Pope's Turkey Visit is This Week!

Pope Benedict XVI's trip to Turkey is this week! Apparently, the article I read from last week made it sound like it was to happen last week, which, of course, it didn't. I was just one week ahead of the times.

Or maybe the Vatican has decided to postpone the trip to this week, as many of the media spinners and satirical news shows like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report had the week of Thanksgiving off to truly enjoy some turkey. Good thing, because all the talk this week will be about what to do with that leftover turkey.

Speaking of leftover turkey, the pope's visit to Turkey will likely not be a leftover affair. And hopefully, Pope Benedict XVI will not use leftover remarks during his speeches in Turkey, as he did several months ago during his German lecture that sparked the Muslim controversy with the pontiff. (Just because the pope quoted from an old byzantine saint that claimed Islam was a violent religion, doesn't mean that Muslim need to prove it, does it??)

After reading stories about this historic visit, I realize that this visit has more to do with the future of Turkey, than the remarks the pope will make. Sure, each word that the pope speaks in this Muslim country is going to be scrutinized to pieces, but this visit is bigger than that. It is going to deal with differences between what the pope represents and the Muslim people. Look at it this way, Turkey has more to lose than the pope if this visit goes down horribly.

So, it's going to be all about differences in ideals and religion, right? It's more than just those basic issues. It's about civilization. Western civilization vs. Eastern civilization, specifically. Right now, Turkey is vying to become a part of the European Union (EU). Turkey officials apparently feel that it would be advantageous for them to be a part of this economic union.

However, to connect with the EU, Turkey would be connecting with predominantly Christian countries. Not only are they Christian, but they are a part of Western civilization, a culture that most Muslims would consider repulsive. It is a clash of cultures.

Beyond the clash, it is about Turkey's past, present and future. Turkey is a historically pivotal country between Western and Eastern civilizations. Turkey is where Christianity saw its rise into prominence with mandated state and country religion, thanks to Emperor Constantine, and it is this role that changed Rome's stance from burning Christians to embracing them. It was at this point in history that Turkey (Byzantine Empire) affected both Eastern and Western civilizations.

Then, Turkey's Byzantine traditions were taken over by the Ottoman empire and changed from Christianity to Islam. Another pivotal moment for Turkey, as Constantinople changed to Istanbul and the Haghia Sophia, Church of Holy Wisdom, was converted to a mosque with minarets and all (and within the last century has been restored and is now a public museum).

Turkey is now facing another pivotal moment. On one side, there's the East with primarily Muslim belief, culture and government states. They offer Turkey their traditions and views of proper Muslim societies, along with isolated cells of muslim extremists. On the other side, is the West, with their free-thinkers, Christian fundamentalists, and (perspectively corrupt) capitalist (and some socialist) countries with their advanced technologies and crazy middle classes.

My personal hope is that the pope sees this visit like a good samaritan. I also hope that Muslims in Turkey will show and prove to the pope that their beliefs are not about violence. Non-violent, peaceful acts can go a long way to prove a point of non-violence. I also hope that Turkey's decision is what truly is best for its country considering their prospects with the EU and working with both Western and Eastern neighbors.

Last thoughts:
I do hope that the pope can enjoy Turkey this week. And I do hope that Turkey will enjoy the pope's visit.

Pope to Enjoy Turkey This Week?

Pope Benedict XVI hopefully has packed his courage, along with the extra baggage of almost two centuries of crusades and his recent remarks regarding Islam's apparent tradition with wars and violence.

I'd like to back the Pope on this, really I would, but I'd be running scared with my tail between my legs. The Catholic Church does not have a pristine record on peace. We are just as guilty of instigating war and violence in our Maker's name. Sigh.

Pope Benedict certainly is showing that he has more balls than I would have imagined. The question does linger in my mind regarding his trip to Turkey: Will he take Istanbul by the horns and command them like a true matador? Indeed, this meeting will be a clash of religions. It will also possibly be the moment of truth when each side will show the world the true tenets of their religion.

It seems ironic that this meeting falls during the week Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, a time to reflect on the story when the newly settled pilgrims "shared" a feast of the harvest with their new neighbors, the "Indians". Maybe this Thanksgiving will be a sharing of peace between Christians and Muslims around the world to embrace the peaceful love of our Maker.

Love: Controversial Subject in Catholic Church?

It may have come as a surprise to many: an ageing theologian known for his conservative stance on sex exploring a highly controversial subject for the Roman Catholic Church -- love.--Mail & Guardian Online

Huh? Whhhhaaat? For many Christians and Catholics, God is love. Nothing about that is controversial to those who know the true meaning of love.

With Pope Benedict the 16th's first official writing, he strives to define love, with the true meaning.

And then, he brings up two Greek (human) concepts of love "eros" (erotic form) and "agape" (spiritual and selfless form).

The pope also brings up "philia," Greek for the love of friendship in this encyclical.

Did Christianity "kill" eros? Nah, not necessarily. We still have that commandment to "be fruitful and multiply," and the Roman Catholics know that very well.

As the pope states, a disciplined and purified form of eros is a "foretaste of the pinnacle of our existence, of that beatitude of which our whole being yearns."

According to the Mail & Guardian article, the pope puts on his best moral polite jacket to say that eros without agape is a weak form of love, that both go hand in hand together.

