There is little to this, but much will probably be made of it. From Reuters, with thanks to all who sent this in:
ISTANBUL, Turkey (Reuters) -- Pope Benedict wound up a fence-mending visit to Turkey on Friday amid praise from the local press for visiting Istanbul's Blue Mosque and praying towards Mecca "like Muslims".The pope, who sparked protests across the Muslim world with a speech two months ago seen as criticizing Islam, looked relaxed and pleased as he entered the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit for a mass at the end of the sensitive four-day trip. (Full story)
His first visit to a mostly Muslim country, held under tight security for fear of protests by nationalists and Islamists, was highlighted by a series of conciliatory gestures culminating in a stop on Thursday afternoon in Istanbul's famed Blue Mosque.
"The Pope's dreaded visit was concluded with a wonderful surprise," wrote daily Aksam on its front page.
"In Sultan Ahmet Mosque, he turned towards Mecca and prayed like Muslims," popular daily Hurriyet said, using the building's official name.
The International Dateline used to be in... France, I believe? Later it was moved to London, for a variety of reasons, one being that the British Empire was the Superpower of the day...
Similar thing with islam- attempting to usurp Who is the True God, they would prefer everyone pray towards Mecca- rather than towards where Jesus was born, in Judeah.
It may not mean anything for him and the errorists are happy - lol
quote:
"The Pope's dreaded visit was concluded with a wonderful surprise," wrote daily Aksam on its front page. DREADED visit? What the hell did you idiots think the man would do...a terrorist act? My Islamofascist friends I believe that's YOUR department. DREADED ---unbelievable. He is a gentle soul. But you know they say the darkness does dread the light...
ISLAM=NAZISM
Assalamau Laikum all,
There is no accounting for fools...a lot of whom unfortunately are muslim.
The pope probably did look towards Mecca....but I'm sure only had a few choice words to offer....shame really....to really build bridges ...he could have gone further than the previous Pope who simply kissing the Koran.
The christians might have moaned a bit, but most peoples in the West don't care...this wouldn't have endangered his life...but look at how he could have endeared muslims towards him.
Naseem, my son has asked a question, when Muslims pray to Mecca, with their foreheads striking the ground and bums in air, is there a problem with wind at all, that sudden movement downwards must cause a fair number of well fed bellies to let go a bit.
Is that the reason why most Mosques have high ceilings, to give a bit of air.
Every time we have pictures of Muslims praying he lets rip a raspberry and your reply would help in stopping this harmless attempt at humor.
Boy, these Islamaniac spinmeisters never quit. I feel like we're back in the 1970's getting reports from Radio Moscow about how the US was coming around to the Soviet viewpoint everytime the president would go there. Next they'll be telling us that the Pope has actually converted!
If nothing else, the Pope must be quite amused at all the BS coming his way.
I'm sure I've prayed facing Mecca at one point in my life too, but it had nothing to do with Mecca. Fortunately for me, my God is not chained to a rock in the middle of the desert.
Perhaps prior to the Pope's visit, the Muslims rearranged the feng shui inside the mosquified church in order to make sure the Pope would have to pray Meccawards.
I wonder if all government buildings in the Western world -- the House and Senate Office Buildings, for example -- have as yet been properly re-aligned so as to line up in proper fashion. You don't want those bathrooms facing qibla-wards. But you do everything else. Perhaps it's time to tear down every building in this country and all over the Western world and rebuild so that they line up properly.
And that is a metaphor for exactly what is being demanded, and exactly what is not being resisted with sufficient determination and fury.
Okay, If a Muslim is on the moon, and needs to pray towards Mecca five times a day, does he need to wait for the Earth to rotate so that Mecca is visible? If so, he's in trouble! Or, does he count one complete lunar phase on the moon as one complete day (about a month) and divide that into five units of time in which he can pray when Mecca is visible?
Also, is Allah hard of hearing or something? You know, like my Dad? Because we have to speak loud and close into his left ear. If we try talking to his right ear, he completely ignores us...
Just curious...
http://doctorbulldog.wordpress.com
Next time I go to take a leak I will face Mecca.
Even if it means having to mop up the floor afterwards.
Naseem
The christians might have moaned a bit, but most peoples in the West don't care...this wouldn't have endangered his life...but look at how he could have endeared muslims towards him.
