The following is part of the transcript to a talk delivered last year at an event in Melbourne titled “Is Islam a reasonable belief?” . [Shafiul Huq speaking] The question we want to address tonight is not merely a theoretical question that a bunch of (radical) uni students happens to feel curious about. Rather this question seems to have a very widespread appeal, especially in this particular historical moment – in the era of science and reason. Pope Benedict, in his Regensburg lecture in 2006, reminded the world how Islam, as opposed to Western Christianity, has fallen utterly short of reconciling faith with reason, and hence Muslims needed to resort to violence. He quotes the words of a Byzantine emperor in his lecture: “Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.” Then the Pope says: “The emperor, after having expressed himself so forcefully
"Thoughts are the greatest wealth of any nation."