Pope's comment on jihad

[The Wisdom Fund]

In marked contrast HRH, The Prince of Wales, in a speech titled "Islam
And The West" had this to say:

" . . . we have underestimated the importance of 800 years of Islamic
society and culture in Spain between the 8th and 15th centuries.

Many of the traits on which Europe prides itself came to it from Muslim
Spain. Diplomacy, free trade, open borders, the techniques of academic
research, of anthropology, etiquette, fashion, alternative medicine,
hospitals, all came from this great city of cities. Mediaeval Islam was
a religion of remarkable tolerance for its time, allowing Jews and
Christians to practice their inherited beliefs, and setting an example
which was not, unfortunately, copied for many centuries in the West."


The Wisdom Fund
http://www.twf.org/Library/Jihad.html

[Matthew Johnson]

Post by The Wisdom Fund
In marked contrast HRH, The Prince of Wales, in a speech titled "Islam
" . . . we have underestimated the importance of 800 years of Islamic
society and culture in Spain between the 8th and 15th centuries.

Who is this 'we'? I see far more many people who overestimate it, not
realizing that most of the 'Islamic influence' really came from
somewhere else, merely _transmitted_ to Spain by Moslems.

Post by The Wisdom Fund
Many of the traits on which Europe prides itself came to it from Muslim
Spain.

Again, came _through_ Muslim Spain is more accurate./

Post by The Wisdom Fund
Diplomacy,

What? Is the author unaware of the centuries of diplomacy predating
Islam among the Romans, especially dealing with the Persians?

Post by The Wisdom Fund
free trade,

What 'free trade'?

Post by The Wisdom Fund
open borders,

What 'open borders'? Borders between the Muslim world and non-Muslim
were not so open.

Post by The Wisdom Fund
the techniques of academic
research,

This did NOT come from the Muslims in Spain. It came from Syriac
Monophysite and Nestorian Christians, who taught it to the Arabs
despite Arab resistance to the ideas.

Post by The Wisdom Fund
of anthropology, etiquette, fashion, alternative medicine, hospitals,
all came from this great city of cities. Mediaeval Islam was a
religion of remarkable tolerance for its time,

This too is overstated. Christians were permanently second-class
citizens, pagans could be killed by Muslims with no retribution, not
even a trial. Some 'tolerance'.

Post by The Wisdom Fund
allowing Jews and Christians to practice their inherited beliefs,

But only at the price of second-class citizenship, paying the lion's
share of the taxes. Taxes for Christians were MUCH higher than for
Moslems. And Christians has no civil rights: the Moslems could take
away their children to be raised as Janissaries at any time and
without any reason.

Post by The Wisdom Fund
and setting an example which was not, unfortunately, copied for many
centuries in the West."

Thanks God for that!
--
-------------------------------
Subducat se sibi ut haereat Deo
Quidquid boni habet tribuat illi a quo factus est
(Sanctus Aurelius Augustinus, Ser. 96)

----

[I'd like to point out that this isn't soc.religion.islam. I'd be
happy to see discussion between Christians and Muslims, but I'm not in
a position to moderate discussions about the history of Islam. I
probably shouldn't have allowed the original posting.

--clh]