Has anyone else noticed that many religious people profess belief in god and live like they don't believe on any deep level. When the Pope was elected I heard many catholics express concern about him being a conservative. If you REALLY believed that the pope was elected via a divine spirit of some kind. Why would you care about his political standing? I have difficulty understanding how one suspends their rationality in such a big way. Many of these people are successful and well educated. I just don't understand. Any Thoughts?

I agree, also doesn't the Pope have lots of protection and guards and things like that....if he was truly religious, he wouldn't fear death, knowing that his death would take him to a greater life than he is living now.

Exactly. Why all the doctrine? If god really wanted something to be interpreted by the masses in a certain way it would be interpreted that way reguardless right?

Has anyone else noticed that many religious people profess belief in god and live like they don't believe on any deep level. When the Pope was elected I heard many catholics express concern about him being a conservative. If you REALLY believed that the pope was elected via a divine spirit of some kind. Why would you care about his political standing? I have difficulty understanding how one suspends their rationality in such a big way. Many of these people are successful and well educated. I just don't understand. Any Thoughts?
yeah, religious, Christians mainly, people seem to only take what they want from religion. if some rule or idea is contrary to their own personal beliefs, they tend to just ignore it, like when jesus tells the pharmacies that they were unjustified in stopping the execution of people who dishonor their parents. I mean come on people, be consistent, if you say the bible is the word of god, then follow it.

I agree, also doesn't the Pope have lots of protection and guards and things like that....if he was truly religious, he wouldn't fear death, knowing that his death would take him to a greater life than he is living now.
yeah, why does he have a pope-mobile with bulletproof glass? if god existed, I think he would be able to stop the pope from being killed if he wanted.

Has anyone else noticed that many religious people profess belief in god and live like they don't believe on any deep level. When the Pope was elected I heard many catholics express concern about him being a conservative. If you REALLY believed that the pope was elected via a divine spirit of some kind. Why would you care about his political standing? I have difficulty understanding how one suspends their rationality in such a big way. Many of these people are successful and well educated. I just don't understand. Any Thoughts?

If you REALLY believed that the pope was elected via a divine spirit of some kind. Why would you care about his political standing?

I don't believe that the pope was elected via God will.

"divine spirit of some kind"? Probably yes, but not all spirits are of God.

1 John 4
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

Exactly. Why all the doctrine? If god really wanted something to be interpreted by the masses in a certain way it would be interpreted that way reguardless right?
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M*W: Welcome to sciforums, Russ. I agree. In the greater scheme of things, all that pomp and ceremony doesn't amount to a hill of beans. It's all for show. I was part of that show more than 20 years ago, until I allowed myself to question it. Christians are afraid to question their religion for fear of eternal death. But, there is no eternal life except for the replication of our DNA in our progeny, and that's good enough for me.

I visited The Vatican on the day JPII was inaugurated, and I was in his first audience. I had the privilege of shaking his hand. I believe he was a good man. But, if one goes into depth to study catholicism, it becomes quite obvious that it is a false religion. The Reformation didn't offer anything better. Christianity is doomed, and all the believers are doomed by their own beliefs.

The only truth will come from within. We don't need an old man sitting in a chair dictating what will get us to some false location after death or what will prevent us from going to this false location if we're bad. Christianity is bad. Very bad.

Are you Catholic Adstar? I thought that holy spirit and the Pope was part of the package.

Thanks Medicine woman. I think the suspension of rationality is dangerous in many ways.

Are you Catholic Adstar? I thought that holy spirit and the Pope was part of the package.

No i am not a catholic. I am a Christian.

The Holy Spirit is a part of the "package" for sure :)

The pope???? Well i will have to pray for the pope that he will come to believe in Jesus and be saved.

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

Has anyone else noticed that many religious people profess belief in god and live like they don't believe on any deep level. When the Pope was elected I heard many catholics express concern about him being a conservative. If you REALLY believed that the pope was elected via a divine spirit of some kind. Why would you care about his political standing?

Rus, the Holy Spirit may choose a Pope who has negative qualities(to some, being conservative is negative). Those adimiting these negative qualities aren't irrational. Overall, however, we can only speculate that the Pope chosen by the Holy Spirit fulfills God's destiny in someway. Nothing much more can be said. We can't even say whether the chosen Pope is more holy than the other possibilities.


yeah, religious, Christians mainly, people seem to only take what they want from religion. if some rule or idea is contrary to their own personal beliefs, they tend to just ignore it, like when jesus tells the pharmacies that they were unjustified in stopping the execution of people who dishonor their parents. I mean come on people, be consistent, if you say the bible is the word of god, then follow it.

