RELIGION

Hope--and Skepticism

American Muslims wait to see if the pope will reach out to them.

By Lorraine Ali | Newsweek Web Exclusive

Apr 16, 2008 | Updated: 5:30 p.m. ET Apr 16, 2008

« Return to Article

Discuss

Posted By: jims51jim@hotmail.com @ 05/05/2008 8:31:47 PM

Comment: No, what we need is for Caholics(me), muslim's and other faiths to mind their own bussiness. A lot of people point to the inquisistion about how "bad" Catholics where, but never mention the deaths at the hands of muslims! They also kill and worse, protect those who do, in Gods name. I do not need to understand the Muslim faith, it is not mine! At the present moment they are the only faith I know of that takes the life of others, turtures others and shun others in the name of God. But ofcourse in this day and age of "cna't we all get along" era people either live in a fantasy world or are so niave it is sickening. Yes, it would be extremely nice if we all could accept each other, but if you think that will happen you are seriously deficet in the brain deptartment! When the people, read pedofiles, masqurated as priests EVERYONE jumped on the bandwagon to put down the church. But whn muslims commit horrendous murders and shelter those who do( don't think that does not happen everyday in Irag) it is taboo to speak of, or whitewashed to make it acceptable.. There is a lot of crying about making woman priests, but none about letting muslim women enterthe 21st century and at the very least show their face. Oh, I know that is their faiths rules, which seems acceptable to all, but it isn't acceptable for the Chatolic church to apply the rules to their faith. What a bunch of HYPOCRITS!!!
Posted By: lahlou khalid @ 04/25/2008 5:22:18 AM

Comment: What is really needed is a interfaith diolog between the three main religions in the World. Now with everything going glabal, I should think that it high time we left the differences behind and started a new era of mutual understanding.
Posted By: PMR1 @ 04/22/2008 5:44:48 PM

Comment: Don't give in to hate, DRJG.
Posted By: MikeGhouse @ 04/17/2008 7:08:49 PM

Comment: Muslim Relcutance to meet the Pope

One can understand the reluctance of Muslims to meet His holiness Pope Benedict. It is based on three mis-spokes within the last year. His words were not mitigators but provocateur of conflicts and Muslims were not clear about his intentions, they did not want to invite themselves unless they were invited.

To be a Muslim is to be a peacemaker, one who constantly seeks to mitigate conflicts and nurtures goodwill for peaceful co-existence. God wants us to live in peace and harmony with his creation; life and mater. Indeed, that is the purpose of religion, any religion.

Mother Teresa once said, ???If you want to make peace, you go talk with your enemies, you don???t make peace with your friends???. God bless her soul for such wisdom.

I am glad CAIR is attending the event, if I had the invite, I would have been there too. We are all human and I would expect his Holiness will choose his words to nurture goodwill. For peace, we have to put things behind us. As a Muslim, I believe the best in people.

Mike Ghouse is a Speaker, Thinker, Writer and a Moderator. He is a frequent guest on talk radio and local television network discussing Pluralism, politics, Islam, Religion, Terrorism, India and civic issues. He is the founder of the World Muslim Congress, a group committed to building bridges and nurturing a world of co-existence. He also heads the foundation for pluralism, an organization committed to studying religious pluralism and pluralistic governance. His personal website is http://www.mikeghouse.net/ and his writings are on the above websites as well as several of the ancillary Blogs listed on the sites.
Posted By: rvmartinez @ 04/17/2008 2:50:39 PM

Comment: When you state "more than a few U.S. Muslims wonder if Pope Benedict is simply tone deaf when it comes to interfaith sensitivity, or if he really does have it in for Islam.", you are factually correct, but your statement is incomplete, telling us only part of the story.

"More than a few" implies that there are other muslims that do not share that view. One example is the Muslim Canadian Congress (http://www.muslimcanadiancongress.org/).

I have a close friend that, after a long religious education, within the catholic faith, turned to the anglican church. No one got offended. Disappointed yes. Offended no. Christians, somehow, do not buy into the perpetually aggrieved, religion of peace view of apostasy and other human failings, such as homosexuality and being born female. That is why my friend is alive today, twice, he is also a homosexual.

