Since the days when Roman emperors threw Christians to the lions, the relations between the emperors and the heads of the church have undergone many changes.
Constantine the Great, who became emperor in the year 306 - exactly 1700 years ago - encouraged the practice of Christianity in the empire, which included Palestine. Centuries later, the church split into an Eastern (Orthodox) and a Western (Catholic) part. In the West, the Bishop of Rome, who acquired the title of Pope, demanded that the emperor accept his superiority.
The struggle between the emperors and the popes played a central role in European history and divided the peoples. It knew ups and downs. Some emperors dismissed or expelled a pope, some popes dismissed or excommunicated an emperor. One of the emperors, Henry IV, "walked to Canossa", standing for three days barefoot in the snow in front of the Pope's castle, until the Pope deigned to annul his excommunication.
But there were times when emperors and popes lived in peace with each other. We are witnessing such a period today. Between the present Pope, Benedict XVI, and the present emperor, George Bush II, there exists a wonderful harmony. Last week's speech by the Pope, which aroused a worldwide storm, went well with Bush's crusade against "Islamofascism", in the context of the "clash of civilizations".
In his lecture at a German university, the 265th Pope described what he sees as a huge difference between Christianity and Islam: while Christianity is based on reason, Islam denies it. While Christians see the logic of God's actions, Muslims deny that there is any such logic in the actions of Allah.
As a Jewish atheist, I do not intend to enter the fray of this debate. It is much beyond my humble abilities to understand the logic of the Pope. But I cannot overlook one passage, which concerns me too, as an Israeli living near the fault-line of this "war of civilizations".
In order to prove the lack of reason in Islam, the Pope asserts that the Prophet Muhammad ordered his followers to spread their religion by the sword. According to the Pope, that is unreasonable, because faith is born of the soul, not of the body. How can the sword influence the soul?
To support his case, the Pope quoted - of all people - a Byzantine emperor, who belonged, of course, to the competing Eastern Church. At the end of the 14th century, Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus told of a debate he had - or so he said (its occurrence is in doubt) - with an unnamed Persian Muslim scholar. In the heat of the argument, the emperor (according to himself) flung the following words at his adversary:
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.
These words give rise to three questions: (a) Why did the Emperor say them? (b) Are they true? (c) Why did the present Pope quote them?
When Manuel II wrote his treatise, he was the head of a dying empire. He assumed power in 1391, when only a few provinces of the once illustrious empire remained. These, too, were already under Turkish threat.
At that point in time, the Ottoman Turks had reached the banks of the Danube. They had conquered Bulgaria and the north of Greece, and had twice defeated relieving armies sent by Europe to save the Eastern Empire. On 29 May 1453, only a few years after Manuel's death, his capital, Constantinople (the present Istanbul), fell to the Turks, putting an end to the empire that had lasted for more than a thousand years.
During his reign, Manuel made the rounds of the capitals of Europe in an attempt to drum up support. He promised to reunite the church. There is no doubt that he wrote his religious treatise in order to incite the Christian countries against the Turks and convince them to start a new crusade. The aim was practical, theology was serving politics.
In this sense, the quote serves exactly the requirements of the present Emperor, George Bush II. He, too, wants to unite the Christian world against the mainly Muslim "Axis of Evil". Moreover, the Turks are again knocking on the doors of Europe, this time peacefully. It is well known that the Pope supports the forces that object to the entry of Turkey into the European Union.
Is there any truth in Manuel's argument?
The pope himself threw in a word of caution. As a serious and renowned theologian, he could not afford to falsify written texts. Therefore, he admitted that the Qur'an specifically forbade the spreading of the faith by force. He quoted the second Sura, Verse 256 (strangely fallible, for a pope, he meant Verse 257) which says: "There must be no coercion in matters of faith."
Uri Avnery is a longtime Israeli peace activist. Since 1948 has advocated the setting up of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. In 1974, Uri Avnery was the first Israeli to establish contact with PLO leadership. In 1982 he was the first Israeli ever to meet Yassir Arafat, after crossing the lines in besieged Beirut. He served three terms in the Israeli Parliament (Knesset), and is the founder of Gush Shalom (Peace Bloc). Visit his Website.