What about agape without eros? All priests ordained in the Roman Catholic Church in all correct senses should only espouse agape love, and put to death any thought or action of eros love in their lives. Isn't having agape without eros, stifling to the eros love in priests? Thus, do priests have a weakened form of love? Hmmmm....

I think many Christians, both Catholic and protestant, are raised with a certain notion that sex is mysterious and virtually untouchable until marriage and is only practical in creating a new generation. In some way, shape or form, the encyclical reads that married Christians need to put the spiritual back into our love lives. Maybe married couples need to pray before sex (although some probably do that during the act), like praying before your meal.

"Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty..." Hmmmm...

If you have ever checked out the Kama Sutra, they meditate before the act, so in some ways a prayer or spiritual meditation to focus the couple with the connection between eros and God would likely help to elevate ecstasy that could transport them to the gates of St. Peter. Maybe that's why Brian Adams sings about heaven so much?

Much of the pope's writing reminds me of a Jewish website I came across recently (while looking for low carb recipes, of all things). It described kosher Jewish sex, and the Jewish stance on sexuality.

Stop smiling... Hehe. I know I got a chuckle from those three words together, too (You don't have a silly grin, yet? Just think of what normally is kosher: salt, hot dogs, pickles... ok, ok, you sort of get it. Ok, so you are wondering how a rabbi could bless kosher sex? Me, too.).

This writing about kosher Jewish sex really made me appreciate the Jewish culture and how they cherish their traditions. It also made me wonder why the Roman Catholic Church didn't have much to say in a positive fashion about sex and spirituality, until now.

Thank you, Pope Benedict XVI! Now, when are you going to let priests be married and properly enjoy this eros gift from God, too?

Pope's Assassin To Be Free?

The man who shot Pope John Paul II in 1981 will be freed from a Turkish prison soon. Actually, this will be the second time Mehmet Ali Agca has been freed after serving time for murderous activities.

Agca served 19 years in an Italian prison for the attempted murder of the pope, when the pope pardoned him. Agca was then sent to Turkey authorities to serve time for murdering a journalist in 1979. Agca will possibly be released as early as tomorrow for good behavior.

Let's put this picture of a prisoner against another, who recently received a different fate for his actions: Stanley "Tookie" Williams, who was executed on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 after being on death row for 24 years. Williams was accused of brutally murdering 4 people in 1979, although he adamantly maintained his innocence in the case.

Williams, a five-time Nobel nominee, had gone on serving his time and showing that he changed his life by actively promoting anti-gang agenda and writing children's books to keep kids out of gangs (although he was a violent inmate until 1993). He even cooperated with the guards during his final moments.

Apparently, Turkey and the United States has different definitions for punishment and mercy.

In our capitalist society, maybe capital punishment is just another way of showing how capitalism works.

Value of Life

Originally penned Friday, June 10, 2005

It seems like the new catch-phrase in political and religious areas seems to be the “culture of life,” especially in the Republican Party and what is termed ‘Christian right’ groups. Current events like the Terry Shiavo case and pro-life stance on abortion rights seem to echo this view of the culture of life. Or maybe they are serving as a camoflauge for the Republican Party’s true ideology behind their front of the culture of life.


Where did the thought of the culture of life originate? Actually, it was Pope John Paul II’s idea. Pope JP II had developed his campaign of the culture of life, reflecting the value of life Jesus gives to all people.

I think the primary push for me to begin blogging is the growing rate of so-called pro-lifers doing anti-life activities. As a Catholic voter, I have a very difficult time voting because neither the Republican nor the Democratic Party truly support all pro-life policies from pre-birth to death. The Republicans seem to support that some lives are way more important than others, especially those with more money or clout. The Democrats, claiming to be pro-choice, has been tagged at anti-life proponents by the opposition because they want to keep abortions legal.

There are a variety of government policies and laws that contradict the culture of life. The main policy currently in place now is the pre-emptive strike against Iraq and the war that has shattered many lives in that country and the soldiers that have lost their lives for a moot cause. This war is not saving any lives and is in fact putting more lives in jeopardy as these people show their animosity toward the US and this unjust war the US declared on their people. These citizens of Iraq did nothing wrong, yet, they are being punished by this war for the apparent actions of their leader Sadam Hussein for hiding WMDs, his mass killings of his own people, and other atrocities. Since the Bush regime did not find these WMDs, they have taken on the theory that this war is a humanitarian war.

What war is ever a humanitarian war? Wars do not usually hurt those in power, it hurts those (many of them innocent of whatever reason the war is being waged) that have to fight it and be in the thick of it. But wars are declared and fought precisely because of the dictates of a leader. In this war, however, the US did something that Geneva Convention does not condone, they took out the leader, too. Sadam Hussein is now out of power and who knows what’s up with that now.

Now, Iraq is in a state of chaos because not only are they rising up against their US-imposed military state, they are battling for their views of what is right for them, with Sunni, Shia, and Kurds each thinking that they ought to lead the country.

In the Bible, Jesus says that what you do to the least of these, you do for me. If the Republican policy to decrease the funding for title 19 and limit Medicaid coverage says anything, it’ll have the least of these (er, Jesus) sick and dying without any way to pay for the expenses of getting them better. That’s ok because the Republicans are also the big anti-drug pushers, so these sick people will have no way to die painlessly. Maybe this is just the way, since Paul was such a big advocate of suffering in the New Testament. Hmmm, if that’s the case, then why aren’t all these Christian-right people wanting to suffer, too?