Benedict Shares More on Faith and Reason

 

The Holy Father gave a wonderful speech at the University of Regensburg yesterday.  While mentioning Islam and jihad, his words on faith and reason, I think, are more profound.

I believe that here we can see the profound harmony between what is Greek in the best sense of the word and the biblical understanding of faith in God. Modifying the first verse of the Book of Genesis, John began the prologue of his Gospel with the words: “In the beginning was the ‘logos.’”

This is the very word used by the emperor: God acts with logos. Logos means both reason and word — a reason which is creative and capable of self-communication, precisely as reason. John thus spoke the final word on the biblical concept of God, and in this word all the often toilsome and tortuous threads of biblical faith find their culmination and synthesis. In the beginning was the logos, and the logos is God, says the Evangelist. The encounter between the biblical message and Greek thought did not happen by chance.

The vision of St. Paul, who saw the roads to Asia barred and in a dream saw a Macedonian man plead with him: “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” (cf. Acts 16:6-10) — this vision can be interpreted as a “distillation” of the intrinsic necessity of a rapprochement between biblical faith and Greek inquiry.

God does not become more divine when we push him away from us in a sheer, impenetrable voluntarism; rather, the truly divine God is the God who has revealed himself as logos and, as logos, has acted and continues to act lovingly on our behalf. Certainly, love “transcends” knowledge and is thereby capable of perceiving more than thought alone (cf. Ephesians 3:19); nonetheless it continues to be love of the God who is logos. Consequently, Christian worship is “logic latreía” — worship in harmony with the eternal Word and with our reason (cf. Romans 12:1).

Read the whole speech, graeat reading!

Air-less America

 

Here is how the libs are characterizing the announcement that Air America is “reorganizing” [read going belly up.]

Air America To Declare Bankruptcy, But Progressive Radio Remains Strong

Perhaps more laughable than this headline are some of the comments that follow this posting.

While I hate to hear this, I feel that the radio format is dated. Progressives get their news from reading blogs and other online sources. I don’t have time to sit and listen to radio, AM or streaming.

Let the radio format go the way of the Dodo… let’s concentrate on more and better online media.

Sure.  Pretend that the radio matters not and that they can move on to bigger and better failures. Here’s a brilliant comment:

 R.I.P., Air America. If it had been a right-wing network, this administration would have secretly funneled millions of dollars into it. Ya know, if they happen to do that sort of thing.

As if the government hasn’t been funding of liberal radio for decades.  Ever hear of NPR?

The Radio Equalizer does a good job of debunking a lot of the rhetoric.

Will Netherlands be Lost to Sharia Law?

 

HT from Michelle Malkin:

AMSTERDAM — Dutch Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner has provoked an angry response by stating it has to be possible for Sharia Law to be introduced in the Netherlands via democratic means.

The Christian Democrat (CDA) minister made the suggestion during an interview for the book ‘Het land van haat en nijd’ (the land of hate and malice) which was published on Wednesday.

Donner indicated he was not happy with the tone of the integration debate in the Netherlands.

Muslims, he said, just like Protestants and Roman Catholics, have a right to the perceptions of their religion, even if that included dissenting rules of behaviour such as imams refusing to shake hands with women.

He went on to say: “It must be possible for Muslim groups to come to power [in the Netherlands] via democratic means. Every citizen may argue why the law should be changed, as long as he sticks to the law.

“It is a sure certainty for me: if two thirds of all Netherlanders tomorrow would want to introduce Sharia, then this possibility must exist. Could you block this legally? It would also be a scandal to say ‘this isn’t allowed!

“The majority counts. That is the essence of democracy.”

His remarks are contrary to the stance taken by MP Maxime Verhagen, leader of the CDA in parliament. Verhagen had expressed concern Sharia Law could be introduced in city districts where Muslims are already in the majority.
Right-wing MP Geert Wilders of the Party for Freedom has posed written questions to Donner.

Wilders said Donner should be defending Dutch norms and values and resisting the introduction of “barbarous Sharia Law” in the Netherlands. The minister will face a motion of no confidence if he sticks to his views, Wilders warned.

Labour (PvdA), the largest opposition party, has also expressed surprise at Donner. MP Jeroen Dijsselbloem said Donner seemed to be forgetting that several points of Sharia Law are in conflict with the Dutch Constitution. “The Minister for Justice must invest his energies in opposing these sorts of opinions rather than signalling that such ideas can form part of our democracy,” Dijsselbloem said.

Donner is of course correct.  As the European natives continue with their secular ways and lothing of traditional Christian tradition and morals (including very low rates of reproduction), the immigrant Muslims are increasing in numbers and will likely become a majority in many Western European countries this century.  When will Europe awake from her slumber?