Religion of peace threatens... the Pope

[capitalcity]

Muslims Assail Pope's Remarks on Islam

By SUZAN FRASER
Associated Press Writer
Breitbart.com

ANKARA, Turkey- Turkey's ruling Islamic-rooted party joined a wave of criticism of Pope Benedict XVI on Friday, accusing him of trying to revive the spirit of the Crusades with remarks he made about Islam. Muslim leaders in the Middle East expressed dismay, and Pakistan's parliament unanimously condemned him.

The Vatican said the pope did not intend the remarks _ made in Germany on Tuesday during an address at a university _ to be offensive.

The pope quoted from a book recounting a conversation between 14th century Byzantine Christian Emperor Manuel Paleologos II and a Persian scholar on the truths of Christianity and Islam.

"The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, holy war," the pope said.

"He said, I quote, '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,'" he quoted the emperor as saying. He did not explicitly agree with them nor repudiate them.

Turkey's top Islamic cleric, Religious Affairs Directorate head Ali Bardakoglu, asked Benedict on Thursday to apologize about the remarks and unleashed a string of accusations against Christianity, raising tensions before the pontiff's planned visit to Turkey in November on what would be his first papal pilgrimage in a Muslim country.

Bardakoglu said he was deeply offended and called the remarks "extraordinarily worrying, saddening and unfortunate."

On Thursday, when the pope returned to Italy, Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said, "It certainly wasn't the intention of the pope to carry out a deep examination of jihad (holy war) and on Muslim thought on it, much less to offend the sensibility of Muslim believers."

Lombardi insisted the pontiff respects Islam. Benedict wants to "cultivate an attitude of respect and dialogue toward the other religions and cultures, obviously also toward Islam," Lombardi said.

On Friday, Salih Kapusuz, a deputy leader of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party, said Benedict's remarks were either "the result of pitiful ignorance" about Islam and its prophet, or worse, a deliberate distortion of the truths.

"He has a dark mentality that comes from the darkness of the Middle Ages. He is a poor thing that has not benefited from the spirit of reform in the Christian world," Kapusuz blurted out in comments made to the state-owned Anatolia news agency. "It looks like an effort to revive the mentality of the Crusades."

In Beirut, Lebanon's most senior Shiite Muslim cleric denounced the remarks and demanded the pope personally apologize for insulting Islam.

"We do not accept the apology through Vatican channels ... and ask him (Benedict) to offer a personal apology _ not through his officials _ to Muslims for this false reading (of Islam)," Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah told worshippers in his Friday prayers sermon.

A Lebanese government official said the country's ambassador to the Vatican has been instructed to seek clarifications on the pontiff's remarks.

In neighboring Syria, the grand mufti, the country's top Sunni Muslim religious authority, sent a letter to the Pope saying he feared the pontiff's comments on Islam would worsen interfaith relations.

And in Cairo, about 100 demonstrators gathered in an anti-Vatican protest outside the capital's al-Azhar mosque.

Pakistan's parliament unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the pope for making what it called "derogatory" comments about Islam, and seeking an apology from him

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry also called the pope's remarks "regrettable."

"Anyone who describes Islam as a religion as intolerant encourages violence," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said.

"What he has done is that he has quoted very offensive remarks by some emperor hundreds of years ago," Aslam said. "It is not helpful (because) we have been trying to bridge the gap, calling for dialogue and understanding between religions."

She said Muslims had a long history of tolerance, adding that when the Catholic kingdom of Spain expelled its Jewish population in 1492 they were welcomed by Muslim nations such as the Turkish Ottoman Empire.

Benedict, who has made the fight against growing secularism in Western society a theme of his pontificate, is expected to visit Turkey for a few days, starting Nov. 28. He was invited by the staunchly secularist Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who said the invitation was part of an effort to strengthen dialogue between religions.

