Edward D. Walker
East Lansing, Michigan, U.S.
time's story said, "The Roman Catholic Church's own record in the religious-mayhem department is hardly pristine," suggesting that the church has no business criticizing jihadist Islam. But right now Muslims are free to practice their faith in Christian-dominated nations, while non-Muslims in predominantly Islamic countries are severely, sometimes violently, restricted. The Pope is to be commended, not sneered at, for sticking his neck out for the sake of interfaith dialogue based on doctrine, reason and truth.
David Pearson
North Branford, Connecticut, U.S.
Demagogic leaders can exploit a host of religious texts to advocate the use of violence. Even Satan can recite Scripture. Perhaps we should be less concerned about the particular doctrinal precepts of Islam and more concerned about poverty and insufficient educational standards in the Middle East.
Stephen D. Wagner III
Massapequa Park, New York, U.S.
The article on Pope Benedict XVI leaves one with the impression that the Pope is a moral leader of great stature. He is not. His stances on abortion, contraception and stem-cell research are deplorable and, because of his authority, extremely harmful to many innocent people. Since Islam shares many of his mistaken values, we should fear that he will use any successful contacts made during his visit to Turkey to expand the influence (and harm) of his moral mistakes.
Gerald H. Paske
Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
If Islam is such a peaceful religion, why are so many of those who engage in terrorism avowed Muslims? Why do Muslims claim the West is oppressing them when oil prices are going through the roof? Muslims must take a good look at themselves and their way of thinking to find out what has gone wrong with their societies for the past five centuries.
Leo W. Davis
Waco, Texas, U.S.
Pope Benedict XVI's trip to turkey offers an opportunity for genuine dialogue between Christianity and Islam, a chance to figure out how tolerance and interfaith harmony can be promoted across the globe. Religion should not become a divisive force in society. All religions should teach the same things — love, respect and compassion.
Sivaram Srikandath
Cochin, India
Any decent, fair-minded person has a moral obligation to condemn extremism, religious or secular. But the Pope's peremptory linking of Islam and violence is irrational and irresponsible, especially when such a wildly inaccurate judgment comes from somebody whose religion has historically caused more extensive and brutal suffering than Islam ever has.
Husam Dughman
Toronto
It is strange to find the term reason in a religious debate, especially when there is no mention of the single most important human value that defines what we really want and need and that allows everything else to fall into place: namely, compassion.
Sergei Heurlin
Culver City, California, U.S.
Monotheistic religions that lay claim to the one and only possible truth are doomed by their very nature to end up in conflict. The only way out is to free ourselves from these ancient divisive creeds and thus extinguish those dangerous fires of righteousness. A little more humility about the human condition and our relation to a higher power would go a long way toward healing what divides us.
Carolyn D. Lewis
Ocean View, Delaware, U.S.
Benedict has been able to kick-start a world debate on the role of Islam vis-à-vis violence, an achievement in itself. It is only through conscience and reason — read religion — that peace and love can prevail, a goal that no political leader will ever be able to achieve. Religious leaders must teach their flocks that any jihad or struggle resulting in misery to the innocent is wrong in the eyes of God and cowardly.
Eddie Viegas
Goa, India