Comments for Islam and Self Knowledge at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 9 out of 9 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Sat, 18 May 2013 15:12:41 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/islam-and-self-knowledge.html#comment-4885 I once read "I do not believe that flesh and blood is the ultimate enemy", a statement by Mark Shea in the NCRegister, so I penned an affirmation, the gist of which is that I believe that Islamic fundamentalism is a ruse thrown at us by the devil in order to confound us. The real enemy in this world is secularism, our selves. We have tried to throw off the "yoke" of Christianity, with the expectation that a world ordered on our self-centered desires will be better. The process began with the Enlightenment and Reformation, and through the centuries has gathered steam. It is a deal with the devil and the results have been coming in for decades. I believe the New Evangelization described by Pope John Paul II - the rise of lay movements, the nascence of differing forms of piety (unknown to generations of Catholics, including me, until recently), and the ecumenical efforts on the part of the Church and various other Christian denominations - all are part of God's plan to reinvigorate the Church, after a period of lassitude and errancy. God uses suffering to bring forth good. Read Pope Benedict's remarks in Birmingham and you will see he is on the same wavelength as me, or me on his . . . God's time is not ours either, and this is something that has been rolling out for hundreds of years. The Islamic trial, though it looks so scary, I believe is on its last legs, for Christianity is such a beautiful thing, that once we rouse our sleeping selves, learn what the faith truly means, bring home the prodigal sons, and really EVANGELIZE in trust, the rest will wither away on the vine, as well it should. Of course, the "spiritual forces of evil" (Eph. 6:12) will not rest easy when the forces of good are on the march. But we should not be duped by the dog that is snapping at our pant leg, trying to bring us down. We must shoo off the dog, but more importantly look to the direction in which our footsteps are headed. Is it Christ's path, or is it a path of our own making? - Michele Coldiron Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:43:34 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/islam-and-self-knowledge.html#comment-4882 What a well-written and thought-provoking article by Matthew Hanley. Interesting point Louise. I never made that connection before. - Randall Peaslee Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:57:19 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/islam-and-self-knowledge.html#comment-4877 "the peoples who languish under Islamic domination" Islam is the most incurious faith I know of. - Christian Fri, 17 Sep 2010 06:58:55 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/islam-and-self-knowledge.html#comment-4874 Great observation, Louise, and well supported! The Muslim idea of family is itself an assault on family. - Dan Thu, 16 Sep 2010 20:27:07 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/islam-and-self-knowledge.html#comment-4873 "Muslims have stood with Catholics against the modern assault on the family . . ." I wonder whether the Muslims' standing . . . against the assault on the family has the same religious sentiment and beliefs behind it as the Christian family has. Is the Muslim family built on mutual love, equality, respect, understanding, protection, mutual caring and support as undergirds a CHristian understanding of the family? How about a Muslim husband's dissolving the marriage with a word and there being no recourse for the wife who then loses her children? When Muslim men are free to beat their wives, restrict their activities, their friendships, their education, and willingly allow their daughters to be murdered to restore "honor" to the family, I suspect that it is only coincidental that we stand together against the modern assault on the family. How does the word "family" apply to both? I don't think that they mean the same thing. - Louise Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:43:14 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/islam-and-self-knowledge.html#comment-4872 Weren’t our founding fathers also wary of Islam. If I recall correctly, Jefferson or Quincy Adams or both …Funny how they knew more about it back then then most do today. SO much for our education system - Lawrence Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:34:05 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/islam-and-self-knowledge.html#comment-4871 I agree, this was scintillating. Thank you - Roy Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:38:57 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/islam-and-self-knowledge.html#comment-4870 Excellent article. - Brian English Thu, 16 Sep 2010 07:49:42 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/islam-and-self-knowledge.html#comment-4869 Matthew, this is an eye-opening piece in several ways. Thanks for the links to Fr. Botros and De Tocqueville, which are quite illuminating. Bishop Sheen once said of Islam: "If it is a heresy, as Hilaire Belloc believes it to be, it is the only heresy that has never declined...There was never a time in which it declined, either in numbers, or in the devotion of its followers." This reminded me of a passage in Acts, fifth chapter, where the Pharisee Gamaliel, a "teacher of the law," whose students included Paul of Tarsus, wherein Gamaliel speaks before the Sanhedrin and stops the mob from killing the apostles. It seems to me it is quite instructive. I hereby quote: 34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." Thus, although Islam seems to be constantly gaining adherents, the efforts of Father Botros and we as Catholic Christians to spread the Good News can mitigate and perhaps retard that growth. What one finds particularly compelling about Fr. Botros' comments is this one: "... Islam is less a faith, more a vehicle for empowerment." When viewed in a political context, rather than a religious one, the advancement of Islam is understandable, much the same way one can say how the masses latched on to the appeal of Marx, Lenin, Hitler, Stalin and others who fought to establish kingdoms on this earth. But as our Blessed Lord said, "My Kingdom is not of this world." - Joe Thu, 16 Sep 2010 06:34:00 +0100