Posted on 12/06/2014 6:04:01 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Picture the Pope praying in a mosque alongside top Muslim leaders. That’s what happened in Turkey last weekend.
Pope Francis was at the Blue Mosque in Instabul on Saturday as part of his three-day visit to the predominantly Muslim country. He also celebrated Mass at the Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in the city.
The visit to the mosque is significant as the Pope tries to promote peace and unity between Muslims and Christians. He’s the second Pope to worship at the Blue Mosque. The first was his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who was there in 2006 for a similar purpose.
The world has made remarkable progress in bringing Muslims and Christians together, partly through efforts by world leaders such as Pope Francis. However, there’s still a fence between Christians and Muslims today.
A lot of believers today minimise their contact and association with people of the other faith. This manifests in everyday life, like the Christian who immediately changes the channel when a Muslim preacher shows on the TV, or a Muslim who will not date a Christian. It’s like the world is still far away from the point where people can cross the fence freely without bias or condemnation.
So the Pope’s worship at the mosque is considered nice from a diplomatic perspective. But is this the cool, progressive thing for the rest of us ordinary Christians and Muslims to do? Is this the way to go? To what extent should we be willing to cross the fence and bond with people of the other faith?
Taofeek says, “I read about the Pope’s visit in the news. I think it’s timely because of all the terrorist stuff happening right now – the Isis, the Al Qaeda and all that. He’s trying to connect with the Muslim world. It’s a good one from that angle. But personally I think they shouldn’t have allowed a person who doesn’t believe in our faith to worship in the mosque. I think it’s not right. The Pope is not Muslim and obviously doesn’t believe in Islam. He shouldn’t be let to pray in the mosque with Muslims.”
The feeling is mutual.
Samuel says, “It’s nice to see the Pope take such a step for the sake of peace. But I personally don’t see myself worshipping in a mosque. It’s inappropriate. As Christians, we can make friends with the Muslims and work and play with them. But that’s probably the limit. Marrying a Muslim is unacceptable to me, for example, because we don’t share the same faith.”
There are some moderate Christians and Muslims who have liberal views though.
Maruf says, for instance, “I mix freely, and I don’t discriminate between Christians and Muslims. I have cousins who’re Christians and sometimes I attend a church event at their invitation. I also watch Pastor Sam Adeyemi and read Christian writers. My point is, I try to keep an open mind regarding these things.”
Amaka also says, “I think religious leaders contribute to this thing, because they’re the ones who make the fence bigger through their teaching. I’ve been in churches where the pastor said negative things about Islam just to make his own faith look good. I’ve also heard in my neighbourhood, where the Muslims have an outdoor lecture and the preacher calls out Christians inappropriately. These things simply pit both sides against each other and further polarise the world.”
So then, how is the Pope’s action particularly relevant to Nigeria?
Amaka says, “The Pope’s move is particularly relevant to our nation if you look at the ethnic and religious problems that’s going on. We need to show love to each other and interact more freely with each other, treating each other as one regardless of faith or ethnicity. We need to unite, so that way our nation can move forward.”
Yes praying in a mosque has worked out so well for Christians all over the middle east
Quite Right.
I don’t think this guy knows the meaning of his office.
He Sold it, as the worst of the Renaissance Popes did, not for money but for popularity, which is ten times worse.
Whatever. Differences in doctrine does not constitute sin..
you can pray to God anywhere...Mosques, bathrooms, city dumps,whore houses....where ever....
Nah, some of them are quite entertaining in their misunderstanding of Catholicism and their re-interpretation of scripture. Some who have fallen away from Catholicism reiterate over and over how they kind of invent their own paths to salvation....don't even follow one of the myriad of protestant denominations!!
that would be correct!!!!
the last portion of the "Hail Mary" says...Holy Mary, mother og God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death....we pray to God through Mary...
To the non-Roman Catholic Christians, I would say that NO amount of Scripture will change the minds of those who believe in Marian devotion. It is their sincere belief that the authority of the Church is able to overcome any “objection” that might be seen in the Bible.
Is Pope Francis the first Pope EVER to pray inside a mosque?
This Catholic would like to know; real question.
