Posted on 12/06/2014 6:04:01 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Picture the Pope praying in a mosque alongside top Muslim leaders. That’s what happened in Turkey last weekend.
Pope Francis was at the Blue Mosque in Instabul on Saturday as part of his three-day visit to the predominantly Muslim country. He also celebrated Mass at the Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in the city.
The visit to the mosque is significant as the Pope tries to promote peace and unity between Muslims and Christians. He’s the second Pope to worship at the Blue Mosque. The first was his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who was there in 2006 for a similar purpose.
The world has made remarkable progress in bringing Muslims and Christians together, partly through efforts by world leaders such as Pope Francis. However, there’s still a fence between Christians and Muslims today.
A lot of believers today minimise their contact and association with people of the other faith. This manifests in everyday life, like the Christian who immediately changes the channel when a Muslim preacher shows on the TV, or a Muslim who will not date a Christian. It’s like the world is still far away from the point where people can cross the fence freely without bias or condemnation.
So the Pope’s worship at the mosque is considered nice from a diplomatic perspective. But is this the cool, progressive thing for the rest of us ordinary Christians and Muslims to do? Is this the way to go? To what extent should we be willing to cross the fence and bond with people of the other faith?
Taofeek says, “I read about the Pope’s visit in the news. I think it’s timely because of all the terrorist stuff happening right now – the Isis, the Al Qaeda and all that. He’s trying to connect with the Muslim world. It’s a good one from that angle. But personally I think they shouldn’t have allowed a person who doesn’t believe in our faith to worship in the mosque. I think it’s not right. The Pope is not Muslim and obviously doesn’t believe in Islam. He shouldn’t be let to pray in the mosque with Muslims.”
The feeling is mutual.
Samuel says, “It’s nice to see the Pope take such a step for the sake of peace. But I personally don’t see myself worshipping in a mosque. It’s inappropriate. As Christians, we can make friends with the Muslims and work and play with them. But that’s probably the limit. Marrying a Muslim is unacceptable to me, for example, because we don’t share the same faith.”
There are some moderate Christians and Muslims who have liberal views though.
Maruf says, for instance, “I mix freely, and I don’t discriminate between Christians and Muslims. I have cousins who’re Christians and sometimes I attend a church event at their invitation. I also watch Pastor Sam Adeyemi and read Christian writers. My point is, I try to keep an open mind regarding these things.”
Amaka also says, “I think religious leaders contribute to this thing, because they’re the ones who make the fence bigger through their teaching. I’ve been in churches where the pastor said negative things about Islam just to make his own faith look good. I’ve also heard in my neighbourhood, where the Muslims have an outdoor lecture and the preacher calls out Christians inappropriately. These things simply pit both sides against each other and further polarise the world.”
So then, how is the Pope’s action particularly relevant to Nigeria?
Amaka says, “The Pope’s move is particularly relevant to our nation if you look at the ethnic and religious problems that’s going on. We need to show love to each other and interact more freely with each other, treating each other as one regardless of faith or ethnicity. We need to unite, so that way our nation can move forward.”
Mosques are Satanic temples. No, it is not cool.
The world has the "Lightbringer" and a very disturbing Pope.
The Pope prayed at a mosque last weekend
When he be headed out?
It was stupid and wholly unnecessary
My sister visited a mosque when she was in Africa, years ago. There was nothing inside. No altar, no focal point. Just an empty room with a dirt floor.
Wow...
I do not even know what to say to that, other than I really do not like this pope at all.
This Pope sucks.
Qur’an 8:30—And (remember) when the unbelievers plotted deception against you (O Muhammad), to imprison you, or kill you, or expel you. They plotted deception, but Allah also plotted deception; and Allah is the best of deceivers.
http://www.answeringmuslims.com/2014/03/is-allah-best-of-deceivers.html
the great deciever....well golly
being cavalier about apparing to give legitimacy to pagan religions isn’t cool. helps no one. unless the end goal is to develop a friendship to bring them to Christ, rather than let them stay pagan, and merely just be temporal buddies but not give a sh1t enough to tell them the truth, it’s hardly being a good friend, or good Christian.
but giving what they do an air of legitimacy by praying in their pagan spaces isn’t right or good.
to this point, there a picture of pope jpii where a hindu pagan priestess is maring his forehad with a religious sign. it’s been posted here, and it’s on the internet. he also had a bunch of pagans visit the vatican and do their prayer ceremonies there.
It may be hip and cool but it is wrong. Of course so is praying to Mary but the Pope does that, too.
I keep wanting to call him Pope Pyle because he looks so much like Gomer, but I don’t want to make my Catholic friends hate me. He is Jim Nabors twin.
Unfortunately, in Calgary, we are home to the largest mosque in Canada. It is located in the NE part of the city, only two blocks from the police HQ. Every time I pass by it, I say a little prayer that God will open the eyes of the attendees to who He is and how their religion is nothing but a sad, Satanic imitation.
Praying to Satan is not my idea of ecumenism.
Well, he had a Muslim Holy man praying leading Muslim prayers at the Vatican.
Is praying to Mary wrong? I have been studying Catholicism and thought this was ok?!
worse than stupid - blasphemous.
“being cavalier about apparing to give legitimacy to pagan religions isn’t cool. helps no one. unless the end goal is to develop a friendship to bring them to Christ”
Francis has told all other faiths there is no need in becoming Catholic. I’m sure he’s told muslims there’s no need in becoming Christian because we all “brothers” in Christ. By the way Francis is absolutely wrong. He shows a limited understanding of Catholicism.
Disgusting! Just awful. Dragging the church down Into the islamoNazi murderers’ Satanic sewer. Pray that the Holy Spirit turn pope Francis around back to God. ASAP!!
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