kaya'08
DP Veteran
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- Nov 25, 2008
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Pope Benedict XVI stressed his "deep respect" for Islam as he arrived in Jordan to begin a Middle East visit.
The Pope described religious freedom as a fundamental human right, and said he hoped the Catholic church could play a role in the Middle East peace process.
The eight-day tour - in which the Pope describes himself as a "pilgrim of peace" - is his first visit to the Middle East as pontiff.
After Jordan, his tour also takes him to Israel and the West Bank.
The pontiff was met at the airport by Jordan's King Abdullah, Queen Rania and Muslim and Christian leaders.
A Jordanian army band with bagpipes and drums played the Vatican and Jordanian national anthems before the Pope and King Abdullah inspected the honour guard.
The Pope's tour of the holy places of Christendom is aimed at encouraging the minority Christian community in the Middle East, and creating a better dialogue with Muslims and Jews.
'Death threats'
However, Jordanian Islamist leaders have demanded that he apologise for a speech in 2006 that linked Islam and violence.
However, Jordanian Islamist leaders have demanded that he apologise for a speech in 2006 that linked Islam and violence.
He still hasn't apologised? The cheek of the man :rofl
He still hasn't apologised? The cheek of the man :rofl
He did apologize that people took his words out of context and did not understand what he was trying to communicate.
You do realize i was not serious right?
:2wave:
Lol i think he much rather have his dignity get in the way. At least he has the guts to tour the ME. Its hardly a save haven for popes these days, so for that he should be respected.
I'll give him props for that.
If i were him, i'd rather be locked up behind Vatican walls than stepping foot into the minefield which is the Muslim world.
Being secular may be the way to go for some countries but it is not as perfect in the Muslim world. They will want to recognise their country is founded upon Islam and use it as a state religion. That is something that will be a problem and cannot be removed by just saying 'we are now secular'.
If Muslims actually got their act together then maybe but the divisions are very deep. There is no one to turn to for the answer on Islam and that is part of the problem. The lack of heirachy means that anyone can claim to speak for Islam, arab countries in particular do not seem to be taking Taliban very seriously either. If they all got involved, are we saying extremism wouldn't be eradicated? Ofc it would but they are unwilling or unable to get involved.
Denial is the most important issue. Anyone saying anything critical about Islam or even a Muslim pointing out problems in the Muslim world, we will almost literally cover our ears and put our middle finger up.
The dislike from the west on Muslims are based on the sterotypes - Not many westerners know much about Islam; they base it on the media. I doubt they could name our 5 pillars and as a result they view all the females as oppressed and behind bars and the men as women beaters and having more than 4 wives. Its slightly amusing.
Im no expert on Islam, and i cant name the 5 pillars of your religion. But im also not willing to buy the fact that Islam is an evil religion. Otherwise a large proportion of the worlds population wouldnt turn to it as there way of life. But i do know its possible for muslims to practise secularism. Ataturk taught Turkey. An enlightened mind can teach the arabs in the ME. :2wave:
I agree, but we have no one to enlighten the Muslim world unfortunately.
I heard Turkey's military is very secular and ensure it is upheld. Muslims armies are probably the opposite.
But nvm, can you lend us some of your secular politicans? :2wave:
Which begs the question, do they even want to be secular? Maybe if they tasted the freedom that we have here, just once, they would want it to stay?
I'm not sure i am comfortable in giving armes power to overthrow Governments and banning of parties. Hardly democratic imo.
I doubt it.
Cultural difference.
They may want democratic laws and polls have shown this but they do not want Islam basically eradicated in many aspects of their lives.
You can be free without resorting to the same tactics Turkey does to ensure it stays secular
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