FOR THE RECORD, IT was not the Christians who were bothered by the Pope's visit. It was the Muslims. In fact, the Pope received death threats upon his announcement of a visit to Turkey (death threats from Muslims). His life was in danger just for appearing there. There were police snipers on the rooftops, undercover police mixed in with the crowd, uniformed police and military personnell in force and openly armed and visible, there were metal detectors everywhere, bomb sniffing dogs, extra security cameras, vehicle roadblocks and searches, patron screening and other security precautions. Bear in mind , all this was not because he was threatened or endangered by Christians, but it was because of the openly and vocal Muslim death threats and threats of violence at the hands of Muslims.
A peaceful people would have no need of such precautions for a peaceful visit by peaceful person.
Go figure.
Okay, If a Muslim is on the moon, and needs to pray towards Mecca five times a day, does he need to wait for the Earth to rotate so that Mecca is visible?
Posted by: Doctor Bulldog at December 1, 2006 08:29 AM
Good question. I'm sure some "holy man" is scouring the Koran for the answer since it has answers to all questions. However,the question becomes moot if there are aliens living there- all prayers are postponed until after the aliens are converted or beheaded.
The idea of Muslims on the moon is intriguing all by itself. Too bad we can't ship them all there-it might be a homecoming of sorts because I often think this bunch had to have come from somewhere other than Earth.
Just a minor point that everyone seems to have missed so far: If you draw a line on a map from Istanbul to Mecca it passes pretty damn close to Jerusalem, so the Pope wasn't facing Mecca he was facing Jerusalem as, I bet, he always does.
Naseem, my son has asked a question, when Muslims pray to Mecca, with their foreheads striking the ground and bums in air, is there a problem with wind at all, that sudden movement downwards must cause a fair number of well fed bellies to let go a bit.
Is that the reason why most Mosques have high ceilings, to give a bit of air.
It's probably the position to get stuffed with narcotics, to be sent to the infidels in order to destroy them, too. *wink*
Naseems,
Perhaps you don't understand English well enough, but your statement about the Pope saying "a few choice words" had me ROTFL! Of course, "choice words" can't be repeated here.
I for one, even though non-religious, thank God the Pope did NOT kiss the Qur'an. "Simply" my a$$. It would be disgraceful. (Well, maybe if the accompanying mufti would kiss the Bible in exchange, OK. Uh-huh.)
Oh, and Tziona, I thought the very same thing. I figured the Pope was pretty safe in saying under his breath, "It's OK; I'm really pointed toward Jerusalem!".
How would a muslim get on the moon? Kassam, flying horse?
God is as close as a whisper and as far away as your heart. There is no need to favor a particular GPS coordinate. How pre-history is that concept?
Islamsforlosers -
"Next time I go to take a leak I will face Mecca.
Even if it means having to mop up the floor afterwards."
I know you're being funny but UK loos in jails had expensive remodeling done just so Muslim criminals wouldn't defecate towards Mecca.
The pope probably did look towards Mecca, this said by Naseem, what a stupid remark, of course when ever you look around, the muslims will say that he looked at mecca. the pope probably gave a silent prayer that mecca gets what is deserves. lol.. become open space where the wild dogs can mark their territory.
poetcomic1 funny how Islam is overly concerned with the external practices and gives a pass on what lies in the heart of a cult member. As Yeshuah ben Yoseph said (They are like whitewashed tombs that are beautiful on the outside but on the inside contain only dead and rotting things.)
I know you're being funny but UK loos in jails had expensive remodeling done just so Muslim criminals wouldn't defecate towards Mecca.
Posted by: poetcomic1 at December 1, 2006 09:46 AM
Oy vey! I thought building multi-million dollar stadiums for wealthy owners and players was the worst thing to do with tax money but this has to top that! What an outrage.
"How would a muslim get on the moon? "
I fear that, after a few decades and terrorist attacks into the immediate future, a Muslim or two will likely get onto the moon by means of a tolerant, inclusive, bridge-building American rocket.
That's it. I've had it. F*&k it. Let the scumbag muslims take over.
No more.
My last image should be large breasts ( preferably my girlfriends ) followed by a Bengals win.
After that? I don't care.
How would a muslim get on the moon? Kassam, flying horse?
Posted by: TheOmegaMan at December 1, 2006 09:30 AM
The same way Mo got to Jerusalem-via delusion. God knows they won't ever invent a way to get there-unless there is someone up there in need of conversion or beheading.
ewha1 - don't believe what the mo-foes say. It's all B.S. going back all the way to Mohammed. None of it is real or true. It's the alternate bubble reality constructed by a successful charismatic sociopath, as Ali Sina says.
