Posted on 09/17/2006 5:36:34 AM PDT by dennisw
"Isn't that a slippery way of saying the islamic allah is a "liar."
"And who is the "Father of Lies?"
That pretty much says it all. I would add this verse:
""You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44)
Personally, I think this is the thing the Muzzies should be looking at. Their history of violence and coercion is undeniable - but perhaps they should take up the philosophical challenge and discuss whether or not they accept reason. Of course, as this author points out, they don't, and they even make a virtue of their rejection of reason. But this is the serious point of the Pope's words that Muslims should examine and think long and hard upon.
But I guess they're too busy jumping up and down and killing 70 yr old nuns.
Islam was based on someone who was NOT God, but since Christians believe that all men are born with a hunger for the truth (God) within them, we believe there are probably some Muslims of good will who manage to get beyond their cult's idea of God (wholly evil, in my mind).
Sufis, btw, are regarded as heretical by other Muslims and have often been put to death by them. They are an ecstatic cult that seeks to use various practices (such as the famous whirling) to seek God non-verbally and outside of the constraints of Islam. Sufism was popular in the US for awhile, and I knew a man who was involved in it; he said that the only problem was that when you were not engaged in the dancing or other practices, you were surrounded by the restricted world-view of Islam, and he found it so suffocating he eventually left it.
Actually, this whole kerfluffle could be useful. We need to get liberal politicians on the record on how they feel about the pope and his statements here. Could come in useful in November.
"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." -Manuel II Paleologus
You believe CNN!
HA HA
Thank you dennisw.Great read.
MarineDad, as one ex-Catholic to another, hold your fire.....you know the Catholic Church. They think in centuries, and 10-year intervals are adequate, by their metrics and parameters, for brisk volley fire.
After each volley, there ain't much left.
You know this Pope is a disciplined theologian, and he has to know he's grappling with Lucifer himself, for all the marbles. At his pay grade, entire continents are the stakes. Win, lose, or draw, he's going to give it his best shot.
This guy saw the Third Reich up close and personal. Think he's going to be afraid of those other people and their "leaders"?
Maybe even Man of the Year -- which would be pretty good for someone who's been pushing up daisies for 600 years.
If there is to be a true clash of civilizations, this has to happen. I suggest it started maybe as early as 1948. This is a fine a time as any to bring it to a climax.
I'm by no means an expert on Papal history. Yet everything I have read about this guy suggests to me he has always had "a pair."
I'm not sure I understand where he lost them.
NYer,
These two comments were left on the Catholic World News page that indicated that the Pope was dismayed at the incredibly hostile reaction his comments had received. I think they are worth noting:
Posted by: ratzinger - Today 7:52 AM ET USA
And talk about support for the Pope! It's all coming from people like us. I haven't heard ONE WORD from any bishop or cardinal in support of the Holy Father. No one is talking about freedom of thought or expression (from universities, the so-called bastions of same). They're letting him hang out there on his own. Pope Benedict, when you look around for your friends, you'll see a lot of lay people, but none of the clerics. Makes you think.
Posted by: tony neyrot - Today 3:10 AM ET USA
The really interesting thing about the quote is that the "medieval emporer" wasn't of the Ming dynasty. He was an Orthodox, Byzantine (*Roman*) Emporer, one who died a mere 27 years before the fall of Constantinople. This resonates on a lot of levels, and I haven't seen anyone in the press pick up on it. The Pope is sending messages here, methinks. To the Turks, to the Orthodox. He's anti-Turk entry to the EU, and he's philo- Orthodox theologically and liturgically. Vive le pape, je dis.
Also, there was another comment made by someone who noted that "Our Lady of Fatima's" intercession should be sought for the Holy Father for obvious reasons. I commend a series of rosaries made to her for her intercession by RC Freepers. I am in!
F
Ignatius Insight....
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Pope's Comments on his Regensburg Lecture
Here is Pope Benedict's comments regarding the uproar many Muslims have created by their angry and violent responses to his lecture in Regensburg:
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The pastoral visit which I recently made to Bavaria was a deep spiritual experience, bringing together personal memories linked to places well known to me and pastoral initiatives towards an effective proclamation of the Gospel for today.
I thank God for the interior joy which he made possible, and I am also grateful to all those who worked hard for the success of this pastoral visit. As is the custom, I will speak more of this during next Wednesday's general audience.
At this time, I wish also to add that I am deeply sorry for the reactions in some countries to a few passages of my address at the University of Regensburg, which were considered offensive to the sensibility of Muslims.
These in fact were a quotation from a Medieval text, which do not in any way express my personal thought.
Yesterday, the Cardinal Secretary of State published a statement in this regard in which he explained the true meaning of my words. I hope that this serves to appease hearts and to clarify the true meaning of my address, which in its totality was and is an invitation to frank and sincere dialogue, with great mutual respect.
That is a reasonable statement. We'll see how many Islamic critics that satisfies. The problem is not with the pope's remarks but with the people who reacted so violently to them. Those people claim Islam has been insulted as a violent, intolerant religion, and then proceed to demonstrate their violent and intolerant interpretation of it by their reactions.
Shall we hear apologies from the Islamic world for some of its people's violent reactions?
I would rephrase that to Ive met some pretty good people, in spite of the fact that they were Muslims to go along with Ive met some pretty bad people, in spite of the fact that they were Christians
Islam teaches all that is against reason, though there are some reasonable Moslems.
Christianity teaches reason, though there are some unreasonable Christians.
The real kicker here is that the fanatic Moslems are the ones that are taking their prophets word seriously, by rioting, terrorizing and murdering.
The fanatic Christians are the ones that are taking the word of God seriously, who dedicate their lives to God in prayer, studying the scriptures and service to the poor, the sick and disenfranchised.
What I dont understand is why The Quran is not quoted so that the West can see the evil in its pages.
Although you may be an expert on "pairs", I would certainly describe you as one of the lesser authorities on theology.
Perhaps if you read what the pope said another twenty or thirty times, you might begin to understand what he said.
Also, there was another comment made by someone who noted that "Our Lady of Fatima's" intercession should be sought for the Holy Father for obvious reasons. I commend a series of rosaries made to her for her intercession by RC Freepers. I am in!
I believe Carolina is in the process of organizing a rosary thread. Pinging Carolina!
Pope Benedict XVI "sincerely regrets" offending Muslims with his reference to an obscure medieval text that characterizes some of the teachings of Islam's founder as "evil and inhuman"
He has NOT apologized. They have misread his words. Like so many today, people do not bother to read through an entire address to grasp how words are used to convey meaning. They grab a few lines to use as 'sound bites'. Papal speeches are not written in that manner.
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