Pope Benedict XVI, in response to the letter sent by Muslim scholars, said he is willing to meet with Muslim representatives, announced the Vatican this week.
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(Photo: AP Images / Gregorio Borgia)Pope Benedict XVI is saluted by a Swiss guard at the end of a session of prayer and reflection with the College of Cardinals, at the Vatican Friday Nov. 23, 2007.
In the reply letter, the pope expressed “deep appreciation for this gesture, for the positive spirit which inspired the text [of the letter] and for the call for a common commitment to promoting peace in the world,” according to The Associated Press.
In October, 138 Muslim clerics, scholars and intellectuals from all the major sects signed a letter calling for peace between Muslims and Christians. The letter, entitled “A Common World Between Us and You,” urged followers of the two faiths to find “common ground” and not simply just for “polite ecumenical dialogue” between certain religious leaders.
The pope, in his response letter, emphasized the need for dialogue between Islam and Christianity that resists “downplaying” differences, but rather focuses on what unites, “namely, belief in one God,” the pope said.
“Such common ground allows us to base dialogue on effective respect for the dignity of every human person, on objective knowledge of the religion of the other, on the sharing of religious experience and, finally, on common commitment to promoting mutual respect and acceptance among the younger generation,” Benedict said, according to AP.
Also recently, over 100 Christian leaders around the world collectively signed a response letter to the Muslim letter, calling on the two Abrahamic faiths to love God and neighbors together.
Signers of the letter, issued by the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, included Jim Wallis, president of Sojourners; Rick Warren, founder and senior pastor of Saddleback Church; John Stott, rector emeritus of All Souls Church in London; and Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals.
The Christian leaders urged for an interfaith dialogue that moves beyond “polite” ecumenical talks between selected leaders. Instead, leaders of both faiths should hold dialogues to build relations that will “reshape” the two communities to “genuinely reflect our common love for God and for one another,” the Christian letter stated.
“Given the deep fissures in the relations between Christians and Muslims today, the task before us is daunting. And the stakes are great. The future of the world depends on our ability as Christians and Muslims to live together in peace,” the Christian letter noted. “If we fail to make every effort to make peace and come together in harmony you correctly remind us that ‘our eternal souls’ are at stakes as well.”
The pope, meanwhile, said he was willing to receive Prince Ghazi Bin Mohammed of Jordan, the monarch’s special adviser on religious matters, to whom the letter is addressed, as well as a select group of the letter’s signatories, according to AP.
The Vatican has been trying to improve Muslim-Vatican relations after a comment made by the Pope in 2006 about violence and Islam angered Muslims around the world.
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truthandjustice...
"but if you notice the site regularly has statements made by the Pope and people are always commenting about them - why??? because the Pope remains Extremely relevant and what he says has meaning around the world."
The only reason is because he is the leader of the largest religious movement in the world. but it doesn't make him right. President Bush is the leader of the most powereful country in the world...but it doesn't make him right,
that old saying "might makes right"? i don't think so....just because Catholicism the the most powerful religious force in the world doesn't automatically make it right.
mcfbc said: "That word unity can mean lots of things. Does he want to unite to help bring peace between the two religiions? Does he want to unite into a one world religion? There is a big difference in these meanings?"
To be honest, I don't see much difference at all, because I read some of the statements Warren made to the UN last year when he tried to correlate Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. with Christianity.
How can one "bring peace" between such disparate beliefs as Islam, these other religions, and Biblical Christianity? The Bible says, "How can two walk together, except they be agreed?" We know that there were kings in Israel who incurred God's judgment because they forged unholy alliances with unbelieving nations. I don't see any difference.
mcfbc said: "That word unity can mean lots of things. Does he want to unite to help bring peace between the two religiions? Does he want to unite into a one world religion? There is a big difference in these meanings?"
To be honest, I don't see much difference at all, because I read some of the statements Warren made to the UN last year when he tried to correlate Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. with Christianity.
How can one "bring peace" between such disparate beliefs as Islam, these other religions, and Biblical Christianity? The Bible says, "How can two walk together, except they be agreed?" We know that there were kings in Israel who incurred God's judgment because they forged unholy alliances with unbelieving nations. I don't see any difference.
taj1: If you noticed, a LOT of church leaders signed the letter, not just the pope. It would have made news if only Rick Warren had signed it! With all due respect, the pope is not relevant to me, at all. If he were to repudiate all the unBiblical RC beliefs tomorrow, THAT would be relevant to me. And I would have tremendous respect for him.
