Protesting the rapid growth of the Muslim population worldwide, and the failure of the Protestant Church’s inability to contain it, Roland Weisselberg a 73-year retired priest committed suicide by setting himself on fire at a German monastery, according to United Press International.
Weisselberg died Wednesday in a hospital after having poured a can of petrol over his entire body at Augustine monastery in the eastern city of Erfurt, where Martin Luther spent six years as a monk at the beginning of the 16th century.
Church officials expressed their shock at the incident, stressing that closer dialogue with Islam was crucial to bridge the gap between Muslims and Christians.
Weisselberg was still holding sermons less than two weeks ago.
Witnesses said the former priest climbed into a building site next to the monastery church, where a Reformation Day service was being held, and began shouting “Jesus and Oskar (apparently referring to Oskar Brüsewitz, a priest who burnt himself in 1976 in protest against the Communist regime in East Germany)” before setting his body on fire.
The Protestant Bishop of Saxony, Axel Noack, said the suicide had shocked the community, adding that the incident shouldn’t affect relations between Christians and the Muslim world.
Statistics show that Islam is the second-largest religion in the world after Christianity. It is also the fastest growing religion on Earth.
Following a period of tension, aroused as a result of a Danish newspaper’s publication of blasphemous cartoons ridiculing prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Pope Benedict remarks linking Islam to violence, positive initiatives by representatives of both communities, Christians and Muslims ensured that such incidents did not affect the good ties between the followers of the two religions.
Recent months witnessed the set up of various organisations and conferences all aimed at fostering good, meaningful relationships between Muslims and Christians, so that issues of concern to both can be tackled within a framework of mutual respect and deep understanding.
Re: Priest burns himself in protest of Islam’s fast spread in the world
format_quote Originally Posted by Muslimah_Sis
:eek: Wow! I think by doing that he proved that Islam and muslims can't be beaten. Allahu Akbar!
Beaten? Beaten at what? Is religion all a numbers game to Muslims and Christians? In Judaism, you have to be go through rigerous training/learning to convert that takes over a year. Not two minutes. Every religion could not care about having more people then all the others ones. I actually view that as one of the most worthless statistics their is when comparing religions.
Re: Priest burns himself in protest of Islam’s fast spread in the world
format_quote Originally Posted by Muslimah_Sis
:eek: Wow! I think by doing that he proved that Islam and muslims can't be beaten. Allahu Akbar!
I doubt if the actions of one priest prove anything one way or the other about any religion. They probably prove only that he was troubled deep in his spirit.
Re: Priest burns himself in protest of Islam’s fast spread in the world
He must have been very disturbed. May God forgive him!
I think by doing that he proved that Islam and muslims can't be beaten.
Whatdo you mean by that, muslimah sister?
Every religion could not care about having more people then all the others ones. I actually view that as one of the most worthless statistics their is when comparing religions.
I agree, Izak. I dislike this 'who-is-the-biggest'-thinking too.
Peace
Peace glo
Here I stand.
I can do no other.
May God help me.
Amen.
Come, let us worship and bow down •
and kneel before the Lord our Maker
[Psalm 95]
Re: Priest burns himself in protest of Islam’s fast spread in the world
hmmm...its still not clear from the report that he burnt himself because of the rise in the number of Muslims. He could've burnt himself cause of other reasons
Re: Priest burns himself in protest of Islam’s fast spread in the world
Lol I said it cuz in Islam, its best u declare ur testimony of faith sooner rather than later. You dont know whether u will die in the process.
Anyways, I don't understand why he committed suicide...?
Last edited by Nσσя'υℓ Jαииαн; 11-04-2006 at 07:37 PM.
*Without Allah, without Islam, life would be meaningless. If I've ever learned patience, it's because of this. Alhamdulillah...*
Re: Priest burns himself in protest of Islam’s fast spread in the world
Assalamu Alaikum
format_quote Originally Posted by tayaba
I hope your not referring to Islam when you say "not two minutes." If not, then u can ignore that.
even if he did refer it..it's two minutes to convert (its probably less) which is easy for anyone to do, and its a lifetime of practicing afterwards..and you can learn about it voluntarily before-hand and when you feel its right for you, you can do the conversion right away--not a whole year or something like that, you could die anytime in that one year and not get the benefit of being a part of the religion you want to be in.
format_quote Originally Posted by Muslimah_Sis
Wow! I think by doing that he proved that Islam and muslims can't be beaten. Allahu Akbar!
She meant that Islam can't be presently outtaken by its present increase in its converts/reversions.
format_quote Originally Posted by IzakHelevas
Beaten? Beaten at what? Is religion all a numbers game to Muslims and Christians? Every religion could not care about having more people then all the others ones. I actually view that as one of the most worthless statistics their is when comparing religions.
You are right, it shouldn't matter. what should matter is how many of those muslims are practicing and living up to their name.
Re: Priest burns himself in protest of Islam’s fast spread in the world
format_quote Originally Posted by IzakHalevas
Beaten? Beaten at what? Is religion all a numbers game to Muslims and Christians? In Judaism, you have to be go through rigerous training/learning to convert that takes over a year. Not two minutes. Every religion could not care about having more people then all the others ones. I actually view that as one of the most worthless statistics their is when comparing religions.
Meaning no one can destroy it. Sort of like how Zoroastrianism was wiped off the map? Also numbers play a role in comparing religons. Without anyone worshipping a religon how can it hope to advance?
Re: Priest burns himself in protest of Islam’s fast spread in the world
format_quote Originally Posted by *charisma*
Assalamu Alaikum
even if he did refer it..it's two minutes to convert (its probably less) which is easy for anyone to do, and its a lifetime of practicing afterwards..and you can learn about it voluntarily before-hand and when you feel its right for you, you can do the conversion right away--not a whole year or something like that, you could die anytime in that one year and not get the benefit of being a part of the religion you want to be in.
Yes I know sis, thanks lol
*Without Allah, without Islam, life would be meaningless. If I've ever learned patience, it's because of this. Alhamdulillah...*
Re: Priest burns himself in protest of Islam’s fast spread in the world
you know...i just have a hunch that tells me that the suicide was not due to the rapid increase in muslim population...it just seems too ridiculous to be true
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