Somehow you must start to give your readers the whole story and not the part that conveniently agrees with your views, but then, you might not have anything to write about.
Posted By: rvmartinez @ 04/17/2008 2:50:22 PM

Comment: When you state "more than a few U.S. Muslims wonder if Pope Benedict is simply tone deaf when it comes to interfaith sensitivity, or if he really does have it in for Islam.", you are factually correct, but your statement is incomplete, telling us only part of the story.

"More than a few" implies that there are other muslims that do not share that view. One example is the Muslim Canadian Congress (http://www.muslimcanadiancongress.org/).

I have a close friend that, after a long religious education, within the catholic faith, turned to the anglican church. No one got offended. Disappointed yes. Offended no. Christians, somehow, do not buy into the perpetually aggrieved, religion of peace view of apostasy and other human failings, such as homosexuality and being born female. That is why my friend is alive today, twice, he is also a homosexual.

Somehow you must start to give your readers the whole story and not the part that conveniently agrees with your views, but then, you might not have anything to write about.
Posted By: rvmartinez @ 04/17/2008 2:49:53 PM

Comment: When you state "more than a few U.S. Muslims wonder if Pope Benedict is simply tone deaf when it comes to interfaith sensitivity, or if he really does have it in for Islam.", you are factually correct, but your statement is incomplete, telling us only part of the story.

"More than a few" implies that there are other muslims that do not share that view. One example is the Muslim Canadian Congress (http://www.muslimcanadiancongress.org/).

I have a close friend that, after a long religious education, within the catholic faith, turned to the anglican church. No one got offended. Disappointed yes. Offended no. Christians, somehow, do not buy into the perpetually aggrieved, religion of peace view of apostasy and other human failings, such as homosexuality and being born female. That is why my friend is alive today, twice, he is also a homosexual.

Somehow you must start to give your readers the whole story and not the part that conveniently agrees with your views, but then, you might not have anything to write about.
Posted By: saj_alex@yahoo.com @ 04/17/2008 12:50:11 PM

Comment: why not compare apples to apples? If it is important to cite the relative numerical strengths of each religious group, it wold be more approptriate to compare the total number of christians to the total number of muslims. If the concern is re the number of catholics, then it may be better to compare that to the number of sunni muslims.
Posted By: saj_alex@yahoo.com @ 04/17/2008 12:47:02 PM

Comment: why not compare apples to apples? If it is important to cite the relative numerical strengths of each religious group, it wold be more approptriate to compare the total number of christians to the total number of muslims. If the concern is re the number of catholics, then it may be better to compare that to the number of sunni muslims.
Posted By: saj_alex@yahoo.com @ 04/17/2008 12:46:54 PM

Comment: why not compare apples to apples? If it is important to cite the relative numerical strengths of each religious group, it wold be more approptriate to compare the total number of christians to the total number of muslims. If the concern is re the number of catholics, then it may be better to compare that to the number of sunni muslims.
Posted By: Lasgo @ 04/17/2008 12:16:49 PM

Comment: ""He could mention that Muslims have to believe in the Virgin Mary and Jesus to be considered Muslim. Why not stress the common characteristics--and there are many--instead of mentioning the disparities?"

But what about the differences? In Islam, Jesus is not considered to be the Risen Christ, triumphant over sin and death? This is a critical difference and why a Christian's hope rests on this promise; whereas, a Muslim's faith rests in their own ability to outweigh their bad deeds with their good deeds - never really knowing if they'll add up; that is, unfortunately, as some have been misled to believe, they sacrifice themself in an act of jihad.

