There is a collective insanity that grips all too many Arab societies, and pervades those nations who have converted to the religion of the Arabs, Islam. The Bible said that Ishmael (the progenitor of the Arab peoples) would be wild ass of a man, with his hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; and he shall live at odds with all his kin. Whatever you might think about Biblical prophecy, here is one that has certainly been true.

Take Iraq as an example. What started out as a terrorist insurgency eventually turned into religious gang wars. We are seeing a classic example of what Sir John Glubb had to say about the Arab peoples: that they have never, at any time in their history, been united except under force of arms.

You can begin to see why so many Arab countries are governed by dictators or monarchs. When every Arab has his hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him, it takes a strong hand to govern. That’s not so bad when you have a hereditary monarch who governs wisely. It is a disaster when the country is governed by a sociopath like Saddam Hussein.

It is with that in mind that we examine a speech from the Pope on the subject of reason and faith, while contrasting Islamic and Christian beliefs.