Christian Churches in Gaza and the West Bank have been shot at and firebombed, and the Vatican has been threatened specifically due to a recent speech in which the Pope indirectly (he quoted a Byzantine emperor from the 1300's) criticized Islam's policy of spreading the faith by the sword.
What a way to prove how wrong the Pope was and that Islam is innately peaceful. I surely hope that mainstream (i.e. peaceful) Muslims will speak out as critically against their impious brethren as they have against the Pope.
A high-ranking Turkish official stated that the Pope's earlier comments place him in the same category as Hitler. I don't recall any Pope in centuries advocating genocide or the physical destruction of rival faiths. On the other hand, I can think of what Al Quaida and the Taliban stood for...
Regretfully, the Pope has apologized. Twice. Some Muslim leaders have accepted those apologies. Some have not. I would like to think that the Pope is just a sly old dog and that he accomplished exactly what he wanted. I think he has shown the world how intolerant and violent Muslims can be when their faith or the tenets of it are challenged. It should be noted that the Muslims did not dispute the fact that Muhammad preached or advocated that the faith should be spread by the sword. They got upset because he was portrayed has a violent man. Remember, this is a faith whose creed prohibits the condemnation of martyrs no matter how many innocent lives are taken when a suicide bomber decides he wants to meet his god.
ReplyDeleteYou're a sly old dog too. Don't think that I didn't notice the intential use of a common noun when some would otherwise demand a proper one.
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