Week 4: The Pope’s Speech
This week we’ll be discussing the Pope’s speech that has sparked recent controversy.
Should be interesting.
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This week we’ll be discussing the Pope’s speech that has sparked recent controversy.
Should be interesting.
on September 19, 2006 on 12:10 am
We might also look at the running commentary that the First Things blog has given to this matter: http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare
on September 19, 2006 on 2:07 pm
I think some of the commentators on First Things’ blog brought this up, but another angle that merits some attention is the criticism the Pope gives of “sola scriptura” and the Reformation–which was at least as harsh, in an academic way, as his concern about Islam.
on September 22, 2006 on 1:27 pm
I don’t know if I”ll be there today. I’m glad to finally be able to look at the speech and hope to get it read. From what I’ve heard discussed mainly on NPR, my first thoughts were:
I hope those remarks as it hit the media were taken out of context
An academic has to work hard to have a pastor’s heart.
That if you are going to make an negative example of the failure of religion to restrain from violence in the propagation of faith and you are the leader of the western church, you would be wise to base your critique in your own religious experience, like citing the Inquisiiton, especially since there is such an ample supply of the church’s choosing violence over reason in the propagation of it’s faith.
There is common ground between Christianity and Islam as a starting place for dialogue, positive and negative. The issue of the use of violence is the spread of the faith, is but one.
I am reminded of one of my favorite prayers from the BCP is for Peace, which is a high mark in our calling to walk worthy of the calling:
“Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is dawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love; So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen”