the various thoughts, reflections & perspectives of michael tangen

September 15, 2006

The pope sure has a way with words

Well, it looks like the Pope has sure stirred up the hive today with his speach in Germany earlier today. Here’s an excerpt from that speach with the lines in question emboldened:

I was reminded of all this recently, when I read the edition by Professor Theodore Khoury (Münster) of part of the dialogue carried on - perhaps in 1391 in the winter barracks near Ankara - by the erudite Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus and an educated Persian on the subject of Christianity and Islam, and the truth of both. It was presumably the emperor himself who set down this dialogue, during the siege of Constantinople between 1394 and 1402; and this would explain why his arguments are given in greater detail than those of his Persian interlocutor. The dialogue ranges widely over the structures of faith contained in the Bible and in the Qur’an, and deals especially with the image of God and of man, while necessarily returning repeatedly to the relationship between - as they were called - three “Laws” or “rules of life”: the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Qur’an. It is not my intention to discuss this question in the present lecture; here I would like to discuss only one point - itself rather marginal to the dialogue as a whole - which, in the context of the issue of “faith and reason”, I found interesting and which can serve as the starting-point for my reflections on this issue.

In the seventh conversation edited by Professor Khoury, the emperor touches on the theme of the holy war. The emperor must have known that surah 2, 256 reads: “There is no compulsion in religion”. According to the experts, this is one of the suras of the early period, when Mohammed was still powerless and under threat. But naturally the emperor also knew the instructions, developed later and recorded in the Qur’an, concerning holy war. Without descending to details, such as the difference in treatment accorded to those who have the “Book” and the “infidels”, he addresses his interlocutor with a startling brusqueness on the central question about the relationship between religion and violence in general, saying: “Show me just what Mohammed 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 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… To convince a reasonable soul, one does not need a strong arm, or weapons of any kind, or any other means of threatening a person with death…”.

Here’s my own two cents on the issue with what he said AND the general response from the Islamic/muslim community around the globe.

First on the Pope’s poor use of context and examples. It’s true that some facets of the Islamic faith have brought about war and violence in the name of their religion and furthering their ideals. History displays it clearly through the actions of various fundamentalists. But funny how the Pope left out the fact that the catholic church had it’s own glaring chapter in history with the inquisition and torture of non-believers into conformity and “faith” in the church.

Rule number one: when you need to point out someone’s flaws, make sure you include your own to level out the playing field as not to just pick on one group of people. So, in some respects I can empathize with the moderate and conservative muslims that practice their religion with love and respect.

With that said, you almost have to admit that in general people of the Islamic faith and tradition have not done a whole lot to positively counter the general public’s perception of the followers of Muhammad. We are bombarded almost on a daily basis with news of some Islamic fundamentalist bombing this or doing that or expressing uninhibited rage towards something that someone else said or did. Let’s face it, they don’t take public criticism very well. Granted I don’t either, but that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t try to respond respectfully and in a manner that doesn’t further propogate what I’m being criticized for.

Mohammed Mahda Akef of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood was quoted saying, “The remarks do not express correct understanding of Islam and are merely wrong and distorted beliefs being repeated in the West.” I’m sure there are a lot of distorted perceptions in the West concerning the Islamic faith; much like there are a lot of misunderstandings of the Christian faith in the Middle East. But the question that is raised in my mind is, if the Pope was so wrong by quoting a 14th century emporer’s observations, why does it appear that the general reaction of the muslim community only feeds the perception that they are an angry, violent bunch?

Mohandas Gandhi was once quoted saying, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” If you want people to treat you with more respect, you have to be more respectful. If you want people to love you more, you must love those that do not love you in return. If you want people to believe what you do, you must first earn the trust and credibility from those that believe different than you. Suffice to say, if the general muslim community wants “the West” to see them as anything but a war-mongering, intollerant and violent religion, then they need to exhibit and display peace in the midst of conflict, tollerance among those that think or believe differently and love for your enemies when it is so easy to errupt with violence out of hate.

I’m just calling it as I see it folks. I’m not saying the Pope was right and that the muslim community was wrong. What I am saying is that both sides have a lot of baggage to address and have some serious PR problems. The Pope does have to take some time to address the skeletons in our historic closet. The world is just too small these days to make blanket statements without covering your ass first and leveling the playing field in a manner that doesn’t judge unfairly. Equally on the other side of the coin, the muslim community also has to take some time to address the fact that they have a not-so-radiant history and rogue followers that aren’t offering any help in improving the global image of Islam.

I’m not judging either side or condemning one or the other—but what I AM saying is that both sides need to love more and to be the change that they wish to see in the world and not impose it on one another.