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[LegoLord]

Now then, if he does go around making a fool of himself by screaming "You will all go to hell if you don't repent!" and "You have all been misled!"

I get those calls all the time from Christian churches in my city.


My biggest problem with the Christian religion is how the followers, especially the priests, refuse to believe that ANY other religion could be right, and that everyone who follows them is a misguided sinner bound for the fiery abyss.
And the way they patronize you about it.
I`ll pray for your soul and that someday you`ll find the light.

Of course, this is just from my experiences in Toronto, Canada.

Well, then obviously the majority Christians of Toronto, Canada, that you have encountered have gone astray from the majority of us - from what I've seen - accross multiple cities, states, and even countries.  In general, using a generalization as a rule doesn't really work all that well.

Now, the pope.  Religion is not intrinsically political.  It only has an effect on politics when you attempt to twist it to rally people for or against something that, strictly speaking, is in reality a secular matter of state.  If he's using religion as a means to encourage good will to your neighbors and all that (and not resorting to fear tactics), that I don't mind, but if it's just to get more followers?  Seems like a waste.  If he is using fear tactics, I have to disapprove.  To get people to rally against a proposed solution to a problem?  Then I have to doubt the morality of what he does - politics should be secular (if we assume we have a right to believe what we want).  So, just which of these does it look like the pope is following?

[Hawkfrost]

Now then, if he does go around making a fool of himself by screaming "You will all go to hell if you don't repent!" and "You have all been misled!"

My biggest problem with the Christian religion is how the followers, especially the priests, refuse to believe that ANY other religion could be right, and that everyone who follows them is a misguided sinner bound for the fiery abyss.

Ummmmmmm, thats kinda the point of following a religion.  If you think any one religion could be right and it doesnt really matter which one you pick then, what, its a hobby?  That certainly removes any BELIEF from the belief system!


I am scratchin my head more and more at some of these posts.

There is a difference between faith and respecting other people`s beliefs.
I don`t start insulting other people`s faith whenever I find out that they follow a different religion.

[Gorjo MacGrymm]

 Some Quotes from Christianity:

Matthew 12:30 , “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.”
 
Revelation 3: 15-16 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

Basicly, if you are a Christian and do not preach, loudly, that Jesus is the One and Only True Path to heaven, well, then, your not really a believer.  He would rather you be a hard core athiest.  God apparently respects people who actually stand up for their beliefs no matter the consequences, rather than just "getting along".
 
 

[Sordid]

by the wiki, 70% believe in something - so the majority is NOT athiest

Um, no. Atheism is not believing in god. Believing in something other than god doesn't mean you're not an atheist. If only 19% believe in god, then that means that the remaining 81% do not.

Religion is not intrinsically political.

"Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is."
- Gandhi

Some Quotes from Christianity:

Matthew 12:30 , “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.”
 
Revelation 3: 15-16 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

Basicly, if you are a Christian and do not preach, loudly, that Jesus is the One and Only True Path to heaven, well, then, your not really a believer.  He would rather you be a hard core athiest.  God apparently respects people who actually stand up for their beliefs no matter the consequences, rather than just "getting along".

Also, you may have picked up on the whole "returning the Church's property that had been confiscated by the communist regime" thing in the video. Am I the only one who thinks the Church is being rather hypocritical in wanting it back, in light of this teaching of Jesus?

You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
-- Matthew 5:38-42

Basically give to anyone who asks, don't resist if someone wants to steal from you, don't defend yourself in any way.
But yeah, pointing out the hypocrisy of the Christian religion is like shooting fish in a barrel. With a minigun.

As for the pope, every time I see him sitting in the popemobile I can't help thinking that if you have to hide in a box made of bulletproof glass while preaching peace and understanding, then you're doing something wrong.

[Neonivek]

if you have to hide in a box made of bulletproof glass while preaching peace and understanding, then you're doing something wrong

Goodness, how right would you have to be to suddenly become bullet proof yourself?

