the pope is in hot water with the muslim world

I think it is pretty ironic that a group of people will become viloent because some one else said that their religion is one based on violence.

jlew24asu wrote:

I agree. did you see how extreme their reaction is. its scary. its not like the pope was denoucing muslims or mohammad.

You've got to admit that the Pope has great influence over millions of people. Devout catholics believe every word that he says and do what he says (see DaVinci Code). If he says something bad... or not so good about another religion, a lot of Catholics will eat it up and start thinking that way too.

We've gotta recognize that there's a great danger in that.

What would we be saying if Ayatolla Khameini (sp???) said similar things about Christianity? Wouldn't the West be enraged too?

qtegirl wrote:

You've got to admit that the Pope has great influence over millions of people. Devout catholics believe every word that he says and do what he says (see DaVinci Code). If he says something bad... or not so good about another religion, a lot of Catholics will eat it up and start thinking that way too.

We've gotta recognize that there's a great danger in that.

What would we be saying if Ayatolla Khameini (sp???) said similar things about Christianity? Wouldn't the West be enraged too?

I know no Catholics would take this seriously......and its not like the Ayatolla has been one to speak fond words to those that belief different from him......

andych wrote:

personally i think they are all crazy.

No there are nuts in every faith.....I choose to respect only those who belief solomenly in their beliefs (practice what your faith preaches that is)...I have problems with those who need to act on those that think differently than them....which can found in any faith...to say to only Muslims is really unfair as lots would care less what the Pope says....because essentialy, in their vantage point, he is wrong (faith-wise) anyway so who cares...right?

There is a common negotiating tactic of beligerence ... to walk into a meeting and just initially throw a couple f-bombs and generally raise a huge stink because of a typo on the agenda or meeting request. Just totally lose it over something small initially.

The folks sitting on the other side of the table watch this and wonder, "Oh man, if this is how they react to a typo on the agenda, what's going to happen when I ask for more concessions?"

The muslim world has created a kind of analogy to this, what with speeches in America and elsewhere with thinly veiled threats of violence -- "If you continue these policies, I would think it might enrage folks, and then...." and the muslim world is backing up these thinly veiled threats with these reactions -- sowing the seeds to empower their representatives by demonstrating what happens when they become enraged.

I totally think the Pope did this on purpose to cause just this effect and remind folks what we're dealing with. "Your intolerance of our violence and intolerance will make us violent!"

These people can not have an open discussion in their society..just goes to show how backwards they are

Rockin'InCanada wrote:

You know it really just makes me shake my head....if you are so passionate about your faith (this goes to any faith) who really cares what the man nexts to you believe....to me to insult or to take offence to insult because of another's faith shows, at least to me, insecurity in your own beliefs.....or better a lack of complete understanding that other people choose to think differently that you.....the Muslim's who are insulted should just cool down and stop taking everything so seriously already.....

I belive what I choose to believe and never become offended if someone believes something else....as long as you do not preach to me (unless I ask to learn) then I have no problem what people say.....

Exactly. These people fly off the handle every single time anything is said, and I think its time to grow up and at least pretend that there's something real going on faith-wise. True believers don't particularly care if someone else says something against their faith.

Here's what I don't get ... why do Muslims care what the pope says? They don't believe in his authority, so who cares?

Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson blamed the collapse of the twin towers on me and people who think like me. I didn't go rioting in the street, I got a good laugh out of it and moved on. They are irrelevant to me, as is the pope, as the pope should be to Muslims. What are they all excited about?