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2006-09-16 Europe

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Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-09-16 08:50|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Jeebus, a Philosopher Pope.

Posted by 6 2006-09-16 10:20|| 2006-09-16 10:20|| Front Page Top

#2 Indeed -- and one who is deeply and well trained in theological reasoning. Benedict was a formidable choice for the papacy.

Posted by lotp 2006-09-16 10:55|| 2006-09-16 10:55|| Front Page Top

#3
Wake me when he gets to the part about new Crusade.

Posted by Master of Obvious 2006-09-16 11:17|| 2006-09-16 11:17|| Front Page Top

#4 He's nWake me when he gets to the part about new Crusade.

Change your tag to Rip Van Winkle.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-09-16 11:19|| 2006-09-16 11:19|| Front Page Top

#5 The previous Pope was also a philosopher and great thinker.

Posted by Steve White">Steve White 2006-09-16 12:55|| 2006-09-16 12:55|| Front Page Top

#6 Not in quite the same way, I think. The previous pope was indeed a charismatic thinker and quite bright. Benedict is an intellectual with a reputation for highly rigorous reasoning.

He ran a salon for many years in which he probed and challenged the thinking of many people. For better or worse, I see the same mode happening here. "Islam means peace." is the claim. He probes: "conversion by sword is a horrid evil".

Seething, violence or angry silence -- his point is made clearly. And since "Islam is peace" he is ""genuinely upset"" at the angry response.

I don't think that's a falsehood, by the way. I think he really IS upset by it, for the response makes clear the coming clash. I'm not so sure he was surprised by it, though.

Posted by lotp 2006-09-16 13:02|| 2006-09-16 13:02|| Front Page Top

#7 At first gloss I will certainly say that the above reveals a man who cannot possibly be accused of blind faith. How refreshing.

I'll need to read his entire reply before diving in about any "apology" on his part. Be sure that I do hope he has not made one.

Posted by Zenster 2006-09-16 14:11|| 2006-09-16 14:11|| Front Page Top

#8 At first gloss I will certainly say that the above reveals a man who cannot possibly be accused of blind faith. How refreshing.

As far as I can tell, that's quite common among popes, excepting the ones who were purely political appointees.

Posted by Rob Crawford">Rob Crawford 2006-09-16 17:08|| http://www.kloognome.com/]">[http://www.kloognome.com/] 2006-09-16 17:08|| Front Page Top

#9 The courage to engage the whole breadth of reason, and not the denial of its grandeur

My comments have more to do with how the Pope said things rather than what exactly he said. But what he said seems to come into play, too!

Whew! That's a difficult read! But I picked this out as central, or close enough to it. Yes, the West seems to be stuck on logical thinking and doesn't consider the ~~irrational~~ "human" side as much. But at least for the West the "human" side falls under the very important category of "live and let live", which I think is a good place for it until it sorts itself out in the grand scheme of things. But for those extremist boneheads, they don't even have a category for it other than "Death to the infidels!". Maybe it seems like he is chastizing the West, but I think the Pope is chastising muslims by example, knowing the West is mature enough to take it in stride. And he's hoping muslim world can learn the lesson without feeling threatened into acting like animals. To me, if this is true, this is extremely important and indicitive of his thinking that he is taking this tack rather than addressing the muslim world head-on. I suspect he was trying to avoid casualties, but it doesn't seem to be working.

Posted by gorb 2006-09-16 17:11|| 2006-09-16 17:11|| Front Page Top

#10 The media are the ones spinning this up as some sort of an apology. Benedict regrets that the Muslims have found cause to take offense but nowhere retracts or mentions that he's sorry for what he has said.

Basically, he has made a polite but sidelong reference to how easily offended Muslim sensitivies are. I can only hope that the Pope does not alter his stance one bit.

Posted by Zenster 2006-09-16 17:41|| 2006-09-16 17:41|| Front Page Top

#11 As a Catholic, I ain't feeling my usual guilt on this and neither is the Pope LOL

Posted by Frank G 2006-09-16 17:42|| 2006-09-16 17:42|| Front Page Top

#12 Last Tuesday, he uses a quote which decries Islam's use of violence and, 5 days later, the Muzzies respond with violent protests.

Not only is this clearly another manufactured bit of outrage theater, it's also just no fun when your opponent is too stupid to understand when they've been nailed.

Posted by flyover 2006-09-16 19:18|| 2006-09-16 19:18|| Front Page Top

#13 "The courage to engage the whole breadth of reason, and not the denial of its grandeur this is the program with which a theology grounded in Biblical faith enters into the debates of our time. Not to act reasonably (with logos) is contrary to the nature of God,"

This is a complex statement. It implies that western science and reason are fully healthy in God's sight .
And encourtages one to observe the "grandeur" of the natural universe and marvel at god's fingerprints in the beauty of it all.
It also makes a stand for rationality ( or what we consider reason) being opposed by the irrationality and retrovision of Islam.
These statements are a philosophy. And a challenge.

Posted by J.D. Lux 2006-09-16 20:16|| 2006-09-16 20:16|| Front Page Top

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