This isn't a Catholic site, but if you notice the site regularly has statements made by the Pope and people are always commenting about them - why??? because the Pope remains Extremely relevant and what he says has meaning around the world. Thus any comment, good or bad, only highlights what I think.
over 100 Christian leaders around the world collectively signed a response letter to the Muslim letter, calling on the two Abrahamic faiths to love God and neighbors together...let's be honest until the Pope makes a comment it isn't news. He agrees to meet with him and it's the top news. It's like a Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan,....they take a lot of criticism but at the end of the day it's them that you want to hear from when you are talking about glof, basketball,...and it's the same thing with religion. Agbawebaim don't be frustrated would it be better if nobody cared about what the Pope said? Do you know the denominations/faith of the people who criticize..is it important? The title: Pope Open to Meeting with Muslim Leaders gets all the attention - as it should because this is the Pope. I think the postings - good/bad are a very good sign because it reveals that the Pope remains very relevant.
if the pope stopped at my house
i would have him placed in a titanium alloy cage, and presented before a world court as the ultimate war criminal.
either that or he would die right there, as a friend of mine isnt too happy for the pope either, he'd be the one to do that.
either way, his fate is sealed stepping upon my hallowed grounds.
To agbawebaim:
You said: I wish we could all take time to understand one another!
Dear one, we do understand where your heart is. That's not in question here. What we're questioning is your following of the church instead of the builder of the church.
If the Pope stopped by your house today, would you kiss his hand, and call him "Holy Father"?
Just because somebody wrote a book about the creator, doesn't make him an authority. Joseph Smith wrote about "God" too, but was he right?
You said: Non-Catholics should wake up from their slumber and stop seeing Catholics as enemies.
Most loved of God, we don't see you as enemies, only deceived by the enemy. We love you more than you can possibly know. We are only pointing you to His Word, nothing more. It always has and always will speak for itself. We would be wrong to add or subtract any thing from it.
You said: Christ willed the leardership of the community to the 12 saying that he or she who hears you hears me.
Dear one, you imply governmental structure where non should exist. We are to follow Jesus, this is what he told each disciple upon coming to them for the first time. True, there should be accountability, but it is not possible for man to forgive sin. Yet, what happens in a catholic confessional? "Father, bless me for I have sinned".
You said: Show me where the Christian faith was preserved 1000 years ago if not in the Catholic Church?
Are we not having a discussion today?
You said: What are the fruits of Christianity? is it love and hope which the present pope has written about, or insults in a commentary box of the Christian Post?
Beloved, it was not my intention to insult or offend you in any way. My intention is only to show you what is truth. Paul, when writing to Timothy in Ephesus wrote:
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.
Since the scripture tells us something counter to what Catholicism presents, we naturally reject it. Take a look for yourself dear one, you may just be surprised.
Maranatha,
That word unity can mean lots of things. Does he want to unite to help bring peace between the two religiions? Does he want to unite into a one world religion? There is a big difference in these meanings?
And regarding inviting Hilary. Rick Warren invited all the major Rebublican candidates and they didn't come. What else is he supposed to do.
HyperionOverseer
Thank you for your kind comments.
If you go to these 2 links you will see a 2-part article explaining why Roman Catholicism is not Christian. I hope the Lord will use them as you seek to witness to your parents.
http://www.takeheed.net/news6.htm
http://www.takeheed.net/news7.htm
Takeheed
SO VERY WELL DONE on timing for that link!
i needed something i could drive the last nail into the coffin that will bury any and all trust to Roman Catholocism from my parents, who plan on visiting the Vatican the next time they go to Italy, much to my chagrin(of course i spoke out against it).
is there more of this?
I would invite agbawebaim@yahoo.co.uk to read my article on Catholicism contained in my ministry newsletter located on http://www.takeheed.net/news26.htm and to read why true Christians disagree with Billy Graham's sentiments on the 'brotherhood' of Roman Catholics and Christians who identify with Protestantism.
HyperionOverseer,
You have definetly left the shore and launched out into the deep; I am not sure most folks can swim out that far. In other words; this is not milk but meat. Not to many people have studied church history and its effect on the world scene (politically speaking), but there are a few of us who are not asleep.
Sounds a lot like Neville Chamberlin appeasing the enemy.
agbawebaim@yahoo.co.uk
I dont buy a single bit about the Catholic church preserving christianity
from what i remember learning many years ago, it was the Anabaptist sect that has been on the run from Roman catholic crusaders, and being massacred left and right, almost a hundred million people were murdered by the popes of their time, AND ALL BECAUSE they sought to erase the truth(the retranslated bible from Greek texts) from this world, and they almost did a perfect job of it if they had killed a few great individuals before they took the Godly action that made the truth known instead of after.