You gotta fight for your right to Party.
The pope's never going to 'face Mecca'... just like he never said Islam is "a religion of peace" in Turkey. The Turkish news service said he said that... he didn't say it.
my toilet faces Mecca...
In 1967, Pope Paul VI fell to his knees in prayer, touching off protests by Turks claiming he violated the secular nature of the domed complex.
Pope Paul VI prayed at the Haga Sophia in 1967,what a slap in the face he got from Pope Benedict who instead entered a Mosque and prayed toward Mecca a few days after he visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, and wrote a message in a guest book calling Turkey "a meeting point of different religions and cultures and a bridge between Asia and Europe."thus slapping the faces of all those murdered during the rule of Attaturk"
From an article located on the Religion of Peace website.
Pope kisses Muslim butt.
"Before visiting the mosque the pope went to the Hagia Sophia museum, where he was escorted around what was once the major church in Christendom before it was turned into a mosque in 1453.
There he avoided the temptation to pray even as frescoes of Jesus and Mary were pointed out to him. He would be aware that Islamic fundamentalists were saying he was trying to get the building back, and of how this erroneous view was fanned when pope Paul VI prayed there in 1967."
It apparently is ok to pray in a Mosque, only Muslim prayers permitted, of course!!
Any other prayer and you could lose your head.
AHHH, the Peaceful and Tolerant Religion of Peace.
AND PRICELESS from VEE.:
I for one, even though non-religious, thank God the Pope did NOT kiss the Qur'an. "Simply" my a$$. It would be disgraceful. (Well, maybe if the accompanying mufti would kiss the Bible in exchange, OK. Uh-huh.)
BY the way I advocate buying extra magazines and ammo, you may need it.
Was it the Apostle Paul who wrote that Christians were to "pray without ceasing"?
The Christian God doesn't care what you are doing or what direction you are facing when you pray to Him. It doesn't have to be at a certain time of day or in a specific stance (standing, kneeling, etc.).
It doesn't matter what direction the Pope was facing when he prayed: His God doesn't care. If the Pope was facing Mecca, then he was being a diplomat and doing something which did not compromise him spiritually.
... "dreaded visit" ... right. He's one scary puppy alright. A regular terrorist. Those 30,000 people waving rifles and shouting for his blood in Istanbull's public square, they were just scared that he was coming after them -- that explains it all! Here I thought they were a lynch mob.
I hope this "praying toward mecca" business is just wishful thinking. I'm sure the pope, like all christians, could not care less which direction he prays in, because our prayers are not directed at a black rock, but at the God of the universe, who is literally everywhere. If he's really trying to make the point that there is no distinction between addressing one's prayers to an Allah who instructs his people to hate the unbelievers and addressing Yahweh who commands believers to love their enemies, then a screw is loose somewhere in Rome.
As with the commentary on his initial conversation in Turkey, I'm prepared to wait for the Pope to speak for himself; I put no stock in things reported third hand about him by Islamist spin-meisters.
I'd like to know what "praying like a muslim" means here -- maybe something like "walking like an egyptian"? Putting one's hands in some position? Performing Wutah first? Saying "allah-allah-oxen-free", or whatever they say? From the description he didn't do the "normal" fetal position thing. Are they going to suddenly say that praying standing up is a muslim innovation? This is reading a bit like the "Ahmadinejadization" farce several days ago, when Ahmy discovered that other world leaders were travelling about trying to address problems of poverty and unemployment "just like him" -- suddenly the whole world is looking to him as an example!
I've got news for them: Even the Christians didn't invent standing up to pray (we like to think we ... I mean Jesus and the apostles... invented all the good stuff in religion, we're a bit arrogant like that...). It was old hat even for Moses and Joshua. We've got the Joos to thank, anyway, for alleviating Pious Prayer Knee Syndrome.
Well, actually I think the Sumerians and Egyptians stood to pray even before that. Maybe it's something Abe picked up during that stay in Egypt that time when his wife got mistaken for his sister...
Speaking of Ahmy, in case anyone south of the line cares, news has it today that the Canadian embassy in Tehran is locked down and measures are being taken for their security after Iranian government hardliners declared it to be a den of spies. Apparently they have discovered that the Canadians are in cahoots with Americans and we're funnelling all sorts of sentitive information to you guys.
