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Can someone please explain the Pope's position on Islam? The media makes it sound like the Pope is pluralistic and that all religions are "in it together." This scares me.

Shouldn't the pope be preaching Christ to the infidels and not affirming them that we all serve the same God? This seems to undermine humanity's salvation in Christ alone. I can see where all those splinter "true Catholic Churches" come from. Also, what's the deal with that picture on the "True Catholic" website with the Pope kissing the Koran?! Should those holy lips abandon the Gospels and press themselves against false Scriptures that deny the divinity of our only Lord and Savior? Holy Scripture says that anyone who denies the divinity of Jesus is antichrist (1John 2:22). Muslims are de facto antichrists.

Yikes. NO!

I believe that the Holy Father's perspective is that of a servant of God, willing to understand that the Divine presence is universal and present in all human beings of good will. While the Moslems have not exactly been 'accommodating' of Christian beliefs in general, they acknowledge the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and they acknowledge that Jesus of Nazareth is a prophet on earth, second only to Mohammed. And that his mother, Mariam, is a most venerable and honorable person.

If the Pope can come into a Moslem community to ask them to be more accepting of their spiritual relatives, then should we question his ability to speak for the Christian community in asking for acceptance? Let's face it: there's a lot of hatred that comes about as a result of uninformed prejudice. By pointing out the craziness of these prejudices -- by actually BEING there among their community -- and preaching the need for submission to God's will -- perhaps, just perhaps, there will be a revelation of the need for all human beings to acknowledge the hegemony of God and the need to work with each other to signify and proclaim the Reality of God and His Presence among human beings.

Lord, help us to be united in our Worship of You!

Christos Anesti!

Dr. John, Yo Da Man!

K.

Dear Marshall,

So your application for missionary work was rejected? Hmmmm . . .

The scriptural reference you cite had to do with those who came to know Christ as the Son of God and Saviour, but who later rejected Him.

Any kind of meaningful outreach and witnessing for Christ must, I believe, begin by recognizing the solid religious values that all peoples have. They get them from God as St Paul mentions at several points in the Acts and his Epistles. St Peter had something to say about that when he had a dream about "unclean" food - remember?

Muhammad, as a religious leader and a Prophet, put down paganism, brought his followers to a knowledge of and love for the One God and a prophetic assessment of Jesus and Mary (whom he vigorously defended).

There is much that is positive within Islam and that is more than agreeable to Christianity.

All truth, said St Thomas Aquinas, nomatter who pronounces it, comes from the Holy Spirit.

As for conversions, if we show the love of Christ to others and live it, while loving our neighbours for themselves, then, I believe, people will feel an urge within them to glorify the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Alex

You got it, Alex. Ain't it grand that so many Christians are willing to be 'servants of the Love of God and of one's neighbor' and unwilling to be reduced to petty judgements.

Christ is Risen!

Dear Dr. John,

Truly He is Risen!

Alex

Dr John:

Although the lamb may lie down with the lion, the Lamb can never afford to fall asleep.

"While the Moslems have not exactly been 'accommodating' of Christian beliefs in general,..."

JoeS

Dear Joe,

While the Muslim scimitar has always been a dangerous weapon, the Christian Templar sword has also been put to devastating use.

Both sides have made their point over the years, in more ways than one . . .

Salaam Alekum!

Alex

Salam Alikum fee rubbina Yasou' al-Maseeh,

It was a mistake by the Pope to kiss the Quran. I argued this point before in another thread. Kissing the Quran simply reinforces their heretical beliefs despite the Pope's good will. The practice of the Christian faith should be the only way that these people will ever come to Christ. I do not know of any Patriarch or Bishop that has ever kissed the Quran voluntarily. If anyone knows please let me know.

Alikum al-Salam fee rubbina Yasou' al-Maseeh

Dear Robert,

Actually, I agree with you. I don't believe kissing the Koran was the thing to do.

This hearkens to the age of the New Martyrs of the Turkish Yoke.

