tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22617196.post114623408064969520..comments2023-10-18T10:48:27.735-04:00Comments on De Fide Catholica: As newborn babes, desire the rational milk without guileFather Demetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07650616782680257472noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22617196.post-1146398822884540632006-04-30T08:07:00.000-04:002006-04-30T08:07:00.000-04:00Yes, you are right: "everyone" is too general a t...Yes, you are right: "everyone" is too general a term to be accurate. I suppose I was speaking of the events of "Palm Sunday" when people hailed him as a Messiah, but thinking that he would free the Jews from the yoke of the Romans. In fact I agree with you concerning the Kingdom of heaven not being of this world. I was concerned, though, that your statements about martrydom suggested that people in Europe might be called on to fight militarily, or with weapons anyway, against the muslims. This evoked for me eerily some thinking behind the various "ethnic cleansing" events throughout history. I am pretty sure you would not approve of these events; however, your remarks on Islam and martyrdom left me feeling a bit uneasy. As a point of clarification, though, I need to state that I do not put Islam and Islamists (the latter being a fringe fanatic, terrorist group, the former being a mainstream religion) in the same category, and I hope you do not either. Have a good Sunday Father.<BR/><BR/>ShelleyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22617196.post-1146397607118117162006-04-30T07:46:00.000-04:002006-04-30T07:46:00.000-04:00"I know you remember in the Bible when everyone ex..."I know you remember in the Bible when everyone expected Jesus to bring the Kingdom of God militarily"<BR/><BR/>Well, this statement appears to be false, because there was no time when everyone expected Jesus to bring the Kingdom of God militarily. That would be a misunderstanding of what truly is the Kingdom of God, which is a Kingdom of grace not from this world. Maybe the Apostles in the beginning... But Our Lord reprimanded them for such a thought. We cannot convert people by force, since conversion is a free act of our will. In fact, the Hystory of the Church shows that those who are mistreated are rather the missionnaries who try to bring this Kingdom by leaving an authentic Christian life in the pagan or non Catholic countries. And we have to expect more martyrs soon... Muslims tell us: they want to behead us!<BR/>I believe them !<BR/><BR/>Islam is the third totalitarism after communism and fascism... But this one is worse and more dangerous, because it is a religious one.Father Demetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07650616782680257472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22617196.post-1146367644510863692006-04-29T23:27:00.000-04:002006-04-29T23:27:00.000-04:00Well, your statement would need to be qualified: ...Well, your statement would need to be qualified: for example, in tbe Middle Ages, in some places Christians were treated with tolerance because the Muslims respected "People of the Book" (Jews were considered thus too). They were permitted to practice their religion if they paid a tax. Concerning your remark about persecution of non Muslims or "Jihad", the Koran says (Father, have you read it cover to cover?) "The greatest Jihad a man can fight is within himself." This would seem to suggest that a violent Jihad is not the only option open to Muslims.<BR/><BR/>I know you remember in the Bible when everyone expected Jesus to bring the Kingdom of God militarily, but this is not the way Jesus did it, and I have grave doubts as to Jesus would have us do it (imitatio Christi!).<BR/><BR/>Have a good evening Father.<BR/><BR/>ShelleyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22617196.post-1146306980363508602006-04-29T06:36:00.000-04:002006-04-29T06:36:00.000-04:00Well, the reason is probably because of the oecume...Well, the reason is probably because of the oecumenical views of Pope John Pope II. But, obviously wherever Islam is a majority and has power in a country, Christians are persecuted. It has always been like that for 13 centurie. And I don't see any reason for a change, just because the persecution of non Muslims is required by the Coran. The History and the Muslim theology tell us that we are about to have persecution in Europe. Muslims themseleves even don't hide this fact and say publicly that it will be so.<BR/><BR/>So, just be ready... and pray God to be faithful.Father Demetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07650616782680257472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22617196.post-1146280232968152252006-04-28T23:10:00.000-04:002006-04-28T23:10:00.000-04:00Did Pope Jean-Paul II ever talk about martyring on...Did Pope Jean-Paul II ever talk about martyring oneself because of the growth of Islam in Europe? I don't think so, and I think there is a reason.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com