I think I am a Christian but I am hardly religious. If anything, I did not chose what I am; I can just tell where I belong without having to believe anything....I know who and what I am, and especially, I know my soul. For that reason I could not be Jewish because I know Christ, (the human) too well...I do not think he is that special either; there are many of the like. Although I know the following, I will substitute the world 'belief' for the purpose of being 'politically correct'. First, the soul and the body belong together. The soul always attaches itself on to a body and it does not have to be your own. Most of the time, it floats between bodies...the sould travels. I am also quite certain that God does not rule by reason....Germans do! God does not think at all...he is not human. Here I agree strongly with the Muslims. Even Jesus did not rule by reason, really...but from his soul. The soul has it's own unique powers of reasoning, and they are very different from that coming from the brain and thought/judgement.....much closer to the truth. (as Buddhism)...a 'collective truth without judgement'. I have also seen amazing souls in some animals, more human than any person's soul I have ever encountered. Again, the reasoning of the sould is completely different from the reasoning of the brain/thought/emotion...yet it is 'precice', 'powerful', 'protective', 'incredibly wise' and 'loving'. Most often, this soul places itself between people...and does not limit it's company to 'good people'. Do I believe all that? No! I have made the observation plenty of time, while I was not sitting in Church listening to some preacher. I never looked for it either, which is the clue. There is no magic about God. Behind the soul, there is a real science as is the case with the body and mind. Unfortunately, I never benefit from knowing these things ten years ahead of anybody else. First, I am a crazy idiot, and then (ten years later), the credit and praise goes to the 'progressive inventors'. It all seems so obvious to me; It's visible. so much for that! Thanks for your wonderful article. Atheists, in my opinion, have 'the truth' much further down...they are much closer to God, and understand all this much better than any religious fanatic. That's why they don't have to believe...like myself. Katrin
by
Katrin R. (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 514 comments)
on Monday, September 25, 2006 at 10:38:21 AM
You are a Stage 3 soul according to Dr Scott Peck-and I realize NOW I should have added a resource list to this essay. It was Dr Scott Peck's 25 year old classic: "The Different Drum: Community Making and Peace" that inspired this article of July 1, 2006
It has been said that evolution is being held up by fundamentalism and the surge of fundamentalism throughout all faith paths sends shivers through cynical atheists and mystics alike. The bumper sticker actually got it right: "We are spiritual beings having a human experience."
The spiritual life is fluid and one may pass back and forth repeatedly through any of the four; and probably many more-stages of the soul in one's spiritual evolution to become fully balanced: human and divine...
Stage one upon this journey -that begins from within-is essentially our infancy in the spiritual life. Like a wild child, a person in this stage reflects the inner chaotic and anti-social, unregenerate soul that is interested only in its own self-satisfaction and ego, much like the stereotypical spoiled child. Stage one people may claim to love others, but their behavior reflects they love their own pleasure, money, power, prestige, and security above any other. For stage one people, it really is all about them.
The good news is that the vast majority of humanity responds to that inner tug which is God, for lack of a better word. The mystic Katherine of Sienna wrote that within us all is the divine: a diamond but life has dulled the flame of its brilliance. Stage two souls seek to "let their light shine" and will live virtuous lives and do many good works. They also can be judgmental of others, rigid in their thoughts, cold of heart, legalistic concrete literal thinkers and may even be guilty of lukewarm faith. They want to do right; they want to love and please God, but have not yet opened up to the Inner Light as Joan of Ark did when she challenged church and state. Stage two souls have not yet been set free and prefer the security of a higher human authority than themselves for guidance. They submit to institutions, scripture, dogma, ritual, ministers, or gurus. This is the most appropriate stage for older children and most adults who live busy lives just trying to keep bread on the table and a dry roof above. The difference between a stage one and stage two soul, is that a one wouldn't even notice a neighbor in need, while the two has awoken to the fact that we are to be our neighbor's keepers and they will respond to a friend-and like the good Samaritan, even to a total stranger in need.
Many theologians agree that the opposite of faith is not disbelief: the opposite of faith is fear.