God help all of us is all I can say.
Posted By: kaq0105@hotmail.com @ 04/17/2008 10:53:11 AM

Comment: In the 70s the Free Quebec movement was raging in Canada. Charles DeGaul visited Quebec and in Montreal he gave a speech in which he said the words " Vive Quebec Libre". The the French Mayor of Quebec rebuked DeGaul. He told DeGaul that the French of Quebec were Canadians and their attachment to France was a sentimental one, and that the French of Quebec had learned to take care of themselves without France. Charles DeGaul borded his plane back to France in a huff.
The American Catholics should explain to his Holiness that they have to live with fellow non-catholic Americans and that they are Americans first and foremost and that his holiness should not be coming over here to sow discord.
I have great respect for Ted Kennedy. Ted Kennedy would do America one more service if he would explain the realities of America to his Holiness.
Posted By: kaq0105@hotmail.com @ 04/17/2008 9:57:42 AM

Comment: My apologies to the pigs
Posted By: kaq0105@hotmail.com @ 04/17/2008 9:54:43 AM

Comment: Mr enlightened,
You are a kind person and a good Moslem.
A lady friend (a Baptist) had this catholic priest from Minnesota stay in her house in South Georgia as a guest. He was in town selling trinkets for the catholic church. The Baptist lady had known him through a friend a Catholic Nun. I obligingly bought a few haundred dollars worth of trinkets. At some stage He looked both of us in the eye and without provocation said the Catholic religion was the only true religion. His Baptist hostess and myself sat quietly and politelely.
I am sorry but I am afraid that your kindness is throwing pearls to the pigs.
Posted By: be enlightened @ 04/17/2008 9:34:03 AM

Comment: BURBANK , although well articulated and elaborate your assertion about Islam is completely amiss. Your interpretation of what Islam stands for is one of a common orientalist and ethnocentric perspective. Islam when practiced according to its laws actually has produced more than effective results as one can view during the Muslim Empires, where non-muslims lived side by side with Muslims in peace and happiness. These are things that Islam teaches, how to co-exist and treat human being regardless of culture/religion the way in which we would like to be treated. Those interpretations of terrorism that highlight the spread of Islam by the sword are all modern radical interpretations that extremists have socially constructed to pursue their worldy goals. In its very essense Islam teaches moderation, peace,(the literal translation of Islam means peace and a Muslim is one who submits to peace) tolerance, spirtuality and promotes philanthropic endeavors which in turn teaches to hold the human being no matter what faith, in the highest regard. Unfortunately, all we see on the media are only the actions of the misguided and thus they have given Islam this ugly face you speak of. As a Muslim we are taught from our hold book, the Quran, the similiarties that we share with the Jewish and Christian faiths. I encourage you to pick up an authentic Quran and see what it is for yourself. Those verses of violence and hate you will see have no place in this holy book that is derived and extended from the previous monolithic religions. After your have made own critical analysis based on your own edducated research is when you can truly come to a conclusion about Islam. So, if you want, there's your challenge. Thanks for reading.
Posted By: be enlightened @ 04/17/2008 9:33:27 AM

Comment: BURBANK , although well articulated and elaborate your assertion about Islam is completely amiss. Your interpretation of what Islam stands for is one of a common orientalist and ethnocentric perspective. Islam when practiced according to its laws actually has produced more than effective results as one can view during the Muslim Empires, where non-muslims lived side by side with Muslims in peace and happiness. These are things that Islam teaches, how to co-exist and treat human being regardless of culture/religion the way in which we would like to be treated. Those interpretations of terrorism that highlight the spread of Islam by the sword are all modern radical interpretations that extremists have socially constructed to pursue their worldy goals. In its very essense Islam teaches moderation, peace,(the literal translation of Islam means peace and a Muslim is one who submits to peace) tolerance, spirtuality and promotes philanthropic endeavors which in turn teaches to hold the human being no matter what faith, in the highest regard. Unfortunately, all we see on the media are only the actions of the misguided and thus they have given Islam this ugly face you speak of. As a Muslim we are taught from our hold book, the Quran, the similiarties that we share with the Jewish and Christian faiths. I encourage you to pick up an authentic Quran and see what it is for yourself. Those verses of violence and hate you will see have no place in this holy book that is derived and extended from the previous monolithic religions. After your have made own critical analysis based on your own edducated research is when you can truly come to a conclusion about Islam. So, if you want, there's your challenge. Thanks for reading.
Posted By: kaq0105@hotmail.com @ 04/17/2008 9:09:51 AM