Pope BXVI had a silent moment of reflection when he visited the mosque after the press and the liberals in the Vatican lost it over the Regensburg address, thereby whipping up riots and attacks on Christians which the Pope obviously hoped would be diminished by this gesture.
Francis was supposed to do the same, and then he turned to the imam or mufti or whatever and said, “Why don’t we pray together?”
The problem is that the Islamic concept of God is entirely different, and Pope Francis thinks of it as sort of a Unitarian or deist concept, based on Christianity. But Islam, while it grew out of a syncretist heresy that did involve bits of Judaism, bits of Christianity, and lots of paganism, basically became its own thing, a total rejection of the Christian conception of God (as good and loving), along with things such as the concept of reason, creation in the Image of God, etc.
The only question in my mind is if Francis intends to do these things, or if he’s so infatuated with his own press image that he just always does what he thinks will bring him a little more “progressive” adulation (since “progressives” are in love with Islam).
“Qur’an 8:30....best of deceivers.”
I thought that was satan, and maybe he changed his name? n/s
Chrislam is everywhere.
Read 1 John 2:1. Our Advocate in Heaven is Jesus. 1st Timothy 2:5 says we have ONE Mediator that is Jesus. Read all of 1st Timothy 4 about the doctrines of demons. The whore of Babylon is the Roman Catholic Church spoken of in Revelation 17-19 that sits on 7 hills and has fornicated with all the kings of the world. Revelation 18:4 says to come out of her or get the same plagues as everyone else. 1st Peter 5:13 calls Rome Babylon. Peter was in Rome when he wrote the letter. Mathew 6:7 tells us not to have repetitious prayers. Praying to Mary is just one of the sins the Catholic church follows. Praying to relics is idol worship. Praying to statues, praying to dead people that have no power to answer prayer. Believing Mary had no other children when the Bible says so explicitly. James took over leadership of the church after Jesus ascended. The church was built on the revelation of the Holy Spirit that Jesus was the Christ, not Peter as pope. There are no popes mentioned in the Bible. There are no cardinals or nuns. Read the Bible, don’t read the Catholic literature.
Ditto
” ... But Islam, while it grew out of a syncretist heresy that did involve bits of Judaism, bits of Christianity, and lots of paganism ...”
That is the First Given Half of the qu’ran.
“... total rejection of the Christian conception of God (as good and loving), along with things such as the concept of reason, creation in the Image of God, etc ...”
That is the Second Given Half of the qu’ran.
The verses of the First and Second are intermixed in the qu’ran; a simple reading will not tell you which is which. It is only by reading the official Hadiths and Sunnahs - Isaq, Bukari, Talibari, and Muslim - can you understand which is which and moreover what the verses actually mean. Those are the guides to the meaning and practice of Islam.
Why is that important for all those who wish to know what Islam really is and what it really intends? Because, when he was asked by his disciples which part should they follow, Mohammad said specifically that they were to follow only the Second Given Half as those were the last words of Allah - the First is superseded and invalid - follow only the Second Half as those verses are the last commandments of Allah.
Those who follow the First Half are nonbelievers and must be killed ...
“Kill, kill, kill” - The battle cry of Muhammad’s Companions, Tabari VIII: 141
“Kill the disbelievers wherever you find them. Lie in wait for them, ambush them, overwhelm them. I have ordered you to kill them.” - Muhammad, Ishaq: 618
“We are not fighting so that you will offer us something. We are fighting to eliminate you.” - H. Mussawi, eliminated leader of Hezbollah
“Killing the infidels is our religion, slaughtering them is our religion, until they convert to Islam or pay us tribute.” - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
“To Arab Sunni Islamists, Iranians are gabrs (Zoroastrians) while Shi’ites, including Arab ones, are rafidis (heretics) who must be “re-converted” or put to death.” - Amir Taheri - 2006
“We produce practically nothing on our own, we can do almost nothing for ourselves, we cannot even manage our wealth.” - Dr. Mahathir Mohammed, the former prime minister of Malaysia, speaking about Islamic nations - 2006
No, Benedict also prayed in a mosque.
he has many names.....evidently
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