armchair_jihad
ADC
Pope Benedict XVI weighed in Tuesday on the delicate issue of rapport between Islam and the West: He said that violence, embodied in the Muslim idea of jihad, or holy war, is contrary to reason and Godâs plan, while the West was so beholden to reason that Islam could not understand it.
He began his speech, by quoting a 14th-century Byzantine emperor, Manuel II Paleologus, in a conversation with a âlearned Persianâ on Christianity and Islam â âand the truth of both.â
âShow me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread the sword by the faith he preached,â the pope quoted the emperor.
He went on to say that violent conversion to Islam was contrary to reason and thus âcontrary to Godâs nature.â The Italian newspaper La Repubblica, said that âthe text reveals his deep mistrust regarding the aggressive side of Islam. Certainly he closes the door to an idea which was very dear to John Paul II â the idea that Christians, Jews and Muslims have the same God and have to pray together to the same God,â
Article in full
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/13/w...027cead2824&hp&ex=1158206400&partner=homepage
He began his speech, by quoting a 14th-century Byzantine emperor, Manuel II Paleologus, in a conversation with a âlearned Persianâ on Christianity and Islam â âand the truth of both.â
âShow me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread the sword by the faith he preached,â the pope quoted the emperor.
He went on to say that violent conversion to Islam was contrary to reason and thus âcontrary to Godâs nature.â The Italian newspaper La Repubblica, said that âthe text reveals his deep mistrust regarding the aggressive side of Islam. Certainly he closes the door to an idea which was very dear to John Paul II â the idea that Christians, Jews and Muslims have the same God and have to pray together to the same God,â
Article in full
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/13/w...027cead2824&hp&ex=1158206400&partner=homepage