After they refused to apologize for murdering that canadian journalist in their state prison a couple of years back I think we should have just pulled out and cut off relations. Seems they rather enjoyed that round and are looking for fresh Canadian bacon now.
if Muslims the pope train towards Mecca I very much in doutb the pope was praying towards Mecca he was more likely praying towards the city of David but Muslims tend to see what they want to see, and ignore what they don't want to see.
Hadn't thought of this, Gary. I just looked at a map. If you draw a straight line (actually a geodesic) from Istanbul to Mecca, it passes right through Bethlehem! Apparently the Islamists misunderstood the gesture...
I don't know if catholics make a big deal of praying toward Bethlehem, Jerusalem or Rome; if so I imagine that these are symbolic gestures, not sacred forms...I pray in all places, positions and orientations. Eyes open, eye's closed; head up, head down. Verbally, silently; sometimes I pray by writing it out. Hands folded, hands unfolded, hands raised, hands lowered, arms folded or clasped behind the back. Walking, kneeling, sitting, laying, driving, biking. God is not concerned with how one arranges one's body to pray; rather with the orientation of one's heart.
I do not believe my prayers travel like a vector out of the top of my head or out my chest in the direction I'm facing. Any such notion is base, a trivialization of what prayer is.
"Was it the Apostle Paul who wrote that Christians were to "pray without ceasing"?
"The Christian God doesn't care what you are doing or what direction you are facing when you pray to Him. It doesn't have to be at a certain time of day or in a specific stance (standing, kneeling, etc.)."
_________
Yes, and it was the Messiah himself who said to pray in one's own closet, away from the sight of men, and do not be like those who stand on the street corners making a sideshow of their supposed piousness. Those have their reward before men, but Almighty God rewards those who pray in private.
Quite the opposite from those six imams making a spectacle at the airport.
Thank you, Daff, for raising this important question, and your obvious sensitivies to those of the weaker faith. Although I am not a muslim I think I can spare Naseem the difficulty of researching this one, for it appears that it has already been addressed in several hadiths and fully worked out by Islamic scholars. You can find out the answer to this question, and more on this topic than, I'm sure, even your son has conceived, at this authoritative Islamic site. It gives the Sunni perspective, but I believe on this point there is complete agreement by the Shii.
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=7260&CATE=102
Peace be upon you.
Hey can someone give me the exact coordinates to Mecca? I need it so I can direct my fart towards Mecca.
Thanks in advance.
Archimedes2,
I would like to thank you on behalf of my son, he has already indicated having read this topic that he will continue to make the raspberry noise, I regret any offense that his actions may cause.
Perhaps it explains why women are not allowed to pray with the men, after all it is not possible to be the stronger sex when one is holding ones fart in.
Well wudu believe it!!!
Prayer is good no matter where you are and what you are facing.
CNN carrying big headline.."Pope approves Turkey
entrance to European Union"..I haven't been keeping up ..is there any substance to that?
The pope probably did look towards Mecca....but I'm sure only had a few choice words to offer....shame really....to really build bridges ...he could have gone further than the previous Pope who simply kissing the Koran.
He should have SPIT on the koran. I would have but that's why noone asked me to be the Pope. I might turn out to be more militant than momo. But only toward Mo-Foes who are determined to subjugate or kill us.
That praying in the direction of whatever bit.. did he actually TURN in a particular direction or was the "feng shui" pre-arranged that way - as someone suggested above?
This stuff suggests that these Mo-Foes give a bug deal about what the Pope thinks says and does. We on the other hand, care far more about simply to be left along and we hope that the PC crowd will WAKE UP ALREADY!!
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=7260&CATE=102
Peace be upon you.
Posted by: Archimedes2
Holy Sh*t, that's funny!! Sorry I meant to say Holy Fart! Or should I say Holy Fart, that sh*t is FUNNY?!
Now I think I understand why the Africans fear wudu [voodoo] so much. It's the islamic missionaries breaking wind, causing the Africans to faint. [who could blame them?]
Now, this ALSO proves that those [f]lying imams were getting ready for a GAS ATTACK on the other passengers. They moved to strategic positions throughout the plane to assure even distribution of their foul wudu winds.
God they are SO GROSS!! I always knew their halal food was no good.
If you haven't read the like A2 sent above - YOU MUST!! haha. It is NOT to be missed.
