THE HOLY ROMAN ...
Last week's lecture by Pope Benedict XVI has also triggered a cry of protest in the arcane worlds of philosophy and theology. A sizeable number of Catholic and Protestant theologians argue that this so-called neo-Platonic perspective is inadequate for 21st century theology.
Many Muslims insisted Monday that Pope Benedict XVI did not go far enough.
Fury continues over radical remarks made by Pope Benedict XVI.
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said he respects Pope Benedict XVI. “Regarding the issue of the pope’s comments, we respect the pope and all of those who are interested in peace and justice.”
Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei has said remarks by the pope on Islam and violence were just the latest "links in the chain" of a US-Israeli conspiracy aimed at creating conflict between religions.
[WAR: B16 is in NO WAY part of any US-Israel conspiracy, but they could use his remarks - and the reaction to them - to try to achieve their own objectives.]
The ensuing controversy demonstrates the spread of what could be called "Clash of Civilizations" thinking that serves the interests of violent extremists, experts say, as it provides an opportunity to advocate for their worldview.
Benedict's words merit being put into context. The issues he raised, that true faith and right reason are never in conflict, that force is intolerable in advancing God's word, merit discussion in light of history and the present.
Benedict did give offence — but no great religion should be immune from difficult questions.
The pope said things Muslims need to hear about faith and reason.
It was not a slip of the tongue. Honest observers cannot claim to have been surprised by those declarations even if some have doubts whether they are politically correct.
"Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of the EU's values, as is respect for all religions, Christianity, Islam, Judaism or laicism," said the commission spokesman. He pointed out that the Pope's address must be considered "in its totality," and not react to "quotes taken out of context and even less so" to "quotes deliberately taken out of context."
Benedict XVI believes that Europe's political leaders have the task to show young people the roots that have forged the identity of the continent.
"Nowhere else in the world as in Europe do history and culture bear the mark of Christianity."
... EMPIRE OF THE GERMAN NATION
German investor confidence continued to slide amid fears that a planned tax increase along with rising interest rates could cause growth to slow ... and also on concern that German exports will fall because of a slowing economy in the United States.
Sunday's regional election gains for the far-right NPD party are an embarrassment for Chancellor Angela Merkel and a fresh sign that the extremists are gaining influence in Germany's depressed east. Many there feel abandoned by the mainstream parties after years of mass unemployment and depopulation.
[WAR: Nazis, schmazis! The Nazis have never been and never will be the enemy to be concerned about. They were NOT a revival of the HRE during WW2, and they're certainly NOT going to be a future problem - Edmund Stoiber will make sure of that. The enemy is conservative Roman Catholicism and the governments that follow its teachings!!]
EUROPE/RUSSIA
Protesters clashed with police and stormed state television headquarters early today, responding with violence to a leaked recording that caught Hungary's prime minister admitting that the government "lied morning, evening and night" to win April elections.
MIDEAST/AFRICA/ASIA
Fearful that pressuring the Olmert government will help bring a right-wing Israeli leadership to power, thereby backfiring on plans to impose peace on the Middle East, Europe has agreed to lay off for a bit. The EU's envoy to the region told The Jerusalem Post no demands will be made on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert just now to come up with a new diplomatic plan for pushing forward the land-for-peace process.
[WAR: This is exactly opposite of what Dick Cheney and others are pushing for: regime change in Israel to get their man Bibi in there to prepare for the war with Iran and Syria.]
In a potential break with the Bush administration, French President Jacques Chirac said Monday that he is "never in favor of sanctions". His remarks came as President Bush prepared to address the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, part of an intensifying U.S. drive to secure international sanctions against Iran.
A flurry of military maneuvers in the Middle East increases speculation that conflict with Iran is no longer quite so unthinkable.
Another reason for war ...
The first joint drilling operation opened on Monday at 'Orinoco Oil Field' in Venezuelan province of Anzoategui, in presence of presidents of Iran and Venezuela.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad here Monday evening said developments in today's world were "disappointing" and that Iran had clear ideas of how to run global affairs in a better way.
HOUSE OF ISRAEL
President Bush said yesterday that he senses a "Third Awakening" of religious devotion in the United States that has coincided with the nation's struggle with international terrorists, a war that he depicted as "a confrontation between good and evil." The implications of this story are disturbing. Bush believes that it was God's will, God's way to bestir His people and wake them up from the complacency that had let sin and secularism run loose in the land.
[WAR: And what?! Have them go from secularism to Christianized-paganism? I think NOT! They worship Him with their lips, but their hearts are far from him. This is why their hearts need to be turned to their fathers - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob!]
ECONOMY
"Bids are drying up. Many potential buyers are simply waiting for lower prices. The word is that 'it pays to wait.'" Thus Richard Russell on the impending end of the housing bubble.
MISC
Recently declassified documents detail Prescott Bush dynasty financing of Nazis rise to power ... Gifts to Hitler, dummy banks and more ... more than 5 years on in Afghanistan and no end in site ... resource nationalism among developing countries ...
Satan-worshipping groups in the Christian-majority Indian state of Mizoram are waging an anti-Christian campaign by burning Bibles, vandalizing churches and defiling cemeteries.
[WAR: Satan's kingdom is divided against itself. This is just an example of one of his religions battling another - with the duel aim of deceiving and killling as many humans as possible.]
[WAR: Satan's kingdom is divided against itself. This is just an example of one of his religions battling another - with the duel aim of deceiving and killling as many humans as possible.]
The Bishop of Bolton said retailers are helping to promote a "dark and negative" side of the festival and creating a "climate of fear".
[WAR: Halloween in-and-of-itself promotes evil!]
Each machine is different, and yet the Windows-based machines I've worked on for the last four months have all had the same trouble, and require the same steps to resolve it.