That would be some sort of Super Pope

[redacted123]

if you have to hide in a box made of bulletproof glass while preaching peace and understanding, then you're doing something wrong

Goodness, how right would you have to be to suddenly become bullet proof yourself?

That would be some sort of Super Pope

In fairness, you could offer £1000 to everyone in the world and there'd still be some crazy guy wanting you dead.

[Gorjo MacGrymm]

Sordid, u described an agnostic, not an atheist.  You are confusing atheism with the Christian religion and keep interjecting "god".  Far too many people seem to think atheism means not believing in the Christian God.  It means not believeing in any form of supernatural being, life force, spirit, etc.  Atheists, by definition do NOT believe, because atheists demand evidence.  Since there isnt any evidence for any of the above, then to believe by default makes someone a non-athieist.

The wiki, again:
....19% of Czech citizens responded that "they believe there is a god" (the second lowest rate among European Union countries after Estonia with 16%),[37] whereas 50% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force....

[Leafsnail]

Well, "Theist" does refer specifically to a god of some form.  You can believe in spirits and be an atheist.

[Sensei]

The big question is... are "Far to many people...' Christian?

[Duke 2.0]

Well, "Theist" does refer specifically to a god of some form.  You can believe in spirits and be an atheist.

While the theist root word does mean to believe in some spirit or life force, the a- prefix means not or untrue. Thus Atheist means not believing in some spirit or life force.

[Gorjo MacGrymm]

Yo yo, what Duke said, G!




word to yo'mother.

[Sordid]

You are confusing atheism with the Christian religion and keep interjecting "god". Far too many people seem to think atheism means not believing in the Christian God.  It means not believeing in any form of supernatural being, life force, spirit, etc.

No, it doesn't. It means not believing in god(s).

The wiki, again:
....19% of Czech citizens responded that "they believe there is a god" (the second lowest rate among European Union countries after Estonia with 16%),[37] whereas 50% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force....

Exactly. 19% said there is a god. The question doesn't distinguish between Yahweh and Zeus. 19% believe in some god.

the theist root word does mean to believe in some spirit or life force

No it doesn't. "Theos" means "god", not "spirit", nor "life force", nor any other such stuff.

[LegoLord]

"Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is."
- Gandhi

You know, that statement says nothing of any intrinsic relationship.  Religion is used as a tool by some politics - they make it so that religion is related to politics - but it is entirely possible to have religion in an area and have a secular political situation - for example, a place with multiple contrasting religions in which the people do not fervently think there is a need for everyone to believe the same religion they do (likely, less conservative areas, but probably not far left either).  In such an area, bringing religion into politics would be more likely to turn the majority against you, as the majority would be of a religion with a different view and would as a result feel that they are having this other minority religion forced on them.  Thus, politicians in such an area would be less inclined to use religion as a tool, as it would do their campaigns more harm than good. 

Think of how people do not seem to be intrinsically good or bad (by their own actions or by influence of others) - but rather intrinsically self-preserving - but they can be made to go either way.  Political is to religion as good or bad are to people.

So, since people will make religion a political matter (and have been doing so for quite some time), and since it is possible for religion to exist in an area without dragging it into politics, both mine and Gandhi's statements hold true.

On the subject of the bullet-proof box, though, remember the Ronald Reagan assassination attempt.  If I were a well-known world figure, I'd want one of those boxes, to be fair.

[Sensei]

Ghandi is saying that Religion affects/is your basic values, which in turn affect EVERY decision, including of course political matters. Methinks.

[Kagus]

Okay...   Just butting in here to inform you all of something mildly unrelated.

Now, I've had bouts of temporary dyslexia in the past...  Stuff like seeing a sign that read "Military" as "Hilarity" the first time my eyes brushed over it.  You know, the usual.

But this was something new.  I have no idea how I managed to see it, but for a very brief moment I did.  My newly-awakened brain somehow interpreted the thread title as something completely different.

"The Pope is so naive" became "The Pope is so sexy"