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=7260&CATE=102
"And in another hadith we find:
"'Satan may come to one of you in salah and blow air in his bottom, making him imagine that he has lost his wudu. So, when one experiences that, he should not turn away [from the salah] unless he hears a sound or smells an odour.' [Narrated by Bazzar as in Bulugh al-Maram]"
Archimedes2 - Thanks for the laugh. This is too funny!
Thank goodness no one has to rely on his own common sense and is permitted to consult an expert for those times when Satan blows air up his butt during salah and wrecks his wudu.
Earth to muslims-----
The Earth is round , so you are pointing your arse at Mecca the long way around. You just can't escape it.
And if you get pee on yourself...you are going to hell.
/off to search for quote
SCARY
I wonder if he really prayed toward Mecca like Muslims do...
If so, I question his judgment and ability to lead his church. One thing the Bible teaches is that we can never pray to false gods--like Allah, Baal, etc.
It seems Westerners are saying this is no big deal, but as a believer I WOULD NEVER FOLLOW THE POPE'S EXAMPLE of praying toward Mecca. It sends the wrong message, even if he rationalizes it with "oh, I didn't mean it" or "I was praying to God not Allah".
I would rather follow the example of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, or Daniel the prophet, or the early Christians who were slaughtered for not bowing to an effigy of Caeser.
If the Pope prayed toward Mecca to make angry Muslims happy---what a pathetic loser he is! Stand up for what you believe in, if you really believe at all.
The Pope did wrong.
Muslims worship a black stone idol there.
This despite all the blah blah about monoteism and 'there is no god but Allah' and so forth.
When you look at an Orthodox Church notice that it is built so that the sanctuary is towards the east. We face east towards the Holy Icons of Christ Our Saviour, the Theotokos, the Saints and Archangels looking at us from the Iconostasis. It is we who enter into the courts of heaven.
Our salvation depends not so much upon the direction in which we are facing as the direction in which we are moving. The sooner we realise that we are going in the wrong direction, stop and turn in the right way, the sooner we will arrive at our destination. This is the meaning of repentance.
Some Orthodox churches must spiritually face the east in order to enter into the courts of heaven to worship God during the Liturgy because they were purchased and not specifically built as Orthodox churches. I haven't paid too much attention, this may be a Catholic practice as well...
It must be terrible to have to admit that the Pope is a dhimmi, or spineless (same thing as a dhimmi).
BXVI endorsed Turkish accession into the EU, cringed before Mohammedans, and put a stamp of approval on Turkey's anti-Christian legal practices.
This is rank betrayal, spinelessness, dhimmitude but the inability of Catholics to confront that reality finds a parallel in the inability of "conservatives", especially Evangelicals to admit that they are manipulated and used by their religious and political leaders.. no one likes to admit or face the fact that they are fools.
What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what has a believer with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with the idols? For we are the temple of the living God... (II Corinthians 6:15-16)
The Bishop of Rome has no business praying with unbelievers, speak and bring them to the table if you can; but as an Orthodox Christian, I run the risk of excommunication if I partake of another's communion (I do it to myself) when I participate in their service. I don't know what that would mean to partake in Muslim prayer services.
This appears to be relativism at its best.
How do these Muslim spinmeisters think anyone could believe their crap. The visit was carried live on TV (several news networks and EWTN) and the Pope stood there politely while the Imam prayed. Other than fellow Catholics, the only people the Pope actually prayed with, were the Greek and Armenian Orthodox Christians.
Posted by: Arnie
"It may not mean anything for him and the errorists are happy - lol"
OK Arnie, what's the joke? I want to be sick.
One question to those see the Pope as wise in his doings here:
Should the Pope visit the graves of other genocidal tyrants and seek to hononor other pseudo-faiths?
It seems to me that the Pope betrays the true faith to appease the adherents of the false. In the Bible, you never see the apostles or prophets bowing to false gods. You see quite the opposite.
What is the pope doing? Help me. They all faced death rather than do such a thing.
Why is there so many nasty remarks to what Naseem said. while I often dont like what she/he says she/he has the right to express her/his opinion just as we do, our forefathers have done this for us. We have to realise that if she/he does not live in a free country, this is the only chance she/he gets to be free.. to express opinions freely, and if she/he is living in a free country then with her/his beliefs we know that we are in danger...