The Lutherans and the Protestants were truly right for betraying the Pope, it's the reason why i'm here as a born again christian today! Islam is only a war machine steered by the popes since its creation. and Muhammed's wife? yes, she was Roman Catholic, as was her cousin who mistranslated his 'visions' which were nothing more than epiliptic seizure hallucinations.
The Vulgate is a butchered book of darkness, and whoever created it is burning in hell as we speak, as will everyone who follows the Pope and his 'papalcy'. Just WHY would you defend a man who prides himself on being able to call himself "holy" when he's truly a consumate liar and a worldly prophet of darkness?
The day the vatican burns to the ground along with ALL of its authoritarian figures, will be a day i breathe a sigh of relief for this world, but then again, that wont be till God burns this world with unquenchable fire, He promised afterall.
And now that I think of it, wasnt it Roman Catholocism and its HATRED for Jews that created Adolf Hitler? I blame the popes for this exclusively. This was just one of their little tests to see how many Jews they could kill without anyone knowing it was really them and not just some dictator facist with a charismatic agenda.
And on the subject of child molestations by priests, a true testament to the Roman Catholic's godlessness, i'm getting sick of reading about these seperate cases every week or month. Just what are you catholics advocating that makes priests rape children, sometimes for years on end before FINALLY being excommunicated?
In any case, i DOUBT priests are excommunicated for doing those actions, more like they were because they got caught, found out, and exposed. You'd cut your leg off it it was poisoning the rest of your body too i'm sure, something that i have seen NOTHING to state the contrary for in all the years i've observed this.
I've said my final piece, anyone who defends the pope is foolishly siding with the ultimate in evil, and when the events stated in Left Behind come alive, Christianity(myself included) will be with Jesus, and the pope(future one maybe) will rule a portion of the world in absolute tyranny until his damnation.
(sorry if this sounds half hearted, i'm running on a few hours short of sleep)
I wish we could all take time to understand one another! The Christian faith did not begin with the comments in this article. The very Pope that we take delgiht to insult is the very one who has published a bestseller book, "Jesus of Nazareth", which makes the most profound effort to clarify the person of Jesus from the Biblical perspective and the Christian communities from the time of the early Church, as against some destructive literatures like the Da Vinci Code. Non-Catholics should wake up from their slumber and stop seeing Catholics as enemies. Evngelicals like Billy Graham have said so before. We are not enemies. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. The Catholic Church takes history seriously. Christ willed the leardership of the community to the 12, saying that he or she who hears you hears me. We cannot live in a state of lawlessness in the Church. For us Catholics, we recognise the place of leadership which is service. Abusing tghe Pope or whoever does not make you a better christian, afterall, Christ had friends who were pharisees and often dinned with them. Show me where the Christian faith was preserved 1000 years ago if not in the Catholic Church? What are the fruits of Christianity? is it love and hope which the present pope has written about, or insults in a commentary box of the Christian Post? Love one another as I have loved you, Our Lord said.
Uniting with the Muslims. O MY LORD! It's bad enough that the wolf is prowling outside our door...lets invite him in! That's the same thing goin on with Israel now. Where I think it's Palestine wants to split Jerusalem and make half of it palestinian. Palestine and the PLO, Hezbollah, and such are attacking Israel from the oustide...if this goes through, they're be able to strike at Israel from the inside.
Satan is sneaky...
"And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve." 2 Corinthians 11:12-15.
On an obelisk in front of the Muslim mosque in Mecca, these words are inscribed:
"There is one God, and he has no son."
This is a direct affront to our dear Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, "If anyone confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father who is in Heaven. But if anyone deny me before men, him will I deny before my Father who is in Heaven."
God help us.
mcfbc, you have indeed missed something. Rick Warren addressed the UN within the last year or so, making quite a few unscriptural comments in regard to Christians "uniting" with people of other faiths. There was a lot about that online at the time. And from what I understand, Bill Hybels has been on the same page. If I'm wrong about that, that's wonderful.
I am very concerned about Warren inviting Hillary Clinton to speak at his church at the AIDS conference last week. For her it was an opportunity to garner votes, nothing more. She is adamantly opposed to scriptural stands on abortion and homosexuality, as well as parental authority over their own children. I don't understand why Warren didn't at least invite someone comparable to give a scriptural view.
taj1:
I am sickened by ALL these so-called Christian leaders signing this letter. Unfortunately, the Pope does have a lot of power and influence because there are so many Roman Catholics on so many continents and in so many countries. And it seems that many, if not most, think they must accept every papal bull which comes out as a word from God.