On Friday the pope appointed a French prelate with diplomatic experience in the Muslim world as the Vatican's new foreign minister. The new foreign minister _ officially called secretary for relations with states _ is Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, 54, who was born of French parents in Morocco.

----------------------------------

Muslim fury at pope jihad comments
POSTED: 8:26 a.m. EDT, September 15, 2006

(CNN) -- Pope Benedict XVI came under a hail of criticism from the Islamic world Friday for comments he made earlier in the week regarding the Prophet Mohammed and the Muslim faith.

A growing chorus of Muslim leaders have called on the pope to apologize for the remarks he made in a speech in Germany on Tuesday when he used the terms "jihad" and "holy war."

Pakistan's National Assembly, parliament's lower house, unanimously passed a resolution on Friday condemning the pope's comments.

In Syria, the grand mufti, the country's top Sunni Muslim religious authority, sent a letter to the pope saying he feared the pontiff's comments on Islam would worsen interfaith relations, The Associated Press reported.

And in Cairo, about 100 demonstrators gathered in an anti-Vatican protest outside the capital's al-Azhar mosque.

In his speech, Benedict quoted 14th-century Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus who said, "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."

Before quoting Paleologus during his address at the University of Regensburg on Tuesday, the pontiff noted the "brusqueness," or discourteous nature of the emperor's statement.

"God," the emperor, as the pope quoted, said, "is not pleased by blood -- and not acting reasonably is contrary to God's nature." (Full story)

A transcript of the pope's remarks obtained by the Associated Press television network reads: "In the seventh (sura, or chapter of the Quran), the emperor comes to speak about jihad, holy war.

"The emperor certainly knew that Sura 2, 256, reads: 'No force in matters of faith'. It is one of the early suras, from a time -- as experts say -- in which Mohammed himself was still powerless and threatened.

"However, the emperor of course also knew the requirements about the holy war that were later formulated in the Quran. Without going into details like the handling of the owners of the scriptures, or non-believers, he (the emperor) turned to his interlocutors -- in a surprisingly brusque way -- with the central question after the relationship between religion and violence.

"He said, I quote, 'Show me just what Muhammed 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.'"

A Vatican statement said Benedict was not trying offend Muslims with his remarks.

"It was certainly not the intention of the Holy Father to ... offend the sensibilities of Muslim faithful," said Federico Lombardi, the Vatican press officer.

But offense was taken as Islamic groups and governments from across the globe weighed in.

"The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) regrets the quotations cited by the pope on the Life of the Honorable Prophet Mohammed, and what he referred to as 'spreading' Islam 'by the sword,'" a statement released by the OIC on Thursday said.

"The attribution of the spread of Islam around the world to the shedding of blood and violence, which is 'incompatible with the nature of God' is a complete distortion of the facts, which shows deep ignorance of Islam and Islamic history."

Muslim Brotherhood Chairman Mohammed Mahdi Akef also expressed anger over the pope's academic speech.

"The pope's statements come to add fuel to fire and trigger anger within the Muslim world and show that the West with its politicians and clerics are hostile to Islam."

Condemnation also came from Turkey where Benedict is scheduled to visit in November.

"His words are extremely regrettable, worrying and unfortunate in terms of the Christian world and common peace of humanity," the Anatolian state news agency quoted Ali Bardakoglu, the head of Ankara's Directorate General for Religious Affairs, as saying.

"I do not see any use in somebody visiting the Islamic world who thinks in this way about the holy prophet of Islam."

In Pakistan, the National Assembly and Senate on Friday passed unanimous resolutions against Benedict's controversial remarks.

The Pakistan Foreign Office also called into question the pope's comments, calling them highly controversial, regrettable and against Islam.

In Gaza City, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya issued a condemnation, saying Benedict's remarks "are not true and defamed the essence of this holy religion and it defamed the history of the Islam."

"We say to the pope to re-examine these comments and to stop defaming the Islam religion that more than 1 and half billion Muslims believe in," said Haniya, who made the remarks after Friday prayers.

