Posted by Mohamed Ghounem on February 20, 1998 at 23:53:33:
In Reply to: Re: Why Muslims are wrong in their beliefs. posted by Howard on February 20, 1998 at 22:28:32:
Dear Brother Howard,
Salam (Peace)
I wrote:
Even Popes accepted the Qur'an's Divinity, in the 60's a Pope suggested that Christianity and Islam Unite, after studying Islam.]
You quote:
: : Pope Paul VI and the Second Vatican council declared in 1964 that "the Church also has a high regard for the Muslims. They worship God, who is one, living and subsistent, merciful and almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, who has also spoken to men. they strive to submit themselves without reserve to the hidden decrees of God, just as Abraham submitted to God's plan, to whose faith Muslims eagerly link their own. Although not acknowledging him as God, they venerate Jesus as a prophet, his virgin mother they also honor, and even at times devoutly invoke. Further they await the day of judgment and the reward of God following following the resurrection of the dead. For this reason they highly esteem an upright life and worship God, especially by prayer, alms-deeds and fasting.
: : Over the centuries many quarrels and dissensions have arisen between Christians and Muslims. This sacred Council urges all to forget the past...let them together preserve and promote peace, liberty, social justice and moral values."
You wrote;
of course, no Pope has ever accepted the Quran's divinity or said that Christianity and Islam should unite.
Well, Maybe I am reading into it but if the Pope said "Muslims worship God", I would take a guess that this Pope knows that Muslims read the Qur'an. With this in mind, the Pope does not say Muslims follow a false god, the Pope says that Muslims follow God, the Creator, therefore confirming the Qur'an is Divine.
Secondly the Pope says let them "together" preserve and promote peace, liberty, social justice and moral values"
This is a message that all religious leaders should preach as the Pope did, all religions unite against materialism!
I regretably wrote;
Catholics worship statues of saints, what can be worst than that ?
You responded;
Of course, not true. Let's learn a lesson from Pope Paul VI and the Catholic Church and not speak ignorantly of other religions and defame them.
I respond:
I agree and apologize for my ignorant statement, I have been to Catholic churches and have seen the members go down on their knees and (kiss, pray to, and bow to) statues of saints, when I inquired of the symbolism behind what I saw, I was told that they are as equal, that they do not just pray to the Creator, but also to saints, each saint has a power.
I admit that I felt more spirituality in Catholic churches then I did in Christian churches, and yet knew that Allah was the Creator, Allah is the only deserving of Worship.
If I am mistaken concerning the saints, feel free to correct. I respect Catholic Religion but am anti-statue worshiping, if you do not worship saints and bow to the statues in the Catholic church, then I apologize for the comment.
Although like Abraham, our fore father, he hated statue worshipping so much that he left his father and his town to worship the Creator alone without partners.
I am not a theological expert, feel free to correct where you see fit.
Peace and Blessings,
Your Brother in Islam: Mohamed