Religious links
A Muslim writer arguing for an end to denial over Muslim terrorism: We cannot clear our names unless we own up to the shameful fact that terrorism has become an Islamic enterprise; an almost exclusive monopoly, implemented by Muslim men and women.
Official Muslims once again display what a tolerant lot they are. More. Of course, Muslim clerics make derogatory remarks about Judaism and Christianity all the time … The Pope did apparently make an error about the Qu’ran. Pakistan’s Parliament denounces the Pope’s speech: "Anyone who describes Islam as a religion as intolerant encourages violence," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said.. Yep, that would seem to make the Pope’s point for him … Saying it in pictures. A series of links on this and related points. The BBC was acting in its normal pernicious way. The Pope apologises. More links. Still more links.
Hitch, as always, puts things in perspective: It is often said-and was said by Ratzinger when he was an underling of the last Roman prelate-that Islam is not capable of a Reformation. We would not even have this word in our language if the Roman Catholic Church had been able to have its own way. Now its new reactionary leader has really "offended" the Muslim world, while simultaneously asking us to distrust the only reliable weapon-reason-that we possess in these dark times. A fine day's work, and one that we could well have done without.
A fomer Muslim, and former radical Muslim on the reaction to Benedict: The logical force of the radicals' interpretation of the Islamic faith cannot be denied; anybody who brushes off Islamic radicals' interpretation of jihad as clearly and simply distorting Islam is either dissembling or else speaking from sincere ignorance. and But it seems the media would rather condemn the pope and thus place criticism of Islam off limits rather than focus on the pathologies in contemporary Islam. This Western response serves to undermine Muslim moderates and strengthen radicals. A columnist argues against apologising and for supporting free speech: the fanatics attacking the pope already limit the right to free speech among their own followers. I don't see why we should allow them to limit our right to free speech, too.
About Iran’s official cult of the Twelth Iman. Interviewing Iran’s President, which has its Orwellian moments: TIME: Why do your supporters chant “Death to America”?
Ahmadinejad: When they chanted that slogan, it means they hate aggression,
Official Muslims once again display what a tolerant lot they are. More. Of course, Muslim clerics make derogatory remarks about Judaism and Christianity all the time … The Pope did apparently make an error about the Qu’ran. Pakistan’s Parliament denounces the Pope’s speech: "Anyone who describes Islam as a religion as intolerant encourages violence," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said.. Yep, that would seem to make the Pope’s point for him … Saying it in pictures. A series of links on this and related points. The BBC was acting in its normal pernicious way. The Pope apologises. More links. Still more links.
Hitch, as always, puts things in perspective: It is often said-and was said by Ratzinger when he was an underling of the last Roman prelate-that Islam is not capable of a Reformation. We would not even have this word in our language if the Roman Catholic Church had been able to have its own way. Now its new reactionary leader has really "offended" the Muslim world, while simultaneously asking us to distrust the only reliable weapon-reason-that we possess in these dark times. A fine day's work, and one that we could well have done without.
A fomer Muslim, and former radical Muslim on the reaction to Benedict: The logical force of the radicals' interpretation of the Islamic faith cannot be denied; anybody who brushes off Islamic radicals' interpretation of jihad as clearly and simply distorting Islam is either dissembling or else speaking from sincere ignorance. and But it seems the media would rather condemn the pope and thus place criticism of Islam off limits rather than focus on the pathologies in contemporary Islam. This Western response serves to undermine Muslim moderates and strengthen radicals. A columnist argues against apologising and for supporting free speech: the fanatics attacking the pope already limit the right to free speech among their own followers. I don't see why we should allow them to limit our right to free speech, too.
About Iran’s official cult of the Twelth Iman. Interviewing Iran’s President, which has its Orwellian moments: TIME: Why do your supporters chant “Death to America”?
Ahmadinejad: When they chanted that slogan, it means they hate aggression,