But the Vatican statement said Benedict's discussion on Tuesday was quite to the contrary.

"The Holy Father's desire (is) to cultivate an attitude of respect and dialogue towards other religions and cultures, including, of course, Islam."

According to Lombardi, Benedict's speech was "a warning, addressed to Western culture, to avoid 'the contempt for God and the cynicism that considers mockery of the sacred to be an exercise of freedom.'"

[capitalcity]

[dalmations202]

Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray.
Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for these things must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places.
Mat 24:8 But all these things are the beginning of travail.
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up unto tribulation, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all the nations for my name's sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many stumble, and shall deliver up one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall be multiplied, the love of the many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.
-------------------------------------------------------------
All us Christians should get used to this, it will happen with more and more often, and with more ferocity, as Satan controls more and more of the world. If you love and speak of Jesus, and would speak out against Muhammand, count on worldly problems coming.

[Drbio]

Couldn't agree more dalm....as you know I've been watching for this now for several years. I did a study of Daniel about 5 years ago that opened my eyes to this track. It was very enlightening.

Although very frightening from a world perspective, this is very expected from a greater perspective.

[mavsman]

I might be biased, as i've been chrismated by - back then - archbishop Josef Ratzinger in 1981. But the man is one of the sharpest minds around. Two years ago he argued with Habermas. Habermas is THE leading german philosopher alive and to all that study philosophy, he's the only living heir to Nietzsche, Adorno and Kant. Pope Benedict discussed him to pieces. To say he doesn't know what he's talking about, as some members of the muslim community are doing is just insane. Just send your leader to Benedict for a talk-off. Oh, you don't have a leader? Well, then, just cry "he said Jehova" and go ahead nuking yourselves.

[FishForLunch]

Let me guess they want to peacefully behead those who insult Islam. I think these boobs are the thinnest skinned people on earth.

[fluid.forty.one]

Originally Posted by FishForLunch

I think these boobs are the thinnest skinned people on earth.

Not to side track or anything, but boobs and thin skin just sounds dirty to me.

[Mavdog]

(gee, how does one follow that?)

from what I've read, the muslim reference was a small part of the message he was giving.

the relgious experts say tho it was a pointed remark, meant to say he differs from john paul's approach to islam. no more big tent and kumbaya from the vatican with islam.

the pope made a more forceful statement that the west needs to have a core of religious principles guiding its culture to "confront" islam. I guess the point was secularism will fail to stop the force of faith.

pretty much what i would expect him to say.

[mqywaaah]

So what could be the worst thing that could happen now? Jihad? Holy war?

[Drbio]

I think the radical muslims are planning on a unique fundraiser. I heard something about a mass pigf*ck-a-thon and mohammed urinal cake sale.

[FishForLunch]

ROP Logic - How dare you call us violet, we will kill you for that

[Windmill360]

noobs

[Usually Lurkin]

WuzzaDem.com
September 17, 2006
Current Rage Level of Islamic Extremists: Normal

[Drbio]

That's sadly funny.


I hear the radical muslims like painting the mohammed picture on sheep before they have sex with them (I am going for the rage list too).

Bunch of pigf*ckers.

[dalmations202]

Originally Posted by Drbio

That's sadly funny.


I hear the radical muslims like painting the mohammed picture on sheep before they have sex with them (I am going for the rage list too).

Bunch of pigf*ckers.

Krugman nails it yet again!

Oh, I thought someone had run both these threads together, after I read about Krugman and radical Muslims both nailing it yet again...............

[Mavdog]

it seems to me that any reference to fornication in a thread about the pope is, well, contradictory...

[capitalcity]

I can't wait until I get that settlement in Kurdistan G-Dub promised me.

Iran leader says pope remarks part of US-Israeli conspiracy
Sep 18 8:21 AM US/Eastern

Breitbart - Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei has said remarks by the pope on Islam and violence were just the latest "links in the chain" of a US-Israeli conspiracy aimed at creating conflict between religions.

