The Pope and Islam
The recent speech given by Pope Benedict XVI at the University of Regensburg in Germany should be a lesson to Heads of State, clergy and religious leaders around the globe. It is only through empathic religious tolerance, mutual respect, sensitivity and compassion that the many peoples of our planet will live together harmoniously. It is possible for the worlds 1.5 billion Muslims to find peace with Jews and Christians alike, but the example needs to be set by major figureheads like the Pope. Our religious leaders might add "thoughtfulness" to the list of attributes above, while understanding the importance of choosing one's words carefully, especially when they know that the world is listening.
Despite almost immediate apologies and explanations from the Vatican, Benedict's quoting of a 14th Century Byzantine emperor; that essentially the only thing that Mohammed brought that was new were things "only evil and inhuman," not surprisingly set off a firestorm of protests and angry denunciations in Muslim communities from Pakistan to England.
In Pakistan the parliament unanimously passed a resolution demanding the pope "retract his remarks in interest of harmony between religions."
(http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060915/ts_afp/vaticanpopeislam
While in England Scotland yard decided over the weekend to increase security around churches and mosques, for fear of violence. Fortunately, so far there have been no incidents of violence in Britain as a result of the comments. (Telegraph.co.uk, 9/20/06).
For her part Germany's "Bundeskanzlerin" Angela Merkel ( perhaps feeling responsible for quelling the flood of anger since the offending remarks took place in her country) defended the pope by saying that his intentions were misunderstood and that he was really only calling for dialogue between the religions.
Whatever the true motivations of Benedict XVI, it seems clear that he lacks the grace and tremendous warmth which made Pope John Paul II one of the more beloved pope's ever.
There is a reason Benedict has been referred to as "God's Rotweiler," and his recent attack on the Holy prophet of Islam only reaffirms that moniker. It is ironic that Benedict's official spokesman has answered the criticism by claiming that the pope respected Islam but was only rejecting violence motivated by religion. As William A. Graham, the Dean of the Harvard Divinity School, was quoted in the Sept. 25 edition of Newsweek; "Historically, there is no more basis for arguing that Islam is irrational than there is for arguing the same about Christianity or Judaism."
The pope's choice of words were uncharacteristically insensitive and prejudicial coming from a personage so widely looked up to and followed as a religious and moral leader. His quote of Manuel II, which demeaned Mohammed and by association Muslims all over the world, contributed to an increasingly onesided and inaccurate depiction of those who practice Islam. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Pope supposed to extinguish hate and spread love? Isn't he supposed to encourage understanding and acceptance rather than spread misunderstanding?
Not that I ever had any illusions about the Vatican's desire to truly work for the betterment of Catholics and mankind. In the modern age, as in the Renaissance the Church seems to be about controlling people's thoughts and actions rather than encouraging spiritual growth. And in this particular case with pope Benedict I have the strange feeling that he was trying to inflame the passions of Muslims. He did that. He also contributed to a growing divide between East and West . Indeed, Graham says that "It is very hard to construe the pope's remarks in a benign way." In an address ostensibly dealing with "faith and reason" one would think the pope could find a way to display a little more of the latter.
