Posted on 09/18/2006 12:51:21 AM PDT by LibWhacker
Citing the words of the Prophet Muhammad, Muslim religious leaders in the Gaza Strip on Sunday warned Pope Benedict XVI that he must "accept" Islam if he wanted to live in peace.
The warning, the first of its kind, came as many Christians in the West Bank expressed anger over a spate of attacks on churches in protest against remarks made by the pope about the Muslims and the Prophet Muhammad.
Two more churches in the West Bank were targeted on Sunday in protest against the pope's remarks, bringing to seven the number of churches that have been attacked over the past three days.
In Tulkarm, arsonists set fire to the only Orthodox church in the area, causing heavy damage to the 150-year-old structure. Local residents said the attack occurred shortly after 4 a.m, when a number of assailants forced their way into the church and tossed several fire bombs into the building.
Some Christian families said they were living in fear because of the attacks and called on the Palestinian Authority to do its utmost to protect churches and Christians.
At a press conference in Gaza City, a number of Muslim clerics said the pope's statements were "the result of his hatred for Islam and not the result of ignorance."
One of them, Dr. Imad Hamto, called on the pope to "repent and ask for forgiveness." He added: "We want to use the words of the Prophet Muhammad and tell the pope: 'Aslim Taslam'" Aslim Taslam is a phrase that was taken from the letters sent by the Prophet Muhammad to the chiefs of tribes in his times in which he reportedly urged them to convert to Islam to spare their lives.
Some Muslim scholars, however, have endorsed a more moderate interpretation of the term, arguing that its real meaning was that those who surrendered to the will of God would find peace.
Hamto and his colleagues accused Christians of "resorting to the power of the sword in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine."
They also called on the pope to direct his words to the Jews who, they claimed, were "spreading corruption and destruction."
And what was the response of these "moderate voices" of Islam to the firebombings of the Christian chuches in their midst? Does anyone know?
<<< Crickets >>>
I understand typos. I make enough of my own. :)
LOL!!!
Except that Gibran was a Christian, and his family fled Lebanon when he was young because the Ottomans (Islamofascists) seized his parent's property. The problem is not Arabs, the problem is Islam itself.
This is truly turning into the "Holy War" the nutso Islamics have wanted for years. I have held off believing that people who are Islamic are insane, by brainwashing or birth. But I have officially changed my mind. I am a bigot. I am anti-Islamic and have no use for those who follow it.
Freep that poll. 84%- no apology needed.
Write this down.. I agree with you completely. I'm baffled by the number of Americans who don't see Islam for what it is.
>>>Write this down.. I agree with you completely. I'm baffled by the number of Americans who don't see Islam for what it is. >>>
HI JADED! Haven't seen you in a few days, hehe.
We need to put on the armor and declare "This far and no further" Check the example of any number of persons in the Old Testament. Check also the Martyrs during the enlightment.
We need as strong a faith as those people had.
Excellent, excellent, excellent! Amen, right on, and nailed it with a great big hammer, AAC!
If I were the Pope, my answer would be "Nuts!"
...KHALIL GIBRAM was a MARONITE CATHOLIC, remember....
Voted (84% now)
I hope so.
This war has been going on too long - since the 600's
It them or us.
Yeah, I know - sometimes it feels good to rant, though...
A.A.C.
Dopey 9th century people. You misspelled annihilate.
LOL; suffer the same and often. . .
THAT said. . .just did not think the comment exactly 'begged' interpretation; but nice of you to 'go there'.
And right; it was in the context - of what the post is about - and every other headline re the Pope. . .considering as well, they are upupping the ante as we speak. . .Upping the 'ante' not just for what they want FROM the Pope. . .but for what they want FOR the Pope; for uttering a truth to begin with.
No question they want the 'Papacy' - the Pope on his knees. . .an inferior and weakened position. . ,and should he go there; they would 'pull the rug' and demand more. And already have. Pope Benedict, meantime, has sent his regrets; and while there can be no doubt the misundersanding is THEIRS; they refuse to be placated.
And so it began with their demanding an explanation. . . an apology. . .then specifically wanting him to ask/beg. . .for their 'forgiveness'. . .(for sure on 'bend and knee' would have followed. . .can we next imagine the howls demanding that the Pope lie prostrate in St. Peter's Square(?)). . .And then. . .what: The Pope's HEAD, of couse. . Which is what they are calling for now.
. . .and ALL for making 'right' with Allah. . .
At the least, they want to weaken and embarrass the Vatican. . .at the most .they want to destroy the Vatican and the Pope with it.
Give them a decent inch. . .and they will stretch it beyond it's breaking point.
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