Stage three souls have not just awoken, they have evolved! The stage three soul's evolution has led them to the realization of what Christ was really talking about in the Sermon of the Mount AKA The Beatitudes which sound like crazy promises, but are the litmus test of how we will be judged, if we claim to be a Christian.
About 2,000 years ago, when Christ was about 33, he hiked up a hill and sat down under an olive tree and began to teach the people;
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven."
In other words: it is those who know their own spiritual poverty, their own limitations and sins honestly and trust God loves them in spite of themselves who already live in the Kingdom of God.
God's name in ancient Aramaic is Abba which means Daddy as much as Mommy and He/She: The Lord has said, "My ways are not your ways. My thoughts are not yours." –ISAIAH 55:8
How comforted we will all be, when we see, we haven't got a clue, as to the depth and breadth of pure love and mercy of The Divine Mystery of The Universe.
Christ proclaimed more: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." The essence of meek is to be patient with ignorance, slow to anger and never hold a grudge. In other words: how happy you will be when you also know humility; when you know ourselves, the good and the bad, for both cut through every human heart.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, they will be filled." In other words: how happy you will be when your greatest desire is to do what God requires, and he has already told you what that is; be mercy, seek justice and walk humbly with your Lord.[-Micah 6:8]
"Blessed are the merciful, they will be shown mercy." In other words: how happy you will all be when you choose to return only kindness to your 'enemy.' "For with the measure you measure against another, it will be measured back to you." Christ warns his disciples as he explains the law of karma in Luke 6:27-38.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they see God." In other words: how happy you will be when you WAKE UP and see God is already within you, within every man, every woman and every child. The Supreme Being is everywhere, the Alpha and Omega, beginning and end. Beyond The Universe -and yet so small; within the heart of every atom.
"Blessed are The Peacemakers: THEY shall be called the children of God." Oh how happy the WORLD will be when we all seek justice and pursue it, for there can be no peace without justice.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires, theirs is The Kingdom of Heaven."
And one fine day the lion will lie down with The Lamb and man will make war no more and that is the Kingdom of God.
A stage three will reject Christ as God, but often agree with the philosophy Jesus taught in the Sermon on The Mount, Luke 6:17-36. A stage three soul will see that a neighbor is also everyone on the planet and not just those who think and look the same. Stages threes are seekers, doubters, skeptics, atheists, agnostics and frequently adults who grew up disenchanted with institutionalized religion. Their inherent intellectual curiosity leads them to seek their way towards the Mystery of the Divine through philosophy and the study of multiple faith paths choosing and discarding according to their "inner light." Stage three souls often become activists for social justice and reform and the new wave of philanthropy from the blessed trio of Warren Buffet, Linda and Bill Gates fills mystics with hope for a future that honors the sacredness of every life, which is what a Christian would understand as seeing Jesus in everyone.
It has been said we are all called to be mystics in the market place and a stage four, such as Thomas Merton and Rumi give voice to that experience of the curtain being lifted and seeing through the glass a bit less darkly. A mystic can best be understood as one who is in love with the divine mystery and is viscerally connected to the unity of all creation. Mystics are not navel gazers, they feel the pain of the world within their hearts and grieve at what human's do to the other when they have no clue that The Divine is within "the other" as much as within them. Mystics have detached from their concepts of God-not by their own efforts, but by the invitation and action of God upon a willing and simple soul in love with Pure Being AKA: God.
The mystic fool, Saint Francis, the leper kisser of Assisi, was so head over heels in love with God in everyone and all of creation most people of his time considered him insane or at least, extremely eccentric. One needn't be a mystic or move beyond stage two on the spiritual journey to do what is good and right just because it is good and right. On that foundation people of faith and atheists and agnostics can surely agree, or would only a mystic see that?
