable soul, one does not need a strong arm, or weapons of any kind, or any other means of threatening a person with death...".
I'm not convinced that Benedict made any mistake.
I think, having seen how JPII saw the danger of Communism, he is starting (through diplomatic and careful words) to draw the ire of Islam to the church.
Let 'em come with it. It doesn't matter how many times the Pope apologizes, they will not accept it.
I pray for peace but I think it's inevitable that a large war is going to break out..... soon.
And where was the outrage (from Muslims) when Muslim extremists attempted to kill Pope John Paul II? On several occassions? Where was their outrage at killing innocent people all over the world?
If the shoe were on the other foot, we would have destroyed them 30 years ago.