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December 6, 2006

Pope put into action in Turkey his words at Regensburg, that Western secularization and Islamic intolerance are both to be avoided

Topics: Understanding Islam

Samir Khalil Samir SJ writes that the enthusiasm with which the Turks welcomed Benedict XVI and the positive assessment made by local media have taken everyone by surprise:

The essential message at Regensburg was two-fold. Firstly, with a view toward the West, it was to say that secularization is not a positive thing and does not allow for universal dialogue. Instead, Reason allows for universal dialogue on the condition that it is not detached from religiosity and from moral principles. This was a critique of the West. There was also a critique of the Islamic world, too tempted by violence.

The final aim of this two-fold critique was a positive affirmation: if we want universal peace and global dialogue, these aspirations are threatened in the West and the East by these two main issues. The Pope is thus striving to build a philosophical-theological framework centred on rationality, but a rationality which is open to the transcendental dimension.

In his trip to Turkey, Benedict XVI gave substance to this vision, applying it to a concrete situation, but his thinking remains that of Regensburg. Speaking to the Muslims, he discretely recalled the question of violence, but avoided the misunderstanding which occurred with his words at Regensburg.

Read all of Father Samir's piece here.

Then be sure to read all of Islam gets concessions; infidels get conquered - on the Pope's visit to the Hagia Sophia complex in Istanbul.

Posted by Richard at December 6, 2006 11:14 PM

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