“Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.”
Anyone following the recent brouhaha over Pope Benedict’s speech at the University of Regensburg will recognize these as the words of 14th century Byzantine emperor Manual Paleologos, quoted by Benedict in his remarks. In the days that followed the pope’s speech, threats and protests have poured in from Muslims around the world.
The pope has subsequently stated that he regrets the misunderstanding caused by his speech; he also clarified that he does not adhere to the emperor’s views. Many Muslims, however, continue to threaten both the pope and other Christians.
Benedict made a big blunder, eh? Actually, no.
The pope was using the debate between the Christian emperor and the Muslim scholar as a springboard to a profound discussion of the relationship between faith and reason. His point was that the modern West is in the dangerous position of putting reason and faith at odds when, in fact, they should work hand-in-hand.
Benedict insists that religion and violence are incompatible, which is the emperor’s point. The difference between Paleologos and Benedict is that the emperor saw in Islam nothing but violence, whereas the pope sees a religion that worships the same God as Christianity and with whom there is the possibility of fruitful dialogue.
The only error in this scenario was made by the Muslim clerics and organizations that blew a non-issue out of proportion. How ridiculous is it to see Al-Qaeda protesting the defamation of a religion that they themselves deface daily with their psychopathic rants of hatred and violence? How ironic is it to see people burning effigies and attacking churches, behaviour which merely proves the emperor’s point?
The slurs hurled at the pope in the wake of this incident are far more offensive to Catholics than the remarks of a 14th century emperor can possibly be for Muslims. Yet there are no effigies of Muhammed being burned in protest, nor are mosques being attacked.
In fact, if Catholics were to react in such a violent and over-blown manner, the pope would be the first to denounce these actions as contrary to reason and religion. This is what moderate Muslims must do, and thankfully many have done so.
The vast majority of Muslims are not the fanatical types whose antics tar the reputation of their religion. The majority are, I would hope, embarrassed and outraged at the caricature of their faith which these radicals promote. Benedict’s upcoming trip to Turkey is a golden opportunity for Muslims to demonstrate that they are as interested in non-violent interaction as the pope is.
It is interesting to note that, despite the bluntness of the Byzantine emperor, he and the Muslim scholar were apparently able to carry on their theological discussion with equanimity. Surely it is time for Christians and Muslims to put aside petty differences and respond to the pope’s welcome call to dialogue with one another.
