Whisperer

His latest offering.... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8492597.stm

So we get to spend £20million on him coming here so he can attack the UK laws....

So along with his other great speeches including the AIDS/HIV one where he told people not to use a condom and the one where he told Africans to keep burning witches is he actually leading the Catholic Church back into archaeic times? A path of staunt Catholicism where there is no tolerance or understanding of any other faith?

Is he doing the church any favours?

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Light Within

you know i read all the news that highlights religious dogma and intolerance and the threats that are made in the name of religion and all it does confirm for me that extreme importance of following your own light and taking responsibility for your actions and treating people as you would want to be treated yourself.

I know there are 1000s that get great comfort from the ritual of religion it still never ceases to amase me just how easily lead people are and actually how these religions think it is okay to manipulate their flock to keep control.

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There are two ways to live your life. One as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.
Albert Einstein

Tigs

Well this is an interesting one for me being a catholic and as much as it pains me I do not see him as the head of my church. I would never have voted for him.


In my mind he has no business in the position he his

John Paul was going to be a very hard act to follow, whether you agree or not with the religion he was such a good man and did much to try and unite faiths. I saw him in Heaton Park in Manchester when I was younger

I would not queue to see this man, I do not like his energy. I feel he has his own agenda of what the church should be and we will not see the outflowing that we did with JP when his time on earth is done.

I feel that he is damaging the church and the religion.

I was also pretty disgusted that he changed the time of the Christmas Midnight mass to enable him to get enough rest for the one in the morning!!!!!!!!!

I cant imagine JP ever doing that. You serve God if that is your calling - tired or not!!!!!!!

I hope they choose the next one a little better!

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Whisperer

I just look at the guys eyes and can see nothing but black....

I'm pretty much on the same lines as you Tigs, I personally feel as though he is dragging Catholicism back into an intolerant and harsh religion, negating the past few Popes hard work in tolerance and understanding.

I always used to think the Catholic faith was a bit downbeat (thats not the word I wanted to use but I can't think of how to say it). I think the line in the film Dogma was 'Catholics don't celebrate their faith, they mourn it' struck true. But thats cause I did't (and still don't) know enough about it and am igronant about why it comes across that way....

Over the last few years I could see the Catholic Church coming out of the 'mourning' thing and actually being a force for good and peace. To me, this bloke has just rammed it back a good few hundred years...

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Light Within

just so you know - i didnt just mean the catholic church here

there are so many who are guilty

but yes , your comment about his eyes rang very true and your comments have made me think too

How very sad for all those whose faith is strong to have their worlds rocked by a mans intolerance because that is all he is - a man.

correct me if i am wrong though - isnt his past involvements in various world events a bit shady?

I know people change and they learn by their mistakes - but i just get a really strong feeling of a bitter and intolerant individual - though to be fair his policies are a good indication of his beliefs.

And yes I know they mentioned all the other big no -nos but what about pedophilia? lets face it - i havent heard much about his followers being punished for that - more like its been dysoned under the carpet

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There are two ways to live your life. One as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.
Albert Einstein

Whisperer

Really? To be honest the guy has only come on my radar! The African tour is what kicked off my groan fest at him.

Amen to that one!!!

I agree with your other comments in your first post - have faith - and it doesn't even matter which one but also have a mind where you can decide on your own moral codes within your faith...

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StarMonkey

I see the same. The previous Pope seemed to want to try and do good and progress the Catholic Church into a more modern way of thinking while still keeping the traditionalists happy. This guy just creeps me out.

I'm not a Catholic (I don't really follow any religion) and I don't wish to offend those that do believe that the Pope is the most holy person on Earth and head of church and should be listened to, but regardless of what is deemed right or wrong by the church, I strongly believe that no matter which side of opinion a religious group falls on, the information they give about that topic should not be lies.

All I see from the current Pope is dark, hollow eyes and a creepiness that hangs like a cloud around him while he feeds lies to people not educated enough to make an informed decision, or too blind to belief to do so. Definitely destroying years of progressive and tolerant and (generally) balanced well-informed and reasoned arguments.

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Shantu

I was reading over everyones replies and this ponder emerged... world religions as a whole are tending toward insularity and fundementalism, retreating into their closed corners. Now, one thing which is becoming apparent is that many people are no longer accepting the falsehoods painted as truth which have been fed us for so long (Blair, US involvement in world affairs, religious teachings, pharmacutical propaganda,etc). I wonder if this present pope has come along to reveal the darker, restrictive aspects of the Catholic church which still have hold? I wonder if, in his zealous actions, he is holding up a mirror to show those who have blindly followed his faith the underlying truth of it?

Yes, there will still be those who follow and close their eyes, but I wonder just how many people will say - no, this is not for me - and step away from the guilt which is the catholic way.

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Negativity is a comfort zone... positivity is an adventure!

www.light-within.co.uk

CATS WHISKERS

[QUOTE=Light Within]: : extreme importance of following your own light and taking responsibility for your actions and treating people as you would want to be treated yourself.

I couldnt agree more. I cant understand these people who claim to have 'God' or 'Faith' in their lives and harbour so much hate, resentment, predjudice etc. Isnt this the exact opposite of what they are supposed to be about.
My Grandparents are well into their 80's now and are catholic and they are the kindest most accepting of folks.
My Grandmother remembers her Grandmother and the 'Old Ways' and talks fondly and respectfully of them.
'Religion is flawed because man is flawed'. I know a quote from a film but it sounds right to me