[Flipside]

And hide under it....

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040514/ts_nm/pope_muslims_dc

Ummmmmmmmm.... Would this be an innapropriate time to say that at this moment, the Vatican should keep it's sodding nose out of things?

[Fineus]

I don't even know where to start.. if I was a member of the religion I'd be ashamed... not that it was a group decision. Honestly though.. it seems like regression and how long will it be before we hit a stage of "that man does not have white skin. Thefore he is a sinner and will go to hell. Fail to kill him and so will you".

I think I might go colonize the moon. Anyone else up for making a separate state in the name of HLP?

[karajorma]

And people wondered why I complain about the vatican and the pope.

They're nothing else other than yet another system of goverment full of lying politicians and a self-elected despot for life.

I especially love the line about them having trouble facing the popularity of Islam. Well that shows a lot of faith in your religion doesn't it! Maybe they're worrying that they picked the wrong horse

[an0n]

Religions are trying to stop people converting to opposing religions?!?! Dear God! What is the world coming to?

[Flipside]

Bit of selective oversimplification there An0n

It won't be read like that by anyone least of all the Catholics and the Muslims

[phreak]

at the end of the article there were links to other news

this was way more interesting: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/latimests/20040514/ts_latimes/incapitalventurerocketreachestheedgeofspace&e=5

[Unknown Target]

Ah, that is much more interesting!

[Rictor]

I like religion in general, and the Vatican specifiaclly, as long as they remain benign. This, however.....

[mikhael]

I'm surprised the Vatican hasn't warned catholics against marrying agnostics and deists like me. If they have, my wife didn't get the memo.

I wonder if that one priest is going to prevent her from taking communion because she married me, especially considering my political stances?

[karajorma]

Originally posted by Rictor
I like religion in general, and the Vatican specifiaclly, as long as they remain benign. This, however.....

Of course you do Rictor. Nevermind that the vatican policy is responsible for more deaths in Africa than anything the US has done in the last 10-15 years or so.

[mikhael]

Shush, Kara. You might goad him into trying to defend the senseless deaths of millions. Either his brain will explode, or it won't and he'll babble on about how if you're not for the Vatican, you're against cannibalism or something.

Either way, it'll be an ugly mess.

[karajorma]

Originally posted by mikhael
Shush, Kara. You might goad him into trying to defend the senseless deaths of millions. Either his brain will explode, or it won't and he'll babble on about how if you're not for the Vatican, you're against cannibalism or something.

Either way, it'll be an ugly mess.

If no one was to talk about any subject that Rictor could make ill-educated points about no one would be talking at all.

[mikhael]

An unfortunate, but true, point.

[Rictor]

You're right. I think I misunderstand the word benign.

[karajorma]

You said remain benign. You obviously do misunderstand the word if you believe they ever have been benign in the first place.

[Rictor]

Fine. I meant it as "as long as they *are* benign".

But you could actually use benign as I used it, though its not strictly correct. Shortly after a tiger attacks you, you could say "I like tigers, as long as they remain the hell away from me.", indicating you hope that they will do so in the future.

[mikhael]

He's weaseling again.

[Grey Wolf]

See, this is what they get for going more conservative again after Vatican II. That could have saved the Catholic Church. But no, they have to go authoritarian again....

Also, notice how the Pope never actually makes statements much. These statements are all from "Senior Vatican officials". Seems that they Catholic Church is an oligarchy now....

[karajorma]

Originally posted by Rictor
But you could actually use benign as I used it, though its not strictly correct. Shortly after a tiger attacks you, you could say "I like tigers, as long as they remain the hell away from me.", indicating you hope that they will do so in the future.

Yeah but you can't use that kind of comment after complaining on every single thread you can find about how nasty lions are because they attack people.

The fact is that the majority of complaints you could level against the US could also be made against the catholic church's oligarchy. Yet strangely I'm yet to see a complaint from you about it.

And if you really believe that doing nothing about an evil is the same as condoning it how come we never hear you complaining about the number of places where the church does huge influence and yet sits back and says nothing?

By your own rules your liking the catholic church means you support its work in helping the AIDS virus spread in Africa.

[Rictor]

There are many, many organizations which are harming someone. I try to go after the one who's actions have the greatest effect on humanity, and that, as far as I know, would the US of A. If this were Russia or China (could soon be) or a private corporation, they'de be getting hell. The US, as the lone superpower, has the ability to **** things over quite badly. I'm sure many other would be as bad or worse, but they just don't have the resources.

Originally posted by karajorma

The fact is that the majority of complaints you could level against the US could also be made against the catholic church's oligarchy. Yet strangely I'm yet to see a complaint from you about it.

Sanctions, bombing, invasion, the odd coup every few years....? I don't think so. They Catholic Church may be guilty of a whole other set of crimes, but at least don't try to tell me they are the same ones as the US.

Yes, fundemantalism is wreaking all sorts of havok in parts of the world, but the scale, thats what counts. And for what its worth, the Church has been known to be  a pretty big player when it comes to overthrowing an oppressive regime. I know examples in certain South American nations, as well as the whole Poland thing. Don't try to construe this as support, its just that the Church is pretty far down the list.

As for Africa, I support every single measure to contain AIDS, its really an epidemic in places. I read a little while ago that researches have deduced that its probably the fact that people have numerous sexual parterns simountaneously (sp?) that is a major factor in why AIDS is so out of hand in Africa.