Whenever a Christian happened to have a Koran or Muslim prayer beads or Dhikrs or even said a Muslim prayer, he or she was taken for a Muslim.

When these Christians denied this, they were taken before the courts. When they still denied they were Muslims, they were condemned to death for blasphemy against the Prophet or whatever. St John of Suchava, the patron of the region of Europe my mother comes from, was sentenced to 500 strokes across the soles of the feet for this (the so-called "phalanga") and was later beheaded.

Respect for all religions - yes. Adapting certain practices - yes. Outright veneration of something which has aspects that go against our Faith - no.

Happily, the Pope wasn't doing what he did from the Chair of Peter as an infallible statement

Alex

I can surely empathize with the viewpoints expressed here. Although, I guess it is protocol manners to show a greeting to the 'host' where you are visiting. Both Christians and Moslems use the 'embrazzo' or 'kiss of peace' as a greeting and I suppose that would ahve been called for. But, if I were the Pope, I certainly would have preferred to kiss the book rather than that scruffy gentleman at the Mosque. (Decisions! Decisions! Decisions!)

Blessings!

I found this on the EWTN ask the experts forum about the Pope supposedly kissing the Koran:
http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/showme...1&Pg=Forum4&recnu=11&source=

Alex,
You have an interesting history. As for the Pope, he kissed the Quran while on the throne of St. Peter. It doesn't matter if he was infallibly sitting or standing.

Dr. John,
I rather kiss the non-Christian person created according to the image of God no matter how ugly they may be than kiss a book that denies our Lord and Saviour. Your choice Doc.

Joe S,
The fact of the matter is that the Pope did kiss the Quran. It's undeniable. The ETWN reponse evaded answering the poor souls question.

Dear Joe,

Unfortunately, while the EWTN can be commended for trying to defend the Pope, as they most certainly don't appear to believe the Pope should ever kiss the Koran, the Pope actually did do that at the hands of a Muslim minister.

The so-called Hindu tradition that is referred to on the same page is something that has been "Christianized" by the Catholic Church in India and so is not the same thing at all.

And I don't believe the Pope mistook the book being held out to him for a Gospel.

I am not condemning His Holiness for this, I am just saying I disagree with it as would many Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians.

Many Catholics in Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim countries, as well as in the West, have taken up the practice of including readings, in their daily prayers, from the books of other religions.

The problem is that such a kiss can be interpreted as a blanket affirmation that can lead toward indifferentism, although I know that wasn't the Pope's intention.

A Russian theologian (I forget his name, something "off" ) who wrote about the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.

He noted the great similarity between Orthodoxy and their form of religion that is complete with scarves, prostrations, beads, liturgies and what-not. Obviously, their is a wide theological chasm between the two traditions!

But that doesn't mean we can affirm Tibetan Buddhism or anything like that.

Also, from the point of view of Islam, such an act could be interpreted that one has joined Islam!

One need only repeat out loud the first verse of the Koran to become a Muslim in fact.

Other religions see and guard their differences jealously. Why can't we? And why can't we do that while cooperating with other religions and faiths in humane and peaceful ventures?

Just because I work with my Muslim and Hindu friends at the local soup kitchen doesn't mean I want to kiss their sacred books etc.

There are other ways of expressing religious gentlemanliness.

Also, one may offend the other side in trying to address their religion as an "infidel."

I remember when my Jewish colleagues at university put on yellow Stars of David to commemorate the Holocaust.

As they greeted Holocaust Survivors who came for a public ceremony, I could here the Survivors scream "What are you doing with those things! Take them off! They made us wear them in the camps!"

The worse thing in any ecumenical encounter is for the participants to forget the fundamental differences that separate their world-views.

We may share each other's spiritual insights and work together to improve the world. Affirming each other's doctrines as if there were no differences is quite another thing.

Robert Sweiss is correct in bringing this matter up. I, on the other hand, would have no problem kissing his Orthodox Cross!

Alex

[This message has been edited by Orthodox Catholic (edited 05-11-2001).]

Dear Robert,