Comment: Mr Burbank has a laundry list of grievances that devoted to Islam and the Moslems. Presenting a more complete list is as puerile as his list. but here it is. Judaism is a national religion made by the Jews for the Jews. Christianity is more universal but according to British author Kenneth Clark under the Byzantine Empire ot became so polemic and convoluted it solidified into an immobile dogma. The more simple Islam gained acceptance. Judaism and Christianity had a head start on Islam but obviously Christianity was and remains unacceptable to Moslems and Jews alike. The concept of a human being considered the Amighty God and creator of the universe remains unacceptable to Jew or Moslem. The Pageantry of the Popery and the worship of relics by the Roman Catholics is unacceptable to the Protestants, Jews and Moslems. You can not force your beliefs on the others. It was a Roman Catholic Pope Urban who unleashed the Crusades. Not a single Inhabitant of Jerusalem was spared by the Christian crusaders. Two whole peoples were murdered by the Spanish Catholics. I am referring to the Jews and Moslems of Spain. The Christians then proceeded to the so called New World and wiped out its people. I am referring to the so called Indian tribes of the United States and Central and South America. They are still being murderd in Chiapa and the Amazon. In Australia the Christians hunted the so called Aborigines and in New Zealand they almost succeeded wiping out the Maoris. The Hawians say the White man had the bible and we had the land and now we have the bible and the white man has the land. The christians almost highjacked South Africa,Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya , Mozambique and Algeria. The Christians are always coveting other peoples lands. The Christian missionaries are the thin edge of the wedge. According to Kenneth Clark NINE million africans died from heat, disease and suffocation in the slave ships on the middle passage tothe new world. More recently the Holocost, Bosnia and Kosovo the handiwork of the peace loving christians. All religions have been politicised and militarised but none mpre so than christianity. The Catholic christianity was the most militarised but it lost out to Protestant Christianity. Noe an impotent catholic church claims piety. I am limited by how long I can write here but the list is incomplete. There is still Hiroshima, Nagasaki, London Blitz, Dresden, 26 Million dead Russians.
- Posted By: DRJG @ 04/22/2008 13:47:42
  
  Comment: About your comment - good set of observations. An important one noteworthy factor is, how genearlly when anyone mentions American or Australian etc they invariably mean European colonisers, and for the purpose the original inhabitants are either incorrectly (and therefore falsely) called Indians (while they did not originate in India) or "aborigines", obviously the term signalling "unimportant for consideration"; perhaps it is time to expose such inaccuracies amounting to lies.
  
  This includes the idea of "white" people, which no humans are, actually, not the way cats or cows are for example. Humans merely lack colour when bred for several millenia in dark continent of Europe, for sheer need of visibility (and perhaps light eyes help there too) and acquire a healthy tan when exposed to sun (for example in California) in less than one generation, if they are healthy at all. While these observations might seem unimportant actually the corrections would go a long way towards the view of superiority of one set of people towards others.
  
  Global warming might take care of it sooner though, by browning everyone not confined to home strictly.
Posted By: burbank @ 04/17/2008 2:53:23 AM

