The Pope, his visit to Britain, and Catholicism in general

First of all, what a horrible religion Catholicism is. The latest from the vile propaganda machine that is the Vatican has placed the possibility of women priests among such crimes as paedophilia. We all know, after all, that basic human equality is just the same as pulling a nipper's pants down and giving him what for for half an hour. Now, it begs the question - why is the UK sponsoring the leader of a criminal organisation, a man who has protected and harboured paedophiles and is now seemingly encouraging, as head of said organisation, inequality and division by means of sex, as well as in the past sexual orientation, why is the UK sponsoring this man's visit to our country? There are some people who have a thing about Islam, but Catholicism has to be amongst the most barbaric and disgusting things that still exists upon this planet today.

You've been reading too much Dan Brown and Umberto Eco, Gus.

Now go and have a lie-down, and let things take their natural course.

No popery

It never ceases to amaze me just how much money organisations for imaginary friends suck out of the feeble minded. And how so many governments fall over themselves to suck up to those organisations.

It does say in the bible that women are forbidden to speak in church. At least they stick to (that part of) the bible.

Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." (I Corinthians 14:34-35)

Quite clearly it states that women can't speak and therefore they should not be priests.

Although they conveniently ignore the parts that say incest, slavery, genocide and rape are OK. And the part where if a son or daughter insults their parents they should be put to death.

These kinds of things make me despise Christianity, all its sects and Judaism. And Islam is no better. The worst thing is, such backwards beliefs really do hold us back.

JKLever wrote:No popery

Burning crosses? Zim should feel at home then.

PeterCS wrote:You've been reading too much Dan Brown and Umberto Eco, Gus.

Now go and have a lie-down, and let things take their natural course.

By things, do you mean a Catholic's penis, and by course, do you mean the rear orifice of a young child? Personally, I do not think these are things to lie down over, especially not if you are pre-pubescent and in the presence of a Catholic. Further to the point, I agree with Zat and have done for some while now in that it is alarming how much power worshippers of unproven (as opposed to non-existent) beings wield over the state. Religious men are to be respected for their deeds and not their stature, just like everybody else. Yet in spite of our developments into modernism, the fact remains that numerous facets of our life still revolve around God. It is awful that God is still mentioned in reverence in a court of law. God has no relevance to human justice, unless truly God exists and announces it is so. God has no place in life, full stop. That Catholics have been murdering, raping and pillaging for millenia in the name of this 'being' is repugnant.

If it wasn't for religion there would be almost no charity organisations in the world.

If it wasn't for religion, there'd be a shitload less suffering and far fewer wars.

Zat wrote:If it wasn't for religion, there'd be a shitload less suffering and far fewer wars.

I despise organised religion, but think it through Zat.

Organised religion was, is, and always will be a total and unmitigated disaster.

The only thing more backward than organised religion is statehood which enshrines a state of religion and bases its law upon that religion, disadvantaging those who have different imaginary friends. Philosophy and consideration for others - current and future - are the only hope for peaceful coexistence ... neither of these require belief in a greater 'God' or subscription to any particular organised religion.

If God exists, he's the worst CEO of all time, and his various branch deputies over up to twenty centuries have included some of the most corrupt, bloodthirsty, rapacious, licentious, lascivious, and warmongering heartless scum imaginable.

Hehehe. Mr Bucket parks on 9999 posts. I suspect he may maintain that stance until the Ashes summer is upon us.

Mick Sawyer wrote:

Zat wrote:If it wasn't for religion, there'd be a shitload less suffering and far fewer wars.

I despise organised religion, but think it through Zat.

Mick, there's no denying that some people are arseholes just because they can be, and they cause more than their fair share of grief, but there's been a heap of stuff over the past 2000 years that would never had happened but for someone who claims an exalted rank courtesy of their imaginary friend making some sort of decree.

Chivalry Augustus wrote: Catholicism has to be amongst the most barbaric and disgusting things that still exists upon this planet today.

Catholicism is much more than the Pope and his minions in the Vatican.

The heart of the religion lies with the laity, which is far from 'barbaric and disgusting'. I am a lapsed Catholic these days, partly because I don't really believe in God and partly because the hierarchy is too conservative. But I am grateful that I was raised in the Catholic faith. It is a compassionate religion and seeks to foster empathy for others. The fact the Pope lets dogma and self-interest get in the way of his own compassion does not change this.

Zat wrote:If it wasn't for religion, there'd be a shitload less suffering and far fewer wars.

People cause wars and suffering not religions

Zat wrote:

Mick Sawyer wrote:

Zat wrote:If it wasn't for religion, there'd be a shitload less suffering and far fewer wars.

