Muslims anger at Popes remarks

[speedymama]

Story here .

I wonder if a Fatwa will be taken out against the Pope who had the temerity to say something about Islam? His comments have been misconstrued and to be honest, I don't understand what all the fuss is about.

Both Christianity and Islam have a bloodthirsty history but I think that Muslims are becoming too hypersensitive towards their religion. Why is it that clerics like Abu Hanza can stand on the streets of London, spewing hateful rhetoric about the West but the minute anybody in the West says something about Islam, Muslims around the world get their headscarves and beards in a twist? Chill out for goodness sake. I don't recall the Muslim collective condenming the Iranian President when he called for Israel to be wiped of the planet. I'm certain that there are many Muslims who make disparaging remarks about Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism etc. Religion is not just about words, it is about living up to what you preach and how you treat others. No wonder so many people in this country are turned off religion.

I personally agreed with everything the Pope said and interestingly, so did my male Muslim friend.

and that would be the baptismal font, natch

I am now more your comic sans

Step aside Saint Bernadette - here is Saint Rhubarb and she kicks ass!
Well not literally obviously, since we catholics are all peaceable and that!

Have I missed the fight then? Have they all gone home?

The word INFIDELS always reminds me of Bernard Breslaw in " carry on up the Khyber" brings a smile to my face

There's a bit in Luke where the disciples are armed with swords when he goes off to Gethsemane.

And the bit where he whips the money changers out of the temple slipped through the censor too.

" O ye of little faith" comes to mind, here.

Surely a faith held true can withstand 'insult.'

All religions should be able to be held to scrutiny, IMO. It is shocking that death threats can be issued to people who question the teachings of any prophet/messiah.

Although I'm sure The Right Rev Tony Blair would be in favour.

oh dear i don't want to get dragged into this argument but Christ was by definition a Messiah/Prophet of Peace. He often spoke in metaphor, which along with various translations muddies up the waters, but i roughly agree with MB's interpretation of the sword quote. To argue why he was a Man/God of peace would take all week, so forgive me if i don't, but just to point out to FluffyCC, the disciples were armed with swords in Gethsamane and JC ordered them to put them down, and healed Malchus, the soldier whose ear Peter cut off.
All this is not to say that Islam is not a religion of peace too. Both Islam and Christianity get abused.

And he didn't whip the money changers in the temple, he overturned their tables and got a bit angry.

Christ is also held as a prophet by the Muslims but Mohammed features higher on their list. Mohammed is not considered a prophet by the Christians. It also confuses me that the Muslims get their hijabs in a twist about insulting Mohammed, but you can say what you like about God and they hardly bat an eyelid!

Again may I ask if the Muslims have apologised as a religion about the bloodshed they have been responsible for?

I know that not every Muslim reacts in this puerile way, but I do feel it is a shame that their religion is being tainted by the hardcore minority (hoping that it is the minority but sadly doubtful) who feel that violence is an answer to everything and who turn to bite the hand that feeds them.

this has all got totally out of hand as far as I can see. Wasn't the Pope quoting one of his predecessors from centuries before because he ( Benedict) was actually discussing the issue of compatibility and unity between faiths?

reactions to this are typically OTT - flag and effigy burnings etc.

" Sharia's a pile of malevolent shit" - DC strikes again.

Rhubarb, there had been no apologising to my knowledge. But why would you apologise if you thought everything you did was right?

Oh right, I never thought of that! Doh! Of course, the holocaust never happened and violence is the only way forward. Why didn't I think of that!

I read recently about the two released western journalists who were made to 'revert'... Revert what's that all about? With a gun to their heads.

whatever the pope said, the response, as usual has been hysterical

At the risk of repeating myself.......

"O ye of little faith"....

If Muslims are secure in their beliefs, the words of The Pope, Salman Rushdie, Monica Ali et al. should not disturb them..

Go the pope

from the bbc website:
"In the West Bank city of Nablus, two churches were firebombed on Saturday in attacks claimed by a group which said it was protesting against the Pope's remarks." (my emphasis)
ah well that's all clear then.

There are lots of rude words I'd like to write now but someone might blow me up . Perhaps good ole' Tony B would like us all to blow ourselves up to keep the peace.

Happy are the cheesemakers.
Maybe all Catholics should start burning pictures of Monty Python. Or maybe people should stop taking everything so seriously. The Pope was preaching about PEACE. What a ridiculous reaction from some Muslims.

quite so bubble
feel free to call me an infidel or even an apostate (Xian)
feel free to tell me how I am going to hell
feel free to tell me that those of no faith have no moral fibre
feel free to tell me that the way forward is dialogue between those of all faiths (and bolloacks, clearly, to the infidels)
you may rest assured my atheism will not be shaken nor will my feelings be hurt.

Religion, like politics, must be able to be challenged, IMO.

I'm incensed by the comments from British Muslim leaders in the wake of the foiled (allegedly) plans by British Muslims to bomb air traffic.

"We deplore the attempts to take human life....BUT (there should be no BUT, IMO) ...British foreign policy is to blame.

British foreign policy, rightly or wrongly, has been decreed by democratic vote....

If I call you an infidel does that mean that I am Bernard Breslaw?!!

Tony sent the troops in to create a democracy, that which we hold dear in the west. However, the labour run Manchester City Council have banned a peaceful protest of families of fallen soldiers in the Iraq conflict at the upcoming LP Conference on the grounds of Health and Safety - its a cobbled street .......

so much for democracy

lol at kittywits being Bernard Bresslaw
bubble TOO BLOODY RIGHT that's is so absolutely true I would like to give you a standing ovation.
all religions are of course subject to scrutiny and criticism.
and - far be to from me to agree with DC - but many elements of Sharia law (as interpreted/enforced) as certainly completely incompatible with human rights principles and in particular with basic human rights for women.

There have been calls by British Muslim Leaders to implement Sharia Law in 'predominantly Muslim UK cities'

Why?

I can't get my head around this. Who benefits?

er, British Muslim leaders