Cato,in this passage, Jesus is clearly speaking about the Jews before his resurrection, in which case they were still under the OT law.


I agree, also doesn't the Pope have lots of protection and guards and things like that....if he was truly religious, he wouldn't fear death, knowing that his death would take him to a greater life than he is living now.

Well, if he didn't ride around in bullet proof glass, would this be recklessness? If so, then the Pope wouldn't be prudent. So, ignoring one virtue only to prove another, faith, can't be either beneficial or right.

according to the election of the pope God does not believe in democracy, we are truely of the same image. No wrong doing here.(laughs)

I'll tell you one thing many people wouldn't have embraced christianity for so long if Jesus were black

Who gives a rat's ass about the Pope? He's a figure head of a dead organization that apparently attempts to take the place of Jesus Christ Himself.

Personally I find that the more I live "in faith", the more insane people think I am. It's funny and sad at the same time.

Who says Jesus was white?

Jesus was not European and He was not African. He was an olive skined middle eastern Jew. Well His body was anyway. ;)

Hey Lori i have detected a change in you since i have been away. Your more ummm direct in your posts. Not saying that's bad ;) and to be concidered mad in an insane world it's bad at all.

1 Peter 2
9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

No i am not a catholic. I am a Christian.

The Holy Spirit is a part of the "package" for sure :)

The pope???? Well i will have to pray for the pope that he will come to believe in Jesus and be saved.

All Praise The Ancient Of Days
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M*W: It's christians like you who make me sick. A catholic is a christian, numnuts. What difference does it make if the pope is saved or not. He's no different than you in that respect. Neither of you will ever see a place you call heaven. Goddamn, I hate christianity with a passion, but I hate ignorance worse, and you're one ignorant fuck.

I'll tell you one thing many people wouldn't have embraced christianity for so long if Jesus were black
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M*W: Statistics now show that christianity is predominantly a black religion. Africa is swarming in christians and gaining in numbers by the minute. It's that old slave mentality that reels them in. They can have it.

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M*W: It's christians like you who make me sick. A catholic is a christian, numnuts. What difference does it make if the pope is saved or not. He's no different than you in that respect. Neither of you will ever see a place you call heaven. Goddamn, I hate christianity with a passion, but I hate ignorance worse, and you're one ignorant fuck.

No MW, a christian is someone who is born again in Christ. YOU WERE DUPED!!!! Who's the ignorant fuck again MW? Bitter bitch...

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M*W: Statistics now show that christianity is predominantly a black religion. Africa is swarming in christians and gaining in numbers by the minute. It's that old slave mentality that reels them in. They can have it.


Wow, I can't believe that you just said that. You are one fucked up piece of shit you know that?

No MW, a christian is someone who is born again in Christ. YOU WERE DUPED!!!! Who's the ignorant fuck again MW? Bitter bitch...
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M*W: Read the statistics, ho.

Wow, I can't believe that you just said that. You are one fucked up piece of shit you know that?
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M*W: Only you would know what a "fucked up piece of shit" is since you're one. Educate yourself, you twat, read the statistics.

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M*W: Only you would know what a "fucked up piece of shit" is since you're one. Educate yourself, you twat, read the statistics.

What statistics?!?!?! That africans are inherently predisposed to become slaves?!?!?! You are a racist and a liar.

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M*W: Read the statistics, ho.

What statistics? The number of drone-like spoon-fed idiots that allow themselves to become indoctrinated?

What statistics?!?!?! That africans are inherently predisposed to become slaves?!?!?! You are a racist and a liar.
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M*W: No you simpleton, Black Africans have the fastest growing Christian population in the world.

http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/religion.html

http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_6.html

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M*W: No you simpleton, Black Africans have the fastest growing Christian population in the world.

http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/religion.html

http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_6.html


So what? That's not at all the point I'm addressing. Are you on drugs or something? I know it's hard for you, but try to keep up.

The number of drone-like spoon-fed idiots that allow themselves to become indoctrinated?

They are your brethren, you should show some respect for them. ;)

Brethren my ass.

Oh yes, I completely forgot, you and you alone are the arbiter of dogma.

It's not up to me, and I'm not into dogma.

Why would you care about his political standing


Because those that follow the rules must obey the rules the Pope lays down. They want to be a part of a organization that works together to bring about jobs and control wherever they live and by following the dictates of their leader they just go along with their peers. through folloowing the rules they bring about a unity that gives them votes wherever they live and insures their ways are the ways that are voted into law.

Yep cosmictraveler, the church was the first union and first corporation.

