Religion Within Reason: Pope Benedict’s Critique of Islam (original) (raw)
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Reason, Islam and Christianity. A Debate Raised by Benedict XVI
Scientia et Fides, 2024
The debate sparked off by Benedict XVI's speech in Regensburg has not only relaunched relations between Islam and Christianity, but has also provoked an internal debate in all around the world. In these lines we offer a summary of some interventions that have appeared so far, which serve to rethink and relaunch the current dialogue between faith and reason, modernity and Christianity, non-Christian religions and the Catholic Church. In this article, we will look at the responses that emerged after the speech and other subsequent interventions, which have made this a "globalised discourse." Rationality must be found not only in the sciences but also in philosophy, religions, ethics and art.
Pope Benedict at Regensburg: On Reconciling Reason and Religion
Globe & Mail, 2006
Pope Benedict's address at the University of Regensburg in Germany has aroused anger and criticism from Muslims around the world. Once again, as with the Danish cartoon affair, violence has reared its ugly head as somehow a legitimate "theological" critique of what Muslims have misperceived as an attack on their faith. And once again, these attacks have been launched without regard of what the Pope actually said.
Religion, Reason, ‘Regensburg’: Perspectives for Catholic–Muslim Dialogue
Islam and Civilisational Renewal, 2009
This ‘viewpoint’ is (exceptionally) more extensive in terms of size, which is perhaps excusable in the light of the fact that the year 2008 witnessed several very auspicious events in the field of Muslim–Christian dialogue. The beginning of the currently rather positive news in this regard was a rather controversial incident back in 2006. On 12 September 2006, Pope Benedict XVI delivered a lecture, entitled “Glaube, Vernunft und Universitat: Erinnerungen und Reflexionen” (Faith, Reason, and University: Memories and Reflections) at the University of Regensburg in Bavaria, Germany, where he had been a professor of theology during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Benedict’s controversial remarks on Islam during his speech have stirred anger among parts of the Muslim community worldwide as it was perceived as misrepresenting the very essence of the religion of Islam. Contrary to what is usually known among the wider public, however, the lecture – equipped with often critical references r...
Pope Benedict and Muslim-Christian Dialogue
Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations, 2023
Following the death of Pope Benedict (formerly Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) on 31 December 2022, many reflected on his legacy and impact. This article aims to examine his contribution to and impact on Islamic-Christian dialogue by examining his writings, most notably the Regensburg address, as well as Dominus Iesus. The essay will also examine the approach to Muslim-Christian dialogue of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, and his successor, Pope Francis, in the process showing how these three pontiffs' approaches to Islamic-Christian dialogue both build on and differ from one another. It will also consider how Catholic-Muslim dialogue continues to develop and how the papacy continues to adapt to changing contexts that shape its relations with Islam. It will look in particular at how Muslim-Catholic dialogue during the pontificate of John Paul II was shaped by Cold War concerns and, in contrast, how Benedict's comments about Islam were shaped by and fed into the War on Terror discourse. It will then briefly make the argument that Francis, through his visits, most notably to Iraq in March of 2021, seems to be engaged in building a postWar on Terror phase of Muslim-Christian relations.
An Analysis of Pope Benedict XVI's Speech at the University of Regensburg
On September 12, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI gave a speech intended for an academic audience at the University of Regensburg in Germany. The speech was titled "Faith, Reason, and the University: Memories and Reflections." He spoke about the importance of the inclusion of theology in the rational discourses of the modern university. Speaking on the day following the five-year anniversary of Al Qaeda's attacks on the United States, the Pope no doubt had the murder of innocent people in mind when he cited the fourteenth century Byzantine emperor, Manuel II Palaeologos (d.1425 CE), who said, "God is not pleased by blood-and not acting reasonably is contrary to God's nature." By citing this statement, the Pope wanted to show that the role reason plays in determining faith ought to assure an ethical check on religious violence. By drawing an intrinsic relation between faith and reason, the Pope sought to demonstrate that "theology rightly belongs to the university,…not merely as a historical discipline and one of the human sciences, but…as an inquiry into the rationality of faith." This inquiry into the rationality of faith could then serve as a basis for "genuine dialog of cultures and religions so urgently needed today."
Benedict XVI, Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations
In continuity with Vatican II and the development of the modern papacy vis-à-vis the religions, Ratzinger-Benedict-XVI has given a distinctive contribution to the Catholic engagement with Islam. He sees the dialogue between Christians and Muslims as theologically founded in 'God's irruptive call … heard in the midst of man's ordinary daily existence,' which constitutes the shared source of their respective faiths. This shared religious experience imposes on Christians and Muslims a common vocation, that is, to serve humanity by witnessing to that experience, and so help society open itself to the transcendent and give God his rightful place in the life of humanity. Together Christians and Muslims can proclaim that God exists and can be encountered, that he his Creator and calls all people to live according to his 'design for the world'. Our common task is to offer this truth to all. Benedict XVI has identified the theological foundations, and has suggested the content, aims and a spirituality of the Christian Muslim relationship. Most importantly, in doing so he has challenged Islam to articulate its own theology of interreligious dialogue and has ultimately identified the possible foundations of an Islamic theology of Christian-Muslim relations on which Muslims themselves can build.
Republication of a text initially published in Buzzle - 16 September 2006 The wrong question is: "Did Benedictus XVI insult Islam and Muslims?" The correct question is: "Are today's Muslims entitled to protest, and to what extent can they be taken as the true 'custodians' of the system preached before 14 centuries by Prophet Muhammad?" ......................... The only thing Bendictus XVI has to say to his bogus-Islamic critics is that "since there is no compulsion in religion" all the Muslim countries should turn secular, and all those who are ready in these countries to reject Islam must be allowed by law to do so without facing consequences". When you impose Islam, you destroy Islam; no one would respect a destroyed religion fallen to the hands of ignorant and illiterate sheikhs.
Europe and the Challenge of Islam in the Thought of J. Ratzinger /Benedict XVI
Studia Gdańskie, 2017
J. Ratzinger takes into consideration the complexity of Islam, the diversity of attitudes in the scope of the orthodoxy recognized by all Muslims. There are examples of openness to the tolerant rationality and terrorism rooted in religion, peaceful cooperation with Christians as well as cruel persecutions. In the 20th century a revolutionary interpretation has developed which subordinates religion to politics. An open question remains if and to what extent the culture of freedom and democracy can develop in the framework of Islam and if violence can be eradicated to be replaced with respect of human freedom, especially religious freedom. Benedict XVI has expressed the need and the necessity to continue the mutual dialogue. He was the first pope to visit the Muslim mosque Al-Aksa in Jerusalem. The dialogue should serve as a joint testimony of faith in God, peace and profound respect towards human life, recognition of the dignity of man and woman. It worth to meet Muslims in the common search for the truth. By helping those in need Christians and Muslims can give a testimony of God’s love, the creator of all human kind. The return to Christianity in Europe, respect for moral and religious values can help to alleviate the conflict with the world of Islam.