Muslims and the Pope

[SC00BY]

Ok, i'm ready for any abuse that comes my way but this is a genuine question. Why is the muslim community, (not all of them i know) up in arms about what the pope said. It seems to me they are constantly looking to say so and so is racist etc. They seem to have adapted a real 'woe is me' mentality. And are bringing more publicity to what the Pope said. Now we all know about it. I for one wouldn't of had a clue if they hadn't made such a big deal of it. Or am I just being insensitive. I apologise now because i'm bound to upset someone with this!

[Booldawg]

because they take themselves far too seriously, they have no sense of humour and simply can't let the smallest excuse to band together and get vocal at the drop of a hat pass them by. Shame they can't adopt the same solidarity and organisation to root out the terrorists from their mosques.

[THECORBYLOON]

The Pope quoted a 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."

Are you surprised that Muslims have demonstrated against the speech? Previous Popes sanctioned Crusades which were hardly peaceful affairs so "kettle" and "black" come to mind.

[Booldawg]

how long ago were the crusades!!!! Sheesh, hardly in context with islamic terrorism operating across the world today. you can only drag up the past to a certain point before it becomes irrelavent

[jno]

the crusades involved Palestine, exactly the area that is still the biggest hotspot for east-west conflict, so it's no wonder it still rings bells with the locals. 'Those who do not remember history are condemned to repeat it.'

[keyvan]

Excuse me!!! This topic has gone for far too long. First there is a joke about their prophet Mohammad in a Denmark newspaper/ then some people here keep on ranting that islam and their god allah is evil and muslims should give up this religion. Then are being branded 'ragheads' , 'towelheads' and all this other crap going on here and disrespecting them for who they are. Then if that wasn't enough calling them terrorists and terrorist lovers and lump them all into one category. And now this pope making a reference to this quote. Just brilliant perfect timing to create yet another uproar. If you know that they are sensitive about this issue why carry on fanning the flame as if we haven't learned anything from the past.

And you seriously expect them to have a sense of humour after all these humiliations and labellings?

Let me remind you all that I for one am not religious but at least I do not disrespect others for their beliefs.

Some of the comments here about muslims does stink of racism and satisfies the insatiable appetite for those who are hungry to go out of their way to intentionally/ unintentionally mock a group of people and their religion. If you think that's the way to build up the bridge with them then think again.

[rogerr]

Surely "terrorism" is only practised by the minority of any religion. Through the ages they all have been guilty. The Pope saying what he did at this time only inflames people that might otherwise been "middle of the road". Whoever wrote his script should have a lot of questions to answer.
Surely the majority of us want to live peacefully with each other? Perhaps that is a vain plea, but statements like that from the Pope ain't going to help.

[patc7641]

I think this thread goes along way to proving that it is Religion that is the root of all evil. It is certainly responsible for the fearful state of terror that the world is in at the moment. How could any rational human being really believe in a God that would allow the atrocities we are seeing on a daily basis? For my money, and I am not religious, it seems that Buddhism is the only true religion.

[ludwig]

The problem is that apparently god's not big enough to stand up for himself.
Throughout history he's always needed a few humans (of whatever religion) to run around around ranting, killing, torturing, burning, beheading etc on his behalf.
The catholics used to torture and then burn their heretics. Muslim fanatics seem to favour the quicker and more painless methods of beheading or bombing, so I suppose we've made some progress.

[whiffey]

Something very important is being over looked. Those who are religious or who have studied the topic will know that Islam and Christianity (and Judaism, and anything else) are completely incompatible. All this talk of living in harmony is all so much nonsense. The Roman Catholic church in particular cannot live alongside Islam, they are poles apart, in areas that cannot be reconciled by any conference.

Whatever your views about religion, we now hear of threats of suicide bombings against the Vatican. QED as someone else pointed out on here.

This is the 'religion' that is now more and more permeating the UK. The pope apologise ? What for ? It wasn't an apology anyway, it was an expression of regret that his words had been misinterpreted.

Read the Koran. See how you get on with it.

[Lonnie]

A couple of quotes from the Koran.

Make war on the unbelievers (in Islam), and hypocrites, and deal rigorously with the. Hell shall be their home, an evil fate.

Believers, take neither the Jews nor Chritians as your friends.

There are a lot more like this, and yes I know certain quotes can be taken from the Old Testament, (Torah), but there's no way that Islam, practiced as laid down in the Koran, is peaceful.

[Doggy2]

hmm all these seems very interesting. Maybe we should have a name for rabbis and jews. Let's call them 'rubberheads' for wearing those silly hats.

[dyli795]

Because they can't cope can they? It's a religion stuck for the moment in the dark ages. religion is a living thing , and changes with time. [wait and see] - [told you didn't I ?]
Look, it's nowt to shout about when your civilization has never made any contribution to the worlds of e.g. art, music, technology, science, meaningfuly accepted theology,{doesn't even get off the starting blocks there} - engineering- just how long does the list go? What's left?
Olympic standard sadnes. Medicine! that's another!
Beam me bloody up

[Lonnie]

Doggy, I take it, from your post, you think Rabbi's aren't Jews, thats what you've said, maybe you could clarify., as for what you want to call them, its up to you, no-one can stop you.

[Doggy2]

Lonnie.... That's not what I havce said. Just to make it really really easy for you a Rabbi as you already know is a jew the same as a mullah can be a muslim.

[jump79]

Whiffey, its too bad we're not all religious scholars (nor religious) like you, and neither have we all read the Koran. Besides, this discussion isn't about whether all the religions could be reconciled or even religion in particular anyway.

To get back to the question, (i already mentioned this in another thread), the uproar was caused because of the media which deliberately sought to create controversy by misrepresenting and distorting parts of the Pope's speech. Its not the majority of muslims caught up in this but the same crowd that almost had a heart attack over the earlier (cartoon) incident, ie- the minority extremists.

Just another media frenzy, give it a week or two and then it'll be a non-story, just like last time. Yawn.

[nantyboy]

The Koran also states "when you meet the disbeliever smite his neck". Peaceful?
Many of the Asian community of this country have massive chips on their shoulders, i have witnessed this first hand.

[jno]

since you mention it, Lonnie, Exodus does suggest that anyone sacrificing to any other god shall be utterly destroyed

[Lonnie]

yes, I know jno, thats why I mentioned the Old Testament, so people who know, can draw comparisons if they wish. The main problem, is if, in todays world, you take these things literally.