"Salvation*" and "Freedom?"

It is ironic to find this story in that newspaper's site

Nevertheless, it is striking, at least for me, that Benedict XVI who is head of an institution not famous in history for its tolerance of scientific dissent (or any dissent) is calling for religion to be discussed in terms of both faith and reason while supposedly secularist Egypt which is a signatory of international agreements protecting free speech and a free press is banning European newspapers for sacrilege and blasphemy.

The "Panzer Cardinal" has really come into his own.

The Bush Administration has flirted with the idea that there are "good" Islamists to be found in places like Egypt, and that they would be "change agents" for the neocon dream of a secularized Middle East.  It is probably the fear of ALL the Islamists that has caused the Egyptian Information Minister to act this way.

"I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."  Thomas Jefferson

My. My.

Benedict XVI and Mr. Jefferson seem to be on the same side in this argument.

Pat Lang

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-09/25/content_5130248.htm

Comments

[Babak Makkinejad]

protected static:

Your statements, in my opinion, actually confirm my point: that the Enlightenment project in no way, shape, or form, is qualitatively superior to what preceeded it. It is just more efficient: in feeding people, educating people, killing people.