Lucubratrix

The Pope and Islam

I'm confused: Pope Benedict XVI, in arguing that violence is incompatible with the nature of God, quoted a medieval emperor who said that the only new things brought by the prophet Mohammed were "evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." Muslims are angry at the Pope's apparent characterization of Islam as a violent religion, and some of them reacted like this.

The group said Muslims would be victorious and addressed the pope as "the worshipper of the cross" saying "you and the West are doomed as you can see from the defeat in Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya and elsewhere. ... We will break up the cross, spill the liquor and impose head tax, then the only thing acceptable is a conversion (to Islam) or (killed by) the sword."

Islam forbids drinking alcohol and requires non-Muslims to pay a head tax to safeguard their lives if conquered by Muslims. They are exempt if they convert to Islam.

Others reacted like this.

On Friday, hardline cleric Sheikh Abubakar Hassan Malin told worshippers at his mosque to hunt down and kill whoever offended the Prophet Mohammed.

I'm just saying....

Yes, yes, I'm aware that the examples I've cited are not the only reactions from Muslims. Still, if you feel that your religion is being unjustly characterized as one of violence, then threats and acts of violence are probably not the best way to get that message across, right?

posted by Just Me @ 16:44