"BXVI endorsed Turkish accession into the EU, cringed before Mohammedans, and put a stamp of approval on Turkey's anti-Christian legal practices"
Posted by Nariz
Still waiting to read your proof of any of this, Nariz. (Remember? You made these accusations in another thread)
"no one likes to admit or face the fact that they are fools"
... or to admit that the facts don't back up their position!
What's the big deal about Benedict facing towards Mecca to pray? He is only doing what John Paul II did in fraternizing with the evil man-made religions of this world when he had a prayer meeting with devil-worshippers like the Dalai Lama and others.
Something Jesus would never have done, nor any of his apostles but then again anti-christ has to show his true colours sooner or later.
PJ
PJ and any other anti-Catholic fundamentalists out there:
Acknowledging the existence of other movements, religious or otherwise, against which the Church competes and whose existence affects the fortunes of her people, which is what the Pope did (and ALL he did), is NOT the same as "fraternizing with evil man-made religions". It is no different than what St. Paul did entering the Areopagus or, in order to reach out to his fellow Jews, going to the Temple to perform antiquated Jewish rites that were no longer necesary for a Christian.
I remind you that Christ himself did things far more shocking than anything Benedict did on this trip. He hung out with whores, local tax officials collaborating with the forces of Roman occupation, impure women, lepers and yes, adherents of false and heretical religions, not only Samaritans but gentile pagans. One can proclaim nothing to people whom one will not meet. Benedict did not pronounce his prayer out loud (if he even was praying at the time) so we can rest assured that if he was praying it was a Christian prayer, and the fact of the direction he was facing at the time was nothing more than the normal result of being accompanied by his host.
I don't intend to be an apologist for the Church or the Pope in this site but Benedict is not simply a church leader; every bit as important is the reality that he is a EUROPEAN leader who understands well the danger that Islam poses, and we should not undermine him for frivolous reasons such as the ones that anti-Catholics like you do. The silliness you people display when you try to discredit him with absurd and petty accusations like this would be comical if it weren't so clearly pathological. He is Europe's preeminent spiritual leader and he and his successors will have an important role in shaping the unfolding response to Islam's troubling presence in Europe. You are contributing to the demoralization of the West by attempting to disredit one of the few figures that the West can presently rally around in its resistance to Islamic aggression. He has given no ground whatever to Islam on this visit, remaining consistent with the positions he has held for years about Turkey and Islam alike. He has loudly insisted on religious freedom and improvement of the conditions for Christians and has made clear that Turkey's integration with Europe must depend on these improvements, which is about as much as could be expected, and he has proclaimed Jesus his Islamic hosts both in his words, and in his person and presence.
There is room for intelligent and constructive criticism of his actions as well, and this will emerge in time as the significance of the trip is appraised by historians over time, but it will not emerge from the half literate bigotry that prompts your use of the ridiculous "antiChrist" epithet. This emerges from an impoverished and inadequate theological system which, having ejected the sacramental and liturgical system that was an inseparable feature of the Church since the earliest days of Christianity and which it received organically from it's Jewish roots, distorts what is left ("sola scriptura") in a close affinity to the theology of the Koran in Islam.
It is therefore sad but not surprising to hear such nonsense as this "antiChrist" canard, so popular among bigotted anti-Catholic wingnuts. Following from your rejection of Tradition, including the early Christian and patristic witness, and authority in the Church, your fracturing into so many thousands of ridiculous sects hitting one another, the mainline Protestants, and the Catholics over the head with memorized Biblical passages that you invoke like magical incantations, is as ridiculous as anything we see in Islam and it demonstrates true Biblical illiteracy. Even if you have memorized the whole Bible, you have clearly read none of it, and comprehended it even less. Worse yet, some of the apocalyptic so-called "Christian" movements that this mis-exegesis has generated in our time are every bit as dangerous, even if not as widespread and powerful, and deserving of every bit as much condemnation and opposition, as Islam is.
Robert, you wrote: "There is little to this, but much will probably be made of it."
Robert this is a hugely disappointing and discreditable remark on your part. You do such a disservice to your credibility here. Why not comment further?
Monk:
As I said above, this "Pope-prayed-in-the-direction-of-Mecca" business is a non-story. If anything, Robert did himself (but not his credibility) a disservice by even bothering to post it, not by mentioning how foolish it is. It's impossible not to be standing in one direction or another unless one is lying down. There are undoubtedly millions of Christians and others who pray every day while they just happen to be facing the direction of Mecca. Does that make them cryto-Moslems or dhimmis?