[ZeitgeistSurfer]

Let us stop bending the knee to these Islamic dogs.

[Alter Kaker]

And the response from the Imam of Hagia Sophia, which has been a mosque since FOURTEEN FIFTY THREE --- "We'll give you Hagia Sophia, when you give us the Alhambra and the pagans the Pantheon." If Christians have a claim over Hagia Sophia, then the entire territory of the United States should be restored to the Indians, as the conquest of the United States happened hundreds of years later.

[samtheman]

Sort of like hate crimes in America. The concept only applies in one direction.

[ricer1]

I recall in the news recently that many in Turkey are calling for the Hagia Sophia to be converted from it's current use as a museum back to a mosque.

[rjp2005]

He is going to suggest building three places of worship in Jerusalem - a temple, church and a mosque. A year or so from now.

[Antoninus]

Let us stop bending the knee to these Islamic dogs.

As long as Islam rules in Constantinople, Hagia Sophia will remain a museum--at best.

[deathrace2000]

If I were the pope, I would have bowed 180 degrees away from Mecca, and then let one rip!

[MEGoody]

Many in the West are congratulating Pope Benedict XVI’s recent trip to Turkey, where in the Blue Mosque he prayed facing Mecca and made other gestures meant to salve the wounds raised by his references to Islam’s history of violence.

This westerner is made sick by this kind of crap. Makes me glad I'm not a Catholic. After this, I'd have to leave the church anyway.

[ricer1]

Wiki's reference on Hagia Sophia.

That's a good read with pictures.

[Silly]

I have more than a little problem with Joe Ratzinger facing Mecca to pray.

The rites and rituals of all religions have specific meanings. Words and actions also have meaning. When a person from one faith performs actions (especially ritual actions) of another incompatible faith, it is heresy.

Islam in all its forms roundly and utterly rejects the foundation of Christianity, namely, that Jesus is God. Christianity in all its forms roundly and utterly rejects the foundations of Islam and all other religions.

The idea that he can have it both ways -- profess to be a One-Way-To-Heaven follower of Jesus, and pretend to (or really) pray to Mecca -- especially in the context of a mosque -- seems ludicrous to me.

I would like to hear others' views on this.

[a_Turk]

LOL!

Ha ha haaa!

Du voll idiot :))

[hosepipe]

[ Holy Wisdom: Why the Pope should call for the return of the Hagia Sophia. ]

The Church is NOT a building.. or a tax exempt organization..

[Young Scholar]

Considering that the crusaders converted it to a Catholic church when they took Constantinople (which it remained for over 50 years), the Turks could certainly argue that the Pope is in no position to make that request.

But it was a great church, and it would be great if it could become a church once again.