Pope ‘no expert in Islam’
-15/11/06
By Jordan Tchilingirian
The Pope is a distingui
Pope ‘no expert in Islam’
-15/11/06
By Jordan Tchilingirian
The Pope is a distinguished theologian but no expert in Islam, a Muslim philosopher has said.
The comments came from Muslim intellectual Mustapha Cherif following his discussions with the Pontiff over Islam and its relation with the West.
Cherif praised the Pope saying that he was ‘touched’ by the Pontiffs ‘thirst to understand’ Islam, and that Pope Benedict was a ‘man of dialogue’.
Cherif is the first Muslim intellectual to be received by the Vatican since the election of Pope Benedict in April 2005.
Their discussions reportedly centred on the theme of faith and reason and the role of Jihad. It was the Pope’s exposition on these issues which caused uproar in October.
The Pope sparked a massive outcry in the Muslim world when he made a speech about faith and reason at the University of Regensburg.
According to Cherif the Pope could still learn more about the concept of jihad.
The usual Western translation of jihad alludes to a type of holy war. Cherif claimed that was incorrect. He stressed to the Pope that the controversial word should actually be seen more as representing a ‘just war’ with rules on fighting and protecting non-combatants; in many ways like the influential Christian idea introduced into Christendom by Augustine.
Cherif explained that the Pope was surprised by the interpretation claiming that it needed to be more widely known.
The conversation went on for half an hour and was conducted in French.
Mustapha Cherif is a former higher education minister and ambassador of Algeria and is known for his long standing commitment to Islamic-Christian dialogue.
Pope ‘no expert in Islam’
-15/11/06
By Jordan Tchilingirian
The Pope is a distinguished theologian but no expert in Islam, a Muslim philosopher has said.
The comments came from Muslim intellectual Mustapha Cherif following his discussions with the Pontiff over Islam and its relation with the West.
Cherif praised the Pope saying that he was ‘touched’ by the Pontiffs ‘thirst to understand’ Islam, and that Pope Benedict was a ‘man of dialogue’.
Cherif is the first Muslim intellectual to be received by the Vatican since the election of Pope Benedict in April 2005.
Their discussions reportedly centred on the theme of faith and reason and the role of Jihad. It was the Pope’s exposition on these issues which caused uproar in October.
The Pope sparked a massive outcry in the Muslim world when he made a speech about faith and reason at the University of Regensburg.
According to Cherif the Pope could still learn more about the concept of jihad.
The usual Western translation of jihad alludes to a type of holy war. Cherif claimed that was incorrect. He stressed to the Pope that the controversial word should actually be seen more as representing a ‘just war’ with rules on fighting and protecting non-combatants; in many ways like the influential Christian idea introduced into Christendom by Augustine.
Cherif explained that the Pope was surprised by the interpretation claiming that it needed to be more widely known.
The conversation went on for half an hour and was conducted in French.
Mustapha Cherif is a former higher education minister and ambassador of Algeria and is known for his long standing commitment to Islamic-Christian dialogue.