I despise organised religion, but think it through Zat.

Mick, there's no denying that some people are arseholes just because they can be, and they cause more than their fair share of grief, but there's been a heap of stuff over the past 2000 years that would never had happened but for someone who claims an exalted rank courtesy of their imaginary friend making some sort of decree.

As a caveat to Basils post above, there's no denying that some people use religion as a pretext for inflicting misery of one sort or other on their fellow man.

Over the last century, three men have been responsible for many millions of deaths, and untold suffering on countless millions more .......... Hitler, Uncle Joe, and Mao-tse tung. It's interesting to note that none of them were religious types .....

Hitler tried to wipe out the jews and the Commies tried to wipe out all religions ...so even by being non-religious they indulged in religious persecution

Two other points for consideration. Whilst acknowledging the harm done to mankind in the name of religion - every coin has two sides.

1. Before the advent of the welfare state as we know it (after WWII) - the church
[/b]was[b] the welfare state. Some of our finest hospitals and universities were founded by the religious men centuries ago.

2. It has been said, with some justification, that religion was the "opium of the masses", and that peoples opinions and attitudes were shaped by the parish priest. When the majority were illiterate, that was quite possibly true.

Now that religion seems to have so small a part in peoples lives, the parish priest has been supplanted by Rupert Murdoch and his ilk ........ more people will have voted on the recommendation of the Sun political editor than any polititcian.

We were all better off when the church had the power, I think, rather than big business. The church has abused its power I don't deny it, but it's a paragon of virtue compared with big bizz. Don't believe me ? Consider how many people in the developing world working 10 hour days with no consideration to their healtha and safety ..... earning a few pennies a day.

Growler wrote:The church has abused its power I don't deny it, but it's a paragon of virtue compared with big bizz. Don't believe me ? Consider how many people in the developing world working 10 hour days with no consideration to their healtha and safety ..... earning a few pennies a day.

at least we arent forced to convert to another religion, our children are not snatched away, our culture is not destroyed and our lands are not taken over without compensation. i'll take the present situation thank you very much

Yes TO, that used to happen and it can't ever be justified.

If it were happening today, you may just have some kind of case. It isn't. so I'm sorry you're talking nonsense.

Some interesting points there Growler, for what it's worth my view:

Growler wrote:

Over the last century, three men have been responsible for many millions of deaths, and untold suffering on countless millions more .......... Hitler, Uncle Joe, and Mao-tse tung. It's interesting to note that none of them were religious types .....

Hitler was actually a Catholic. It matters little - mankind would find a pretext for war with or without religion.

Growler wrote:Two other points for consideration. Whilst acknowledging the harm done to mankind in the name of religion - every coin has two sides.

1. Before the advent of the welfare state as we know it (after WWII) - the church
[/b]was[b] the welfare state. Some of our finest hospitals and universities were founded by the religious men centuries ago.

I can't help but feel sceptical of some of the great philanthropists of the past - the religious leaders, or devout christian factory owners who bled the masses dry for their personal wealth 6 days a week then paraded their 'charity' on the seventh day.

Growler wrote:Now that religion seems to have so small a part in peoples lives, the parish priest has been supplanted by Rupert Murdoch and his ilk ........ more people will have voted on the recommendation of the Sun political editor than any polititcian.

I think (and hope) that you give to much credit to The Sun. They tend to shift their aligence based on the party that is going to win, although they try to spin this as being the other way round.

Growler wrote:We were all better off when the church had the power, I think, rather than big business. The church has abused its power I don't deny it, but it's a paragon of virtue compared with big bizz. Don't believe me ? Consider how many people in the developing world working 10 hour days with no consideration to their healtha and safety ..... earning a few pennies a day.

It is undeniably true that big business abuses workers in 3rd world countries - but people sometimes forget that they don't force people to work for them. The people are there because they make more money than they would otherwise make farming, or being unemployed if the manufacturing industry wasn't there. It is not like the church in times past when you couldn't opt out without fear of being burned at a stake.

I spent a few months living and working in rural China - where the majority of these big businesses are. And believe me the people there are happy to work long hours in factories as opposed to long hours in the paddy fields for less money. China welcomed in the big business, and it led to a widespread rise in the standard of living. Even in the poorest towns, people can aspire to have a disposable income and the luxuries that we take for granted. Their parents and grandparents never had this sort of choice.

Growler wrote:Yes TO, that used to happen and it can't ever be justified.

If it were happening today, you may just have some kind of case. It isn't. so I'm sorry you're talking nonsense.

the point pretty much is that it stopped happening around the same time the church lost most of its power. if you think the worst excesses of big business are the same or worse as the worst excesses of the church then youre probably deluded