DUCKPOND

As we might all appreciate relations with the Muslim World are sensitive, and it is not simply that Islam, as it seems to be true of all religions, has its share of extremists who gain greater visibility not simply by their actions but by the real cause of grievance that underlies them. Of course, it is possible to be drawn into a futile contention wrong do not justify wrongs in their turn, which simply leads to an escalation of violence and unnecessary suffering, often for many undeserving or innocent people. Iraq and Palestine serve as examples.

One may suppose that the current leadership of the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope in particular, in the light of the historical concern and mission for the Kingdom of God, as Augustine put it, might be taking an enlightened approach. But that is not the case. The reason, it seems it that even now after the bloody European history of religious intolerance, respect for the religion of others cannot be accorded, even if through different historical contexts and religious writings they supposedly worship the same god, as Islam and Christianity. Stupidity has to prevail rather than diversity within the frame of commonality.

ABC News Online reports (via Reuters):

Pope Benedict led the world’s Catholics into Easter at a Vatican service where he baptised a Muslim-born convert who is one of Italy’s most famous and controversial journalists.

. . . One of the seven adults he baptised on Saturday night was Magdi Allam, 55, an Egyptian-born journalist who, as deputy director of the leading newspaper Corriere della Sera, is one of Italy’s best-known intellectuals.Mr Allam, a fierce critic of Islamic extremism and a strong supporter of Israel, is protected by a police escort because of threats he has received.

His conversion to Christianity was a well-kept secret, disclosed by the Vatican in a statement less than an hour before the Easter eve service started.

. . . Mr Allam defended the pope in 2006 when the pontiff made a speech in Regensburg, Germany, that many Muslims perceived as depicting Islam as a violent faith.

Allam then is not just another convert, but one in the eye of Islam, perhaps making up for the many nominal Chrisitans who so quickly converted to Islam in the Middle East and North Africa during the rapid expansion of Islam from 632 to 732.

Stupidity ought to be defined. I think it is when the current mental framework does not match the needs of the environment. The defining factor is I suggest disconnectness of thought action and consequence that technology encourages and makes possible. On this analysis, the climate change crisis arises from stupidity, or at least requires fundamental changes to need (or want) expressions and cultural frameworks. I do not make light of stupidity, being such a victim of it myself, nor do I think that paradigms can be changed at a blink of the eye, or will rather will change at a blink of eye only pre-conditions for such a profound change have been established.

The etymology of the word “religion” means, I believe, “to bind back (into the Cosmos). As Carl Sagan said, “We are all star stuff”, which even extends to the photons that enter our eyes. Belief is one thing, the search for truth and meaning another. To believe, may mean that our assumptions should prevail. Too often, belief leads to stupidity.

CODA: 26 March 2008 

A German Pope, who was a contemporary of the events of leading to the Second World War and during that war, especially in relation to imprisonment and murder of Jewish Germans and others, has a special responsibility to account for the silence of the Catholic Church during that time. So far, we have heard nothing. I do not think that others were blameless either.  In such a circumstance, I would have thought, that any religion that followed the precepts of Jesus of Nazareth, could not compromise those principles for institutional realpolitik. I hasen to add as a atheist I make this point out of respect for religious belief.