Pope Pours Gas on the Fire
 

First off, I'm going to state that I'm not a Roman Catholic.
I'm not quite sure what Benedict's intentions are but he certainly has riled up the "hornet's nest".
I've always gone by the saying, "If you pour gasoline on the fire, there's no certainty that the fire is going to go out."
Here's the article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...091500800.html

If anyone can explain this, I'd appreciate it.
DTS

Well if have been following this current Pope he has been called "God's Rotweiller", he has always been about adhering to the strict dogma of Catholicism and Christianity, whether it cause controversy or division. All he did by the way was "quote" the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire, stressing they were not his own words.

Yeah, I suspect that if I started quoting from Mein Kampf, I'd get a chilly reception in Israel...simply a stupid topic to publicly explore...apologize quickly and repeatedly and avoid similar minefields in the future!

Thanks for your input, Seattle.
It kind of confuses me as to why he'd be quoting a 14th century, Crusade era emperor during these times.
Do you think he's trying to inflame circumstances?
If you have an insight to his intent, let me know what he seeks to accomplish.
Thanks.

maybe he should go back to telling catholics what movies they can see and what books to read--as well as counting out his tithes. but he also might think before he starts quoting people from SEVEN CENTURIES AGO! he may not be an idiot (some may be uncomfortable at seeing 'pope' being linked with 'stupid') but he certainly did an idiotic thing. why? who knows...maybe he thinks he can say whatever he wishes, since he's the pope. just what we needed.

hell, whatdya expect. they just apologized for the inquisition a few years ago--apparently the catholic hierarchy has no concept of TIME. and if i ruffled feathers of any catholics out there reading this....i was raised one, altho i no longer consider myself as being one.

Ironic that each of your posts ends with a quote from a Pope...lol!

lol

ain't it tho??

I'm guessing it will get worse before it gets better.

http://apnews.myway.com//article/200...D8K5H39O2.html

he seeks to drive out this moral relativism that the world has currently enveloped itself in, and to give a clear set of doctrine to which does not give in to the times and mores of the present world. Something that will not change or unwaver, then again you can see that fallacy with the whole premise of the Vatican and organized religion. Its basically men interpreting God's word, and as well we all know is a very powerful and dangerous thing.

well, it doesn't help when the offended get hysterical about it either. certainly going full tilt in their remarks. what he said was inflammatory, but i think it's incorrect to compare the pope to hitler and mussolini. he quoted a text, he hasn't killed millions of people!!

but yeah, it'll get worse. hopefully the pope will hurry up and apologize. but going by past experience, that's not going to happen.

Ratzinger will not apologize for anything, nor should he. Thats what he thinks, thats how he has always operated, to apologize right now would tarnish the hardline Catholic's image and somewhat shake the faith of people who have agreed with his views, after all he is the head human leader of the Catholic church. I think he was just basically condemming jihad and "holy war", the other stuff he said was the one that caught headlines.

Seattle,
It really doesn't take much effort to keep one's mouth shut.
He could have said these things a year ago.
Why now?
Do I see a "grandstander"?
His inflammatory words go against all the teachings of the messiah he "represents".
Duh??

Agree DTS!
To everything there is a season....and a time to keep one's mouth shut!
There are millions of angry followers of Islam around the world, it takes very little to set them off...there was absolutely nothing to be gained by "preaching to the choir" here...and a lot of political ramifications to be suffered. I admit that I have problems with some old man telling folks what is holy and what is not, but I respect the Catholic religion, their stand on a lot of issues is 100% correct in my opinion but this is a mess!! Needless!!!

he had no business citing an obscure 14th century text (this is the 21st century after all) and bashing the prophet of their religion. if he wanted to criticize the actions of extremists, then by all means, have at it.
i agree with you about so many conflicts occurring due to religion.
love thy neighbor, unless he doesn't believe in the same religion--then you cut off his head. um, sure. makes perfect sense, right?

I too ... see absolutely nothing wrong with what the Pope said.

Islamic fanatics have been murdering innocent people since the 7th century ... nearly 1400 years of continuous slaughter ... isn't it about time they stopped ...

... or were made to stop?

What a foolish thing to say ...

... when all the Islamists do ... every single day ... is quote from an 8th-century text. The 14th century in Europe was a highly enlightened time ... especially when compared to 8th-century Arabia.

I see no reason for anyone to apologize to people who have been on a continuous, murderous rampage for 1400 years.

From here out, your name is changed to "LUMPY."

That's for your looney generalization of an entire race of people based on the actions of a relative few.

S2S,
Good one! "Lumpy" it is.
I'll just say that I have as much of a problem with Urban II as I do with other religious zealots. The wounds are deep. Pouring salt into them will not help their healing.
"Lies to the left of me, jokers to the right..."
May the same God that serves as the foundation of their "faiths" bring sanity.
DTS

Seattle,
He apologized.
I don't think it will put out the fire, but it could have been avoided.

nah, he half-assed apologized.

i'm sorry you were offended. not i'm sorry i said something offensive.

reminds me of a story my husband told me some time ago.
he called his brother stupid. his mother told him to apologize. so he did. i'm sorry you're stupid he said... the pope reminded me of that. he didn't say i'm sorry that i used the words of someone who accused your prophet of being cruel and inhuman to make my point. he said i'm sorry they misunderstood what he was saying. pfffft.