So what? That's not at all the point I'm addressing. Are you on drugs or something? I know it's hard for you, but try to keep up.
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M*W: But the point you were addressing was racism. Again, read the statistics about the fastest grown christian population in the world.

No, Lori, I'm not on drugs, but you admitted you were, and you were probably trying to self-medicate. That's what crazy people do, and then they become drug addicts. Why don't you take that chip off your shoulder and shove it up your ass.

Who gives a rat's ass about the Pope? He's a figure head of a dead organization that apparently attempts to take the place of Jesus Christ Himself.

Personally I find that the more I live "in faith", the more insane people think I am. It's funny and sad at the same time.and true

Lori:

It's not up to me, and I'm not into dogma.

I am. That was a hilarious movie. One of my favorites!

Let me try to interpret.


mw:

Statistics now show that christianity is predominantly a black religion. Africa is swarming in christians and gaining in numbers by the minute.
This seems to be a neutral statement of verifiable fact. Nothing racist here.

It's that old slave mentality that reels them in.
I think she's comparing christians to slaves here. As in giving over your freedom of thought to a group/book that want's to "guide" you. I've made the same comparison at times. Aside from poor phrasing, it dosen't seem racist to me. If it was intended that way, then shame on you MW. Otherwise, what's the deal?

They can have it.
Yes. Yes they can.

Let me try to interpret.

This seems to be a neutral statement of verifiable fact. Nothing racist here.

I think she's comparing christians to slaves here. As in giving over your freedom of thought to a group/book that want's to "guide" you. I've made the same comparison at times. Aside from poor phrasing, it dosen't seem racist to me. If it was intended that way, then shame on you MW. Otherwise, what's the deal?

Yes. Yes they can.
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M*W: Thanks, again, superL. You have me pegged. That was exactly what I meant.

No prob! Although it was huge fun watching you and Lori go at each other. :D

I have to say that I was unsure of what MW meant by "It's that old slave mentality that reels them in". I can certainly see how it can be interpreted as racist. Rephrased as it was by superluminal that was obviously not the intent. But I can understand how Lori would make the mistake.

~Raithere

Yes.

No prob! Although it was huge fun watching you and Lori go at each other. :D
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M*W: Anything to boost ratings!

I have to say that I was unsure of what MW meant by "It's that old slave mentality that reels them in". I can certainly see how it can be interpreted as racist. Rephrased as it was by superluminal that was obviously not the intent. But I can understand how Lori would make the mistake.

~Raithere
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M*W: A couple of years ago there was a commercial on TV (it could have been a national ad, but it may have only been in the State) about Blacks and their new slavery to drugs. Texas historically has a Black prison population of 95%, predominantly for drug and alcohol-related crimes. (DISCLAIMER: This is NOT to be taken as a racist comment). The ad was shocking to say the least, but it addressed a widespread problem that we have in Texas. I must say I was at first offended by the racial overtones of the ad, but the ad was specifically directed toward the Black population. It makes sense to me now. Each ethnicity may have its own social stigma, so pointing fingers at any one group will also experience fingers pointing back at everyone of us. That reminds me of an ethnic joke. No offense intended:

Q - How many drunks were at the Scotsman's wake?

A - One less than at the last wake.

Aye, I dinna take offense at that. I ken it's the truth lass. Aye, 'tis the truth... (my ancestry is actually Welsh. Eh. Close enough.)

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M*W: It's christians like you who make me sick. A catholic is a christian, numnuts. What difference does it make if the pope is saved or not. He's no different than you in that respect. Neither of you will ever see a place you call heaven. Goddamn, I hate christianity with a passion, but I hate ignorance worse, and you're one ignorant fuck.

Ha Ha Ha Ha You know MW your debating level has degenerated to the level of a 3 year old brat. You may as well stick your tongue out at me :p Your only effect is to give me more confidence in The Messiah Jesus and to reveal to all reasonable readers just what a nasty piece of gear you are.

What a pathetic existence to spend ones life as an obsessed hate filled anti.

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

Ha Ha Ha Ha You know MW your debating level has degenerated to the level of a 3 year old brat. You may as well stick your tongue out at me :p Your only effect is to give me more confidence in The Messiah Jesus and to reveal to all reasonable readers just what a nasty piece of gear you are.

What a pathetic existence to spend ones life as an obsessed hate filled anti.

All Praise The Ancient Of Days
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M*W: What's there to debate? You believe in fairy tales. There is no "Messiah Jesus," you pathetic trump. I love it when xians hate me! It makes my day, because you FEAR the truth!

You don't know how my life is filled. All you know is that I am anti-xian. You don't know me at all, you just know what I stand for. I'm not alone, either, and one day we will destroy you.