Friday, September 15, 2006

Pope Loses "Game of Chicken" with Islam

Pope Benedict XVI, apparently temporarily bored with his battle against science (link), upped his game a bit by poking a sharp stick at Islam. In a recent speech at the University of Regensburg in Germany the Pope (link):

…attacked the Muslim concept of holy war as a violation of God’s will and nature. He used the word ‘jihad,’ a politically and emotionally charged Arabic term for holy war or struggle. And he quoted a 14th century Byzantine emperor who derided Islam and its founder, the prophet Muhammad.
The Muslim community was outraged by his comments and demanded an immediate (and personally-delivered) apology. When reminded how bad angry Muslims can be, he issued an apology saying that he "meant no offense". So let's summarize his "non-offensive" statements:

  • "Muhammad introduced things only evil and inhuman."
  • Only Christianity has a "profound encounter of faith and reason."
What's offensive about that? He just insulted their #1 prophet and plugged his own religion. To his credit, he did end the speech with a famous Krusty quote:
"I was joking! [nervous chuckle] Everytime you look at me like that...I am joking."

Maybe the Vatican should go back to bullying its own followers...and science.

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