Al-Rahi Warns Religious Fundamentalism May 'Turn Spring into Winter'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi hoped on Friday that officials in Lebanon would be inspired by the Bible to conduct their political practices in order to achieve a better society.
He said during the Epiphany mass: “They should not separate their duties from their responsibilities towards God, but instead strike a balance between their political practices and moral values.”
He criticized current political practices, which he said created corruption and an economic crisis.
Christians and Muslims in Lebanon are expected to maintain the Lebanese entity, which is not only built on demographic diversity, but the cultural diversity of these two religions, he added.
“This can be achieved through equality between them as stipulated by the constitution,” al-Rahi stated.
Addressing regional developments, the patriarch noted: “The real Arab Spring can be achieved through Christian-Muslim partnership.”
“Christians in the East are required to launch a spiritual, moral, social, and national renaissance through resorting to the living Bible,” he stressed.
“The Arab Spring is the product of the Arab people and not foreign powers,” he added.
“The foreign meddling will only take place at the locals’ expense,” he noted.
Furthermore, he warned that religious fundamentalism "may turn the spring into a winter.”
"Violence and terrorism forebode a destructive winter," al-Rahi cautioned, strongly condemning "the spate of bombings in Iraq which left dozens of innocent people dead or injured."
06 January 2012, 13:01
30
our patriarch understands values and morals and he speaks from his wisdom
06 January 2012, 13:28
00
my obligations is to my family.. and god is private.
and religious leaders must separate their religious duties from politics.
06 January 2012, 14:29
00
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Columnist/2012/Jan-05/158882-finding-god-everywhere-in-lebanon.ashx#axzz1iZDA6jQc
06 January 2012, 14:35
00
Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi hoped on Friday that officials in Lebanon would be inspired by the Bible to conduct their political practices in order to achieve a better society...
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said it is the wish of Hezbollah to one day establish an Islamic Republic in Lebanon because we believe that the establishment of an Islamic government is the only way to achieve stability in society, and it is the only way to resolve social differences, even in a society consisting of diverse minorities.
humm..
06 January 2012, 16:11
04
“The Arab Spring is the product of the Arab people and not foreign powers,” he added.
i wonder if this sentence will please the M8 and syrian propaganda....
06 January 2012, 16:13
00
Which fundamentalism? Nasrallah's & alikes? Assad's exported Salafists Lebanon has experienced & still is? As far as we know, especially we, Christians, and Maronites, the only winter we suffered and died and emigrated and disappeared for during last 3 decades, is called totalitarianism, namely Assads Gang & Khamenei cavern Fundamentalists, intruded in Lebanon, and for now governing Lebanon by terror. May be P. Rai should buy new binocles (or advisers).
06 January 2012, 16:30
10
rahi, they told u already not to mix politics with god,,,look what's happening to shia when they mixed god with...
06 January 2012, 16:41
10
YES and AMEN. This is the role of those who follow Jesus Christ.... to be light and righteous... and to call others into the Light. Jesus Christ is the ONLY Light of the World... the only hope for Lebanon.
06 January 2012, 17:37
02
No Mr. Al-Rahi. You got it wrong again. We want the separation between God and the state. God is our biggest problem and the reason the Lebanese state can't stand up.
You and other religious leaders should stick to God and leave the state to the people. We need new leaders who focus on the people NOT religious differences and cattle. Enough with your 14th Century views.
06 January 2012, 17:39
00
No Patriarch you got it worng again. We want less church in our state not more. Get God away from politics.
06 January 2012, 18:33
00
of course Lice Mountain didn't pay attention to that line, peace.
06 January 2012, 19:24
10
the filthy zionist information war department is totaly unaware of the programs, stands and politics of march 8 so they halucinate that new patriarch is somehow against them
06 January 2012, 20:12
00
what please us is there is always a filthy zionist information war department chiwaaaaaa barking asking for his little bone
07 January 2012, 01:07
11
the filthy zionist information war department is trying to mix together normal people of syria who want reform with terrorists and zionist spies.
al rahi was talking about normal people. the zionst information war department talks about "protesters" meaning infiltrated terrorists.