If these leaders think they will appease Muslims with this action, they are dead wrong. Muslims are not looking for peaceful co-existence; they're looking to exterminate the "infidels" who are of "the great Satan". I pray these leaders will come to their senses before it's too late.
It makes me SICK to my stomach to see the pope doing this, talk about the ultimate deceiver. I mean from what i can observe DIDNT CATHOLOCISM FOSTER ISLAM?
If things keep going forward like this, the pope's going to have the Jews right in the trap he set for them, and islam wil be a worldwide majority. I'm praying for this Nazi Youth madman(pope) to stop while he's ahead, because even I am gettign tired of listening to his unification trash!
. . . . but rather focuses on what unites, “namely, belief in one God,” the pope said.?????????
I am sorry folks but there is absolutely nothing that Islam and true biblical Christianity have in common regarding who God is. Islam rejects the divinity of Christ and continues to persecute our brothers in some Islamic nations (Sudan, Indonesia, Iraq, etc.)without any regard for their well being!
What a misrepresentation!!!!!!!!
I am reading this article and I see nothing about Warren or Hybels praying in a Turkish mosque. I also see nothing about them declaring the need for a one world religion. Maybe I missed something.
Regarding the way Muslims treat us. Why do we expect people from other religions to treat us in a Christian manner? We as Christians have a hard enough time living a Godly example. Yet we expect these people who are lost in their sins to treat us well? Why? They are sinners in need of our prayers not our angry rebuke?
And how should we respond to Muslims around the world who treat others horribly? Should we bomb their countries. Should we condemn them and refuse to have anything to do with them? Or should we look for every opportunity to reach out in love to them, in Christ's love. To show them there is a better way than allah.
Luke 12:51 [Jesus said]:
"Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division."
Luke 12:54-56:
He said to the crowd: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time? "
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The King is coming!
It's so funny that recently, over 100 Christian leaders around the world collectively signed a response letter to the Muslim letter, calling on the two Abrahamic faiths to love God and neighbors together. However, Pope Benedict XVI, in response to the letter sent by Muslim scholars, said he is willing to meet with Muslim representatives, announced the Vatican this week. Yet, the Pope gets all the abuse in the comments. Have we already forgotten that the Pope made a speech to the Muslim leaders regarding the Christian faith that really upset the Muslim world and that his trip to Turkey (where he still went) might be very dangerous? I guess people have short memories and only read what they want to read because this article only states that the Pope is interested in meeting - did I miss something in this article that suggests otherwise?
Christians worship The Triune God of Father, Son & Holy Spirit. The only true God says "The Father sent The Son to be The Saviour of the world" [1st John 4:14]. Muslims reject this truth so they do not worship the only true God of Christianity.
For decades the Vatican and several Popes in particular have been misrepresenting Christianity to Muslims. The true Christian message to Muslims [and others interested] is found in my article 'Dear Muslim neighbour' that can be accessed on
http://www.takeheed.net/DearMuslimneighbour.htm
Many of course will think this is a loving, Christian offer by the Pope but genuine Christian 'love' must never be at the expense of God's glory and truth and this 'Christian' offer in what amounts to 'ecumenical dialogue' compromises both.
Islam's 'god' is a false 'god' that would seek to usurp the glory of the only True God who declared in Isaiah 42:8 "I am the Lord: that is my name and my glory will I not give to another".
The Vatican’s ‘god’ is equally false as their ‘Son’ continues to offer himself in an unbloody sacrifice [the Mass] to propitiate the anger of their ‘Father’ and all of course by the transubstantiating power of their ‘Holy Spirit’ who is at the beck and call of their ‘priests’.
Visit the blog at www.myspace.com/outofbabylon for important news in regards to this article.
Again COMPROMISE. Christ alone is the savior and King of peace. Without Christ the appearance of peace is just a illusion. This shows me theres a lack of relationship, faith and true understanding of our King amoung our "leaders".
Matthew 10:32-38
"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. THINK NOT THAT I AM COME TO SEND PEACE ON EARTH; I CAME NOT TO SEND PEACE, BUT A SWORD. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me."
I Thessalonians 5:1-6:
"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."
“Given the deep fissures in the relations between Christians and Muslims today, the task before us is daunting. And the stakes are great. The future of the world depends on our ability as Christians and Muslims to live together in peace,” the Christian letter noted. “If we fail to make every effort to make peace and come together in harmony you correctly remind us that ‘our eternal souls’ are at stakes as well.”
The Book of Revelations tells us about a New Heaven and a New Earth that will far exceed the glory of this present world. This world does not have a future.
Also, our eternal souls are in the hands of God and not any peace agreement whether political or religious.
