09-20-2006, 05:03 PM
The pope's 'apology' comes too late and too hesitantly, and rendered after the chruch has carefully gauged the world reaction, particularly that of the islamic world. His forthcoming visit to Turkey was somewhat dependent on an apology; thus his statement is probably a PR stunt before his trip.
A muslim spokesperson on the CNN commented that, what the muslims want is something more than an apology. They want to to know what is the Pope's, and the Vatican's, real stand on islam. Before accepting his apology, the muslims' fundamental questions for the pope are: Does the present pope believe islam to be equal to christianity? Does he place these two religions on same level? Does he recognise the 'divinity' of prophet mohamad, or does he personally view mohamad as a war-monger, preaching intolerance and hate? If these questions are answered by the pope, then and only then will this uproar be laid to rest.
The interesting part of course is what answers the pope will give. There is every reason to believe that the present pope believes that islam is not equal to christianity, anymore than hinduism or other belief system is (everyone already knows that he and his predecesor regard hinduism as a dark force, and that India needs to be christianized), and that prophet mohamad preached intolerance and was basically a war-monger. Unfortunately, for the first time, this pope might just have to provide indepth answers for some of these questions on his personal opinion on islam. I'm now ready for the popcorn, and so are, I'm sure, the millions of 'heretics' around the world.
A muslim spokesperson on the CNN commented that, what the muslims want is something more than an apology. They want to to know what is the Pope's, and the Vatican's, real stand on islam. Before accepting his apology, the muslims' fundamental questions for the pope are: Does the present pope believe islam to be equal to christianity? Does he place these two religions on same level? Does he recognise the 'divinity' of prophet mohamad, or does he personally view mohamad as a war-monger, preaching intolerance and hate? If these questions are answered by the pope, then and only then will this uproar be laid to rest.
The interesting part of course is what answers the pope will give. There is every reason to believe that the present pope believes that islam is not equal to christianity, anymore than hinduism or other belief system is (everyone already knows that he and his predecesor regard hinduism as a dark force, and that India needs to be christianized), and that prophet mohamad preached intolerance and was basically a war-monger. Unfortunately, for the first time, this pope might just have to provide indepth answers for some of these questions on his personal opinion on islam. I'm now ready for the popcorn, and so are, I'm sure, the millions of 'heretics' around the world.