Comment: According to MPAC ( Muslim Public Afairs Council) in Washington the baptisim of Egyptian journalist Magdi Allam was consdered offensive to Muslims not because he converted, but by the way that it was carried out. And why may I ask would that be offensive to Muslims? Mabye it is because Islam is an intolerant religion and those who convert to any other religion are considered apostates and are marked for death. It seems to me a contradiction in terms that Islam will tolerate no criticism of its prophet or its dogma, but is free to condemn and hold in contempt the orthodoxy of other religions. Since its inception Islam has been a religion of the sword and all who do not convert are forced to live as second class citizens under Islamic rule or be put to death. All one has to do is view the current situation in Europe where Muslims although still a minority , have enough political clout to change laws in their host countries to reflect Islamic beliefs and customs at the expense of the host country's sovereignty. The relativism and political correctness that has hamstrung European nationality is slowly startng to make inroads here in the US. What we hold dear and cherrish here in America codified in the Constitution and bill of rights cannot be dupilcated in an Islamic society, because in Islam there is no seperation of church and state. Islam is the state. For Muslims to believe that their religion superceeds and is superior to all others is the epitome of arrorgance. Jews and Christians rejected the prophet and his teachings in 624 AD and it was from that time forward that enmity between all three began its existence. If Islam wishes to be noticed as Huston city council member M.J. Kahn sugests, then Islam must repudiate the teachings of the Quran that condone violence and terror as a means of conversion and learn to co-exist with other religions in a secular world. If they cannot accede to the pluralistic milieu that makes up modern nation states, then the "clash of civilizations" which began over 1400 years ago will reduce Islam and the teachings of their prophet to a footnote; a failed experiment in misogyny, mayhem and murder.
Posted By: kaq0105@hotmail.com @ 04/17/2008 12:22:07 AM

Comment: If Benedict had said anything disparaging about Israel the American Zionists would have wrung him out and hung his Holiness to dry.
I felt that Ratzinger was prejudged unfairly by the media at the news of his election by the Princes of the Roman Catholic Church. His years as a Nazi Youth and his years in the German University where the highlight was the students rioting against him . Mistakes can happen in a democratic process. Would we have elected President Bush had we known what we know now?
The Byzantine Empire which was really a Greek kingdom was in a long decline. It had lost the Levant to the Arabs and was in a fight with the Moslem Turks over Asia Minor territory. But also other Christians were doing their share of dismembering the Byzantine Empire. It seemed strange for the Pope to quote a Byzantine Emperor who was in a fight with the Moslems over Anatolia. Was the Pope quoting a higher authority or a combatant?. It was unwise for his Holiness to quote history in that manner. The riposte is why did the Roman Catholic Church condone the Spanish Inquisition and the genocide of the Moslems and Jews of Spain by the Catholics of Spain? Why did the Catholic Church not stop the genocide of the original peoples of Central and South America by the catholic Spanish and Portugeese Conquistadors? and apart from a few brave souls why did the Catholic Church stay silent over the decimation of European Jewery?
His Holiness could not have been ignorant of the historical facts. So why did he do it? was he casting himself after the Cusader Popes? But why/? was it for the same reasons i.e chanelling intrachristian rivalries towards the old Moslem enemy. Or was it to energise the believers? A Pope is also a politician and a head of state. Was his holines unaware of the dangers inherent in opening old wounds?
The Moslems are not stealing his flock but the Baptists are converting the poor Catholics of Central and South America so why is his Holiness not picking a fight with the Baptists,some one his size? Is he behaving as a bully towards the Moslems but as a cowards towards the Zionists and Baptists?
The Pope had never had to worry about job security. Unlike the common man he did not have to worry about paying bills or paying for college or medical care or retirement. His was an enchanted secure life steeped in Church politics. He did not worry about getting fired. In that sense he was like like President Bush.
Yet Pope John Paul had a similar life. So what explains the difference? they were both White and European and roughly not too far apart agewise. But Pope John Paul was a child of Poland. Poland was under the heel of tsarist and communist Russia. Poland had an unhappy history as the underdog. That is the deep well of humanity and empathy that John Paul drew upon. By contrast this Pope is a child of Nazi Germany and the conquering Teutons, the Super Race. He has not had the experience of personal, national and racial suffering.
Posted By: distantsmoke @ 04/16/2008 8:21:22 PM

Comment: I'm so glad Muslims are "waiting" for the Pope to reach out to them. Especially since Muslims all over the world are reaching out (and killing) Christians every day.

Especially since Muslims in Egypt are kidnapping, forcibly converting Christian girls (gotta get those 4 wives somehow) and then forcibly marrying them to Muslim men, telling them that now they are Muslim they and their families will be killed if they renounce Islam.

Especially since Muslims are slaughtering Buddhist Monks all over Indonesia.

Especially since Muslims are buying Africans as slaves by the thousands.

We certainly wouldn't want any Muslims to reach out to the Pope under those circumstances, would we?