"Leaders of the arrogant imperialists have already defined the links of the chain in this US-Zionist project by attacking Iraq," Khamenei said in comments broadcast on state television.

"The issue of insulting cartoons and remarks of some politicians about Islam are different links in the conspiracy of the crusaders and the pope's remarks are the latest links in this," he added.

The pope's comments in his native Germany, which unleashed a wave of anger in the Islamic world, came after caricatures published in a Danish newspaper last year deemed insulting to the Prophet Mohammed set off deadly protests.

[Drbio]

Those wacky pigf*cking radical muslims continue to westernize themselves more and more each day....just check out the sweeps advertisements from the Al Jazeera Network.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by Drbio

Those wacky pigf*cking radical muslims continue to westernize themselves more and more each day....just check out the sweeps advertisements from the Al Jazeera Network.

Damn doc. LOL...

[Usually Lurkin]

Originally Posted by capitalcity

Iran leader says pope remarks part of US-Israeli conspiracy

(shakes head . . .) what would Mel Gibson say?

[mqywaaah]

Maybe they just want to protect the Prophet Mohammed's reputation. After all, religion and it's roots is a very sensitive subject. They know that the pigf*cking is as real as a fact, and now they want his reputation to remain unscathed because of his holisticity. But F*ck a Pig? Cmon now... Really? That Mohammed dude's pretty effd up. I mean cmon man...

[Drbio]

The Pope has issued another message to the radical pigf*ckers....

[capitalcity]

Pakistani Christians Seek Government Protection After Threats to Convert by Pro-Taliban Forces

AP

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Christians in a Pakistani town beset by pro-Taliban militants sought government protection Wednesday, the eve of a deadline for them to convert to Islam or face violence.

About 500 Pakistani Christians in Charsadda, a town in the North West Frontier Province bordering Afghanistan, received letters earlier this month telling them to close their churches and convert by Thursday or be the target of "bomb explosions."

Several Christians, a tiny minority in the predominantly Muslim country, have fled town and others are living in fear, community leaders said.

Some complained that police were not taking the threat seriously.

"Police say someone is joking with us by writing these letters," Chaudhry Salim, a Charsadda Christian leader, said during a news conference in Islamabad. "They have deployed only two policemen at our churches ... this is the kind of security we are getting now."

Shahbaz Bhatti, a prominent Christian leader and head of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, said the provincial government, which is controlled by a coalition of pro-Taliban religious parties, would bear blame for attacks after the deadline.

Bhatti also urged Muslim religious scholars to condemn the threats and said the federal government should take "concrete steps to provide protection" to Christians.

Asif Daudzai, a spokesman for the provincial government, asked Christians not to panic, saying authorities were doing all they could to ensure their protection.

"Christians are our brothers and sisters, and we will not allow any one to harm them," he told The Associated Press.

Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and other religious minorities make up about 3 percent of Pakistan's 160 million residents.

Most live peacefully alongside the Muslim majority, although the groups have been targeted repeatedly in attacks blamed on extremists since the country allied itself with the United States after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Islamic radicals trying to impose Taliban-style social edicts in northwestern Pakistan are growing bolder, bombing shops selling Western films, threatening barbers for trimming beards and warning hotels to remove televisions from guest rooms.

Minorities and secular opposition parties say the government is doing too little to counter the "Talibanization" of growing swaths of the country.

[dude1394]

Get your own guns son, you'd sure better not count on the guvment to take care of you, ever.

[dalmations202]

Originally Posted by dude1394

Get your own guns son, you'd sure better not count on the government to take care of you, ever.

I second this.

You cannot count on other people. People will always let you down. Depend on yourself and God.

[Usually Lurkin]

hmm. rereading this thread, this must've been doc using his name here to flame some religious hatred.