Leaders of all faiths need to be careful when encouraging a choice of peace due to fear in the world, and peace due to fear in God.
folks, please do not be surprised at this gesture of theirs. It was always going to happen(an alliance between the catholic group and the muslims). this is DECEPTION! GOD in his mercy will see us through because from the moment this deed was done, the world has stepped into an entirely new phase of its history.Taking it from this point, its gonna be completely different though it might be unnoticed at first. All i can say is GOD have mercy on every true child of HIS.
The thing about the Interfaith Universalist garbage is - it ain't going nowhere!! If Saddleback, the Vatican and WillowCreek want to go ahead and pray in a mosque in Turkey (like Benedict XVI) they can go! When they look behind them, all they will see is the drive-by media and academic pinheads. Mr. and Mrs. MainSteet America from say XYZ Christian Church or First Baptist of Memphis or Boise Assembly of God are not buying this! King Solomon, in his famous prayer, did not ask for wisdom as is commonly taught. The actual Hebrew word for what he asked is "BYIN" (pronounced "bean") or a "hearing ear"!
Real American Christians have hearing ears and seeing eyes!! We know what Islam and other other eastern pagan religions are! We "byin" there and done that!! : )
Finally did you ever notice that none of this interfaith universal outreach never includes reaching out to the people of Israel?!! Why do you think that? Because the antiChrist is totally anti-semitic; anti- the King of the Jews and anti - the HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL - WHO IS OUR GOD!! AMEN AND AMEN!!
Not sure what point you were trying to make, Pete. But there is only one triune God, who has a Son, who gave us the Holy Spirit. We're not talking about A god or A son but THE Father and Son, the only. We're dealing with absolutes. And even though I believe everyone needs to hear about Jesus, including Muslims, it ain't gonna happen at these summits. The very LAST thing they'll be doing is proselytizing. They'll be doing everything to avoid doctrinal issues.
. "And we DO NOT believe in the same God, despite what all these compromisers laud. "
Oh my, does this mean that there's more than one? What's a poor atheist to do? Before Jesus there were at least a dozen almost identical son gods, the pagan gods, the eastern gods, and of course the norse gods. Now you tell me that one of the abrahamic religions has a different god then the other two. Decisions, decisions. How should one choose?
And looking at what papanazi is doing, looks like the presidential candidates arn't the only panderers in the world after all.
The article says: "The Christian leaders urged for an interfaith dialogue that moves beyond “polite” ecumenical talks between selected leaders. Instead, leaders of both faiths should hold dialogues to build relations that will “reshape” the two communities to “genuinely reflect our common love for God and for one another,” the Christian letter stated."
Our common love for God and for one another? Are you kidding me? How stupid can one person be? The radical muslims want to KILL us!! I call those kind of christians "Osterich Christians". They've got their heads in the sand...and their rear hanging out in the wind!
But this just goes to show the Catholic's true agenda (as well as many other religious leaders) in their struggle for the glorious "One World Religion". And I use the word "leaders" loosely! Just a bunch of gelding robots is all they are.
Amen to that!!
Revelation 3:16 shows the end of these "fence-menders"....the original Greek word for the word "vomit" used by King Jesus, THE SON OF GOD, actually means something more drastic. He said to those who have no foundation or conviction "I will violently spew you out of Me"....these Universalists have no part with the Son of God. There were never His to begin with, no matter how many books, TV shows or people are in their churches and their mosques too for that matter.
This is a sad and scary thing because the Bible calls THAT Day the Terrible Day of the Lord. Let's all make sure we are pure and persevere as the saints. To God be the Glory, so loved He the World, He gave us His Son!!
AMEN
It seems to me Muslims could relieve alot of tension by taking out that little directive in their Koran about murdering Christians and Jews. And we DO NOT believe in the same God, despite what all these compromisers laud. Jesus didn't come to bring peace but a sword. He meant a spiritual sword, Muslims use a real one, use any lame excuse to pick a fight. My Bible says, "He who has the Son has the Father, he who doesn't have the Son DOESN'T have the Father." Their Koran specifically states that God has no son. Any fence-mending will be superficial. Sorry for the cynicism, folks, but that's all she wrote.
This letter signed by over 100 Christian "leaders" from the United States means nothing, except their signature on it. These people do not speak for ANY Christian except themselves. In fact any so-called "Common Ground" was in full display yesterday in the Sudan. God answered this letter by pointing to those who follow "the Religion of Peace"! Here are muslims worldwide going berserk over a poor middleaged British woman and a teddy bear!! So let the Pope and the Robert Schullerites like Rick Warren, Hybels et al have their Islamic summits! The rest of us will worship the One True Holy One of Israel!!