When Civilizations Meet: How Joseph Ratzinger Sees Islam

Chiesa.com ^ | May 4, 2006 | Samir Khalil Samir, S.J.

[mckenzie7]

I agree with you that his answers appear to be so complex. He must be making sure to cover all of the bases!

I believe that Islam is a Satanic cult and Allah is NOT God! What is written in the Quran is contrary to just reasoning. It appeals to barbarians.
We may dialog with them when we are in a position of power, but run for our lives when we are not. Even in a position of power we have the problem of the terrorists.

Mohammad knew what he was doing by, justifying his barbarism with a diety, when he invented this whole pile of excrement.

Bless you on your Confirmation: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful, and enkindle in us the fire of Your Love!

[mckenzie7]

I agree with you that his answers appear to be so complex. He must be making sure to cover all of the bases!

I believe that Islam is a Satanic cult and Allah is NOT God! What is written in the Quran is contrary to just reasoning. It appeals to barbarians.
We may dialog with them when we are in a position of power, but run for our lives when we are not. Even in a position of power we have the problem of the terrorists.

Mohammad knew what he was doing by, justifying his barbarism with a deity, when he invented this whole pile of excrement.

Bless you on your Confirmation: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful, and enkindle in us the fire of Your Love!

[goodform]

I'm set for the Sacrament of Confirmation this month.

Congratulations!! :-)

[Steve0113]

Catholicism is intellectual, it is not for the simple minded.

I have to disagree: it is both. The beauty of Catholicism is that it contains as much depth as you can handle. A superficial understanding is sufficient for the simple, while bottomless depth is available to the scholar.

[XR7]

[kstewskis]

The beauty of Catholicism is that it contains as much depth as you can handle. A superficial understanding is sufficient for the simple, while bottomless depth is available to the scholar.

Well stated.

[Alexander Rubin]

I like Ratzinger. ;) More and more each time I hear of him and what he does.

[TomSmedley]

In short a call for the appearance of the Anti-Christ.

BTW -- I'm a "Calvinist, optimist, home schooling dad, exuberant husband, technical writer." (See my tag line). I lived under your delusion for about ten years, 1970-1980, and discovered that the temporary thrills of indulging in apocalyptic hysteria lead to a real crash when you come down, and notice that the world has been laughing at you, and mocking your Savior, because of the sheer silliness of your addiction to multiple prognostications. One of your prophets, Hal Lindsey, recycles his books and wives as fast as each starts showing its age.

Remember when "everyone KNOWS" that Rosh = Russia, and that a global communist empire was all we had to look forward to? When God took down communism, your ilk refused to fall on your faces, repent of your sins, and give Him glory. Rather, you began frantically looking for another antichrist candidate to grovel before.

If you have nothing to contribute to a serious conversation concerning serious issues that serious Christians need to deal with, keep quiet.

[RKBA Democrat]

"Why does every religion article, especially Catholic, have to be so wordy? Is everything really that complex?"

It's a matter of emphasis. The western church tends to be more analytical.

Interesting that you bring up the Catechism. The one that we use in my (eastern) Catholic church is three short books. I read them in the space of a weekend. But even that is a bit verbose. I think you can summarize it in three words: Christ is Risen!

[marty60]

Wow, you would be very at home in Islam. Think like I do or die.

[Psycho_Bunny]

In this context, the phrase "When Civilizations Meet" erroneously implies that both the societies being met are "civil".

[Flavius Josephus]

Christ is Risen!

We were just talking about this in RCIA last night. The greatest sin of all, from Augustine's time right down to today, is to deny the above.

[RKBA Democrat]

"We were just talking about this in RCIA last night. The greatest sin of all, from Augustine's time right down to today, is to deny the above."

In my opinion our faith, when distilled down to the essentials, is actually quite simple to understand. Either you accept those three words in your heart, or you don't. From "Christ is Risen", all else follows.

Point of curiosity about RCIA these days. Do they make any mention of the eastern Catholic churches? They didn't when I went through RCIA.

It's interesting to compare how the different churches handled the Christian initiation process. I've been through both. The western church seems to favor RCIA classes usually with different people, usually laity, leading the class. In my eastern church the process was more simple: catechism, Deacon (or Priest), and catechumens.

[Flavius Josephus]

No, they have barely mentioned the Eastern Church. RCIA is taught by lay people, although I have been glad to note the Father Tom, the associate pastor, has been there every week.

If I had gone to an orthodox indult church that I go to sometimes, the Monsignor who is the pastor would have given me instruction personally.

[RKBA Democrat]

"No, they have barely mentioned the Eastern Church(es)."

(Sigh) I can't say I'm surprised. Well, we should be glad you're a FReeper. The folks around here will help fill in. NYer gives the summary instruction on the eastern Catholic churches. Ask her if you ever want the 3 minute class on the topic.

"If I had gone to an orthodox indult church that I go to sometimes, the Monsignor who is the pastor would have given me instruction personally."

Interesting how the indult and eastern Catholic churches seem to look at the catechism process.

[TomSmedley]

Wow, you would be very at home in Islam. Think like I do or die.

Actually, a love for God and for God's people goes hand in hand with a hatred for putrid false doctrines. My favorite Santa Claus story -- when Jolly Old Saint Nick met heresiarch Arius at the Council of Nicea -- he punched him out! Granted, apocalyptic hysteria is not in the same class as denying the divinity of Christ. However, Hal Lindsey's brand of prognostication is still a bit of lunacy we'd be wise to ridicule, deride, and hoot off the stage. It breeds fatalism and passivity, rather than the agressive optimism at the core of the Great Commission. It is BECAUSE Jesus has been given ALL power on earth and in heaven that we can tackle the nations.

I hope this clarifies things a bit.

[bayouranger]

Bump for a later read!