Sometimes religious types try to broaden their views in order to be loved and respected by nonbelievers.
Don’t try this. You only give them more reason to disregard you.
Take what happened to Smith College’s chaplains: Their nondogmatic and pro-diversity stance was so persuasive, the school fired them in the name of nondogmatism and diversity.
Smith once employed chaplains who serve Catholics, Protestants and Jews, reports The Weekly Standard. No more.
“Our student body has become increasingly diverse in every way, including religiously, and we belive students would be better served by moving away from the emphasis on these three faith groups and moving toward broader support for the full range of religious belief and practice on campus.”
These chaplains were already doing the diversity thing, “supporting groups from the Radical Catholic Feminists of Smith to the Hillel Foundation to the Association of Smith Pagans and Al Iman.”[reference]
14 comments
That’s exactly what Pope Benedict is doing right now in the Holy Land. He knows that Islam is a violent heresy and yet he dignifies this aberrant religion with respect. Why? Did Jesus acknowledge the Romans’ worship of idolatry to placate them? I believe Pope Benedict should bring the message of Christ to everyone but he should not acknowledge or dignify the madness of those who consider us infidels. Case in point, if an arab imman came to the Vatican would he apologize for sacking the Holy Land and killing millions of Christians? I doubt it. When the Pope becomes a “politician” he has to say things he doesn’t truly mean or believe. His Regensburg address was more sincere.
Proving once again that being open-minded may cause your brains to fall out.
Marguerite, you dare accuse the Holy Father not only of coddling heresy but even of insincerity? What rank treason!
The Pope might want to, oh I don’t know, win over a few souls? Emphasize some common ground so he can make some progress with these people? Surely you don’t expect him to convert anybody merely by telling them that they’re all damned and Mohammed was full of beans. Particularly when he’s dealing with a monarch who could choose to persecute the Christian minority but does not.
Aquinas says that when you try to convince the Jews of Christianity, you talk about the Old Testament. When you try to convince Muslims, you use reason and science. I suppose you think that Aquinas was soft on heresy too?
Pope Benedict will show them what it means to be a Christian. I hope that their hearts are more open to his words and deeds than yours.
I’ve seen this happen first hand. A formerly Catholic institution where I worked, then became independent, but “founded in the Catholic tradition,” and the campus minister there, a nun I know well, tried to be as inclusive as possible (including removing the crucifix when we had interfaith services in the Chapel. Today the campus (I no longer work there) has moved away from having a campus minister at all. It’s a shame.
Elise, I am glad you got here before I did. You said everything I wanted to say to Maguerite, but with far more charity. Thank you.
It’s all George Bush’s fault.
Jeff:
In relation to the repeated subject of honors, is relevant to copy from St. John 5, 44:
How can you believe, who receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
Cordially
“There are those who hate Christianity and call their hatred an all-embracing love for all religions.” – G.K. Chesterton
Those who cannot stand strong for Christ will fall for anything. One consequence of such capitulation is the desire to be loved by the world. Once that happens, literally all hell breaks loose. Very sad.
@ elise:
right on, sister!
Adeodatus uses the word treason very lightly. Wasn’t Jesus also accused of treason by the Pharisees and Romans because he was a threat to them? I don’t recall Jesus dialoguing with the Pharisees, the Romans or any of those who were against him. Spreading the message of Jesus Christ will win more souls than trying to rectify his Regensburg comments. Again, Pope Benedict had it right the first time–Islam’s founder was a violent heretic.
Marguerite,
Actually Jesus was often in open dialogue with the Pharisees, particularly about issues of Jewish law and doctrine. Much of what we have recorded in the Gospel accounts are such conversations, where Jesus would challenge and correct the Pharisaic teaching of his day.
Dialogue is a great way to teach, and I believe that is what the Holy Father is using it for.
Ed Steele
Ed,
Jesus never “dialogued” with the Pharisees. When he spoke to them it was to correct their hypocritcal ways which was always aimed at tripping him up. In fact, in speaking to the Pharisees, Jesus often used the words “woe to you…”. This is not dialoguing. Referring to Herod, he called him a fox. To the Romans, he blankly told Pilate that he would have no power had it not been given to him from Heaven. Yes, Pope Benedict is an ambassador of peace but to relegate any amount of respect to a religion of death is against what he said in his Regensburg speech. I believe that speech was, in fact, the truth.
Then, Marguerite, I suppose you have a problem with St. Paul and his address on Mars Hill as recorded in Acts 17…
The subject of St. Paul’s discourse in Acts 17 is to persuade those listening to believe in Jesus the Christ. Pope Benedict is on a goodwill mission to the Holy Land. He is not there preaching Christ crucified and resurrected to Jews or Muslims. Yesterday, the Pope had to walk out of a meeting because Muslims were spewing out hatred. Is this dialogue?