I am way too nervous and excited to read through all of this article at this time. It does not happen very often that someone understands me. Everything I say seems to come out wrong. So, I have to read this article much more carefully when I have calmed down, and then I will write to you again. But one curious thing I wanted to share with you is this: I was participating in this Psychodrama workshop a few months ago, when the director told the group to do this exercise where you get into groups of three. One is holding another, one is being held, and the third is supporting the back of the holder. As we are doing this, the director tells us to think of whom we were really holding, or wanted to hold, or be held by, etc. ..in our lives...and to imagine 'whatever' along with this. (and everyone did) I, on the other hand, was holding my assigned woman as if she was the only person who mattered in the world . I thought of no one else.... only of her, and I held her tightly and protectively. This was not fake, but real. Afterwards, and after everyone had shared about whom they had been holding, vice versa... I walked up to the director angrily, and told her how insulting she had been by repeatedly suggesting we imagine our holding/being held by someone else who we wished was in the place of the one we were actually hoding, and how dare she try to distract me when I was fully engaged, and concentrating on only one single person, and that being the one who was actually in my arms. Knowing me well, she in turn just shook me off and said: "Don't compare yourself..... you are way too evolved to be doing anything else than what you were doing...I know that". That was the first time I ever heard this expression until you just said it now. I never really understood what she meant. She is one of the very few people who understands me. And when I work, it is always totally different from the problems the others have with their families, or partners, or work, or whatever. I always only work with the parts inside of me that are struggling with each other. To me that is normal, and always has been. Thanks Eileen.....Katrin
by
Katrin R. (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 514 comments)
on Monday, September 25, 2006 at 11:59:50 PM
I am sure many world citizens of all religions and races including myself dream of the day Israel and US government stop re-writing history. Only then, the world will understand that war of civilization is a big lie and will demand a solution to the Middle East conflict.
Your article is a wonderful example of good analysis, great insight and honesty. Thank you for bringing to light the real history, which the western world chose to rewrite to serve a narrow political agenda.
On the other hand, nobody attempts to understand the reaction of the people who now believe violence will force the word to listen. Therefore, they are playing in the hand of their enemies, and we all are paying the price.
It takes a real character to write such an article especially as an Israeli and Jewish. I am also impressed with your life long work on the Arab Israeli conflict, my hat off to you my friend.
by
sameh abdelaziz (35 articles, 6 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 28 comments)
on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 at 8:37:57 AM
I am sure many world citizens of all religions and races including myself dream of the day Israel and US government stop re-writing history. Only then, the world will understand that war of civilization is a big lie and will demand a solution to the Middle East conflict.
Your article is a wonderful example of good analysis, great insight and honesty. Thank you for bringing to light the real history, which the western world chose to rewrite to serve a narrow political agenda.
On the other hand, nobody attempts to understand the reaction of the people who now believe violence will force the word to listen. Therefore, they are playing in the hand of their enemies, and we all are paying the price.
It takes a real character to write such an article especially as an Israeli and Jewish. I am also impressed with your life long work on the Arab Israeli conflict, my hat off to you my friend.
by
sameh abdelaziz (35 articles, 6 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 28 comments)
on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 at 10:55:19 PM
Dr. Zakir Naik has invited Pope Benedict XVI for open dialog
JEDDAH: Eminent scholar of comparative religion Dr. Zakir Naik has invited Pope Benedict XVI for an open inter-faith dialogue.
The Pope's recent statement, which included a quote from a 14th century Byzantine emperor, sparked outrage in the Muslim world. In his latest efforts to calm down the Muslim anger the Pope invited diplomats from 20 Islamic countries at his summer residence in south of Rome.
This extraordinary gathering was seen as the latest effort by Benedict XVI to quell the furor stirred two weeks ago by controversial remarks he made about Islam. He is attempting to channel the emotion into what he calls an authentic and respectful dialogue.
Dr. Naik sees the Pope's statement on Islam as pre-planned. "He (the Pope) knew very well what he was speaking at University of Regensburg in Germany on September 12," he said.
"The Pope's apology to the Muslims was at all not an apology rather it was putting salt on the wounds," said Dr. Naik, adding that the Pope should have explicitly apologized and retracted his statement.
http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?155694
by
rizwan (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments)
on Monday, October 2, 2006 at 4:17:52 PM
6 comments
How would you rate this?
You must be logged in (if signed up) to do ratings.
It's free to signup! And easy. And takes just a minute or two....
Must Read (
Well Said (
News (
Touching (
Funny (
Supported (
Interesting (
Inspiring (
Valuable (
