So, What Else Is New?

Moslems worldwide are reacting in anger to the Pope's criticism of using violence to spread religion. (Here.) The reaction is entirely predictable. Moslems will brook no criticism of their religion, especially when it strikes close to home. You can read excerpts of the Pope's remarks here.

The Pope's statement that has Moslems in a rage once again is a quote from a 14th Century Byzantine emperor who said:

"'Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.'"

The Pope continues:

"The emperor, after having expressed himself so forcefully, goes on to explain in detail the reasons why spreading the faith through violence is something unreasonable. Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul. 'God,' he says, 'is not pleased by blood - and not acting reasonably is contrary to God's nature. Faith is born of the soul, not the body. Whoever would lead someone to faith needs the ability to speak well and to reason properly, without violence and threats.'"

There's nothing unreasonable about the Pope's remarks and they are especially relevant today. Just recently two Fox News reporters were coerced into "converting" to Islam at gunpoint by Islamist terrorists in the Palestinian territories.

There's another dark irony to this latest controversy about the violent history of Islam's relations with The West. The Byzantine Emperor's remarks were made in 1391. A little over 60 years later, in 1453, Moslem armies captured Constantinople, ended the Byzantine Empire, and made the city the capital of the Moslem Ottoman Empire.

-tdr

Technorati: Islam, jihad, Pope.