Pope Benedict XVI Quotes
If it is true that the great missionaries of the 16th century were convinced that one who was not baptized was lost - and that explains their missionary commitment - in the Catholic Church after the Second Vatican Council, that conviction was definitely abandoned.
Benedict XVI. "Interview with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI." Through Faith: Doctrine of Justification and Experience of God in the Preaching of the Church, edited by Daniele Piazzi, translated by L'Osservatore Romano, 16 Mar. 2016.
Most fundamentalist Muslims view advocacy of any religion other than Islam as an “aggression” against Islam. While Americans are used to evangelizing and very aggressive attempts to convert others to and from various religion, the lack of freedom in most Islamic societies makes this a foreign notion. Also, Muslims read the works of some Christian missionaries and generalize this view to the West in its entirety. For example, See {607979}
This was a large part of the “moral” justification of conquering the New World peoples.
At that time, and in much of the world today, religious preaching and those who do it are licensed by the state. Lucian’s response was one of the first statements that governments and temporal powers endorsement was not required, nor was any formal ordination or grant of authority from a formal church as existed among the pagans of the time where the religion was seen as another extension of the state. Even in America there is some ambivalence on this point. Many religions require not only training but a grant of authority from the religious hierarchy. Others such as some Baptists and many Protestant Fundamentalist groups believe that no specific authority is needed other than the “calling of god.” Lucian was apparently the first person to claim the authority as an individual. He was burnt alive for his position. There is a second Saint Lucian. To distinguish the latter is often referred to as Saint Lucian the Syrian.
These Christians are hard-line missionaries who have inserted themselves into Islam like a parasite.
This is an important quotation because it reflects the extreme Muslim antipathy toward non Islamic missionaries. An Islamic theocracy like Iran gets itself in a bind over missionaries because Islamic law (Sharia) which they follow requires the Death Penalty for ANY Muslim who converts to another religion. There is no opportunity for repentance; death is required. Of course, modern and reformist Muslims do not follow this Koranic requirement any more than Christians and Jews today will execute for Heresy or Adultery as is required in their Bible. The lack of balance illustrates a very difficult problem other religions have in dealing with Muslims. Christian missionaries who convert Muslims are “parasites.” Muslim missionaries who convert Christians are doing the will of God.
Pope Benedict XVI is a retired prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the head of the Church and the sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2005 until his resignation in 2013. Benedict's election as pope occurred in the 2005 papal conclave that followed the death of Pope John Paul II. Benedict chose to be known by the title "pope emeritus" upon his resignation.
