Pope baptizes Muslim...

... which pisses off The Real Live Preacher:

It's not the baptism that bothers me. It's the choice to publicly fan flames of religious anger. And it's not educated Muslims that, by and large, will be angered. There was no reason to go out of his way to do this. None.

And later:

I have no problem with Catholicism. None. I have a problem with one man's decision to do something that is fanning the flames of global religious intolerance and anger.

He wasn't finished:

I'm angry. This piece shows it. I'm angry because religious zeal and the need to convert people has driven the three religions of Abraham to be at war with each other. WE MUST STOP trying to convert each other. And the leaders of our religions should be leading us there. But at LEAST the leaders of our religions should not be fanning flames and going out of their way to do things that make it worse.

In the mean-time, The Anchoress brings us to the baptizee's own thoughts on the event:

“Yesterday has been the most beautiful day of my life, when I chose the most simple and explicit name. Since yesterday, my name is Magdi Christian Allam,” he wrote.

Explaining the stages of his conversion, Allam said that “at some point I had to take action” after discovering that “the roots of evil are intrinsic to Islam, that [it] is physiologically violent and historically conflictive.”

The convert also gave thanks to “the embrace of high prelates of great humanity,” mentioning Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and “especially Bishop Rino Fisichella who has personally followed me on the spiritual road to accepting the faith.”

Bishop Fisichella is the Auxiliary Bishop of Rome and President of the Pontifical Lateran University.

But Allam says that the most decisive factor was his meeting with the Pope “whom I have admired and defended as a Muslim for his brilliance in presenting the indissoluble link between faith and reason as the foundation of true religion.”

He praised the Pontiff for agreeing “to personally give me  the Sacraments,” thus launching  “an explicit and revolutionary  message to a Church up to now too prudent regarding the conversion of Muslims.”

Addressing Corriere’s editor in chief Paolo Mieli, Allam writes: “you have asked me if I fear for my life. You are right. I realize what I am going up against, but I will confront my fate with my head high, with my back straight and the interior strength of one who is certain about his faith.”

According to Allam, in Italy “there are thousands of converts to Islam who peacefully live their faith. But there are also thousands of Muslim converts who are constrained to hide their new faith.”

In his open letter, he finally expresses his hope that these former Muslims “from the Pope’s historic gesture and my testimony may be convinced  that the time has come to come out from the shadows of the catacombs.”

I'm hoping RLP is as put off by a Muslim cutting the throat of an infidel as he seems to be by one deciding that Christ is King.

Comments

[Mommynator]

Real Live Preacher is an ass.

This was not an at-gunpoint/swordpoint conversion.

This is one man's spiritual journey out of darkness into light.

Perhaps Real Live Preacher needs to live in a muslim country and see the real face of its oppression and evil to understand this, if he is capable of it.

[ilanlar]

This was not an at-gunpoint/swordpoint conversion.

[BroKen]

Here is my comment posted at RLP.

I've come here by way of Brutally Honest. I, too, am a "real live preacher" (Methodist) and while anti-catholic sentiment is not the point of your post, it certainly is the tone. It's like using the N-word and then saying "Don't accuse me of prejudice. That wasn't my point!" You criticize the Pope for offending Muslims because they will start burning down churches, but it seems OK to offend Catholics because, what, they won't?

All the talk about militant evangelism is way off point. The man accepted Christ and was baptized. You think they should have done it quietly because others will be offended. So, the terrorists win. Do what they want or they'll cut off your head. I think the convert, the Pope, and the church should be commended for their courage.

And Cairsten's implication that Christian baptism is "doing an obnoxious thing in the name of piety" reveals a very dark heart.

[Max Terry]

I occurred to me that this public baptizism had been thought out as to the consequences. Those who are enraged at "fanning the flames" of the radicals need to understand that this was exactly the thing to do. Not to "fan the flames" , but to make a stand outwardly, and by leaders of nations, and political leaders, that blackmail is not acceptable, neither i s knuckling under. The more the radicals hear this kind of actions, and not that of Liberal, PC, pacifierss, the more chance the world has of showing the terrorists that their threats are being consdered, and rejected, by mankind, I applaud the Pope and the Muslim for this stand. I only hope more will show this courage. I think that martyrdom was probably considered before performing this act..So be it..because if actions are taken against the Pope and the Convert..then it is an act of aggression, maybe murder, that cannot be denied by the world media.