Islam vs. the West

I hope your Thanksgiving was enjoyable. Luckily I was able to make it home for a few days. I was even able to enjoy Mass at Christ the King on the vigil of the solemnity of Christ the King last Saturday evening.

Beginning tomorrow (Tuesday, November 28th), Pope Benedict XVI will be visiting a Muslim nation for the first time. This visit comes at a time when there is growing tension between the Muslim world and the West. This tension is nothing new, but recent increase in this tension has the potential to devastate peace worldwide in the coming years.

Our Pope is working to heal division and foster peace between these cultures. This trip to Turkey is an important part of it. Please pray for Pope Benedict. His mission is important for us all.

I also want to point out that the November 27th issue of Time magazine featured a good article entitled "The Passion of the Pope" which details the importance of the upcoming visit. In addition, the article gives a brief overview of the history of this tension between the Muslim world and the West. I encourage you to read it. It can be read by clicking here.

After you read that, you might want to peruse the two opposing commentaries that followed in the same issue of Time:
"What the Pope Gets Right..." by Richard John Neuhaus
"...And Where He's Still in the Dark " by Tariq Ramadan

I should mention that the second commentary does not appear to stand up to scrutiny for a philosophy student such as myself. There are numerous problems with the assertions put forth by Tariq Ramadan.

God Bless