What was the Pope thinking?

[jdavionic]

I am surprised at the outrage. Put this in the context for which it was said...He was not address a large crowd with the specific intent of focusing on Islam. He was speaking at a theological gathering (I believe that's what I saw on the news). The topic was violence in the name of religion. The Pope used to the quote to show that this issue has a history.

The uproar is ironically amusing. The Islamic radicals are gathering in mass to say 'How dare he say that we are not a religion of peace! He must die!'

[hacker15]

Originally Posted by jdavionic

I am surprised at the outrage. Put this in the context for which it was said...He was not address a large crowd with the specific intent of focusing on Islam. He was speaking at a theological gathering (I believe that's what I saw on the news). The topic was violence in the name of religion. The Pope used to the quote to show that this issue has a history.

The uproar is ironically amusing. The Islamic radicals are gathering in mass to say 'How dare he say that we are not a religion of peace! He must die!'

I think you might want to expand this slightly - seems some Islamic religious leaders are now saying the same thing. Saw a quote from out "insurgents" in Iraq this morning. "Our war against the West will not stop until we have conquered the world!" Now we know the road to peace......

[jdavionic]

Here's the Pope's entire speech:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14848884/

For some reason, it's really hard to find.

[gsh341]

The pope was not saying that Islam is violent, evil or inhuman. He is using the words of a man from the 14th century to emphasize a point. He also pointed out a inconsistency in the teachings of the Koran. Such inconsistencies can be found in the bible as well if you look hard enough. The following is an excerpt from the speech.

In the seventh conversation (*4V8,>H - controversy) edited by Professor Kory, the emperor [Manuel II Prologues in the year 1391] touches on the theme of the holy war. The emperor must have known that Sura 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...".

These words are as true today as they were then. It also points to the nature of man to cause even the most peaceful of teachings to be the basis for violence. In the 13th century the Christians were waging the crusades based on the preachings of the pope and his cardinals. This was holy war for the Christians. We have moved past that to a better understanding of our world and the realization that religion cannot be forced upon people.("There is no compulsion in religion") The Muslims are still living in the 13th century and have believe that violence and religion are not only compatible, but conversion to Islam can truly be achieved through violence. ( "Our war against the West will not stop until we have conquered the world!")