 |
|
|
|
March 12th, 2013
08:05 AM ET
Survey: Africans ready for African popeBy Sarah Brown, CNN What are your thoughts on who the next Pope could, or should be? Tell us (CNN) - Thousands of Africans have expressed their hopes that the next pope will be the first from their continent - with a majority believing it would mean the Catholic Church becoming more conservative. The survey of 20,000 people, conducted on mobile phones across 11 nations, also exposed big divisions among Africans about the future direction of the church, including faith, homosexuality and race. "An African pope will bring about more unity on the continent and confidence in Africans," said one woman from Zimbabwe, while a young Nigerian man polled said an African pope "will eradicate immoralities, such as same-sex marriage." CNN commissioned the survey, partnering with Jana.com, which has pioneered polling in developing countries with fast-growing mobile networks. FULL STORY
Next entry »Enhance your conclave experience technologically
« Previous entryMy Take: Benedict's 'master plan'
|
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
|
|
|
That a handful of men conspired to form a charachter such as Jesus with such lofty ethic would be a miracle greater than any recorded in the bible, yet look! People, like 'clarity' posted above, actually believe this conspiracy theory!
The morals of the Jesus character are not unique to Christianity. In fact they so closely resemble Buddhist morals that there is some speculation that a young Jesus traveled east and learned from Buddhist in India.
Actually it's not about believing in a conspiracy. It's about the embarrassing excuse that the early Xtian apologists came up with. Why didn't they have a better excuse? To come up with only 'the devil did it – in reverse' it pretty telling.
(is pretty telling)
The Apostle Paul recommended that all Christians remain single during our end times, and for obvious reasons. A married man is concerned with his wife and children, whereas a single Christian is focused on doing tthe work commanded by Christ...spreading the Good News and warning of the impending destruction of those ruining this earth.
Bringing a child into this ungodly world is not wise. Better to wait and raise your family after God's enemies are all destoyed and Christ's promise that "The mmeek (not the warmonger) shall inherit the earth and find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace (not war profits)" is fulfilled.
Thanks for not breeding. 🙂
"Bringing a child into this ungodly world"
That's why the data has shown that atheists have live healthier and happier lives than conservative Christians. That the nations that are becoming less godly are some of the healthiest, happiest and educated people on the planet.
"spreading the Good News and warning of the impending destruction of those ruining this earth."
The ones ruining the earth are the religious, they take it for granted and think their fairy father is going to save them, they treat other animals terribly, they are some of the most intolerant people ever.
...and, it has long been known that the vast majority of child abuse is committed by members of the abused child's own family.
Interestingly, Jesus Christ prophecied that during our times, "Members of your own family will become your worst enemies."
At Matt. 10, Jesus Christ clearly states he did not come to bring peace but to cause division between family members. Only fools try to keep dysfuctional families intact as Jesus Christ divides them further.
DOWN falls the "christian" rat wang moral majority and their "Focus (fungus) on the Family" program that stands against Jesus.
".and, it has long been known that the vast majority of child abuse is committed by members of the abused child's own family.
Interestingly, Jesus Christ prophecied that during our times, "Members of your own family will become your worst enemies.""
Wow are you an idiot or what. 6 million children do get abused in America but there are 315,478,701 people in America that means it's only .019 %. And you're claiming your Christ prophesied that only less than 2% of members become their own worst enemies. LOL!
There's plenty of reason to suspect the validity of the gospel stories. Research the notion of 'diabolical mimicry' put forth by several early Xtian apologists (i.e., Justin Martyr) as a lame excuse to defend the charge of plagiarism.
"Many children in the United States . . . are severely psychologically, physically, and se-xually traumatized by angry, sadistic parents or other adults . . . The vast majority of [these] were abused by Christians.""Nothing is more simple than 'the devil made them do it' . . . Especially for those raised to religiously believe so, Satanism offers an explanation as to why 'good' people do bad things [and may help to 'explain' bizarre and compulsive se-xual urges . . . The fact is that far more crime and child abuse has been committed by zealots in the name of god, Jesus and Mohammed than has ever been committed in the name of Satan
–Kenneth V Lanning FBI expert on "satanic, occult and ritualistic crime"
Some believe that celibacy is appropriate for certain people, or for certain positions. It's ridiculous. Celibacy is unnatural and will continue to cause problems for the religious institutions that employ it.
Many of the people from these same institutions advocate against abortion, but don't understand the realistic benefit of the morning after pill or even basic contraception; their unrealistic wishful thinking is causing the death of many at the hands of disease. Realistically, many abortions could be avoided if a morning-after pill were not viewed as such an evil option. Many of these same people bring children into the world at a high pace, and then would prefer that the rest of society take over and educate their children in their particular brand of religion when they don't plan well.
In the U.S. recently we learned of the head of LCMS chastising a minister of that church for participating in a joint service for the victims of the Newtown school shooting.
One sect calls homosexuality an abomination while the next one in the same denomination is already performing gay marriage.
One sect, the Westboro Baptist Church believes Americans are being killed at war because America is too kind to "fags".
One sect believes that Jesus and Satan were brothers and that Christ will return to Jerusalem AND Jackson County, Missouri.
One sect believes women to be subservient, while another sect in the same denomination promotes equality between the sexes.
Conflicted right from the very beginning, Christianity continues to splinter and create divisions and more extremism as it goes.
=================================================
Has anything improved with Christianity since 200+ years ago?
Thomas Jefferson, POTUS #3 (from Notes on the State of Virginia):
Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth.
James Madison, POTUS #4, chief architect of the U.S. Constitution & the Bill of Rights (from A Memorial and Remonstrance delivered to the Virginia General Assembly in 1785):
During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has been its fruits? More or less in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry, and persecution.
John Adams, POTUS #2 (in a letter to Thomas Jefferson, 09/03/1816):
I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of mankind has preserved – the Cross. Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced! With the rational respect that is due to it, knavish priests have added prostitutions of it, that fill or might fill the blackest and bloodiest pages of human history.
Ben Franklin (from a letter to The London Packet, 3 June 1772):
If we look back into history for the character of present sects in Christianity, we shall find few that have not in their turns been persecutors, and complainers of persecution. The primitive Christians thought persecution extremely wrong in the Pagans, but practised it on one another. The first Protestants of the Church of England, blamed persecution in the Roman church, but practised it against the Puritans: these found it wrong in the Bishops, but fell into the same practice themselves both here and in New England.
Thomas Paine (from The Age of Reason):
All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.
For the truth please visit link below thanks clarity
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/09/my-take-a-word-to-christians-be-nice/comment-page-77/#comment-2214166
Please post the NY Tmes deal again thanks much
Peace
@End Religion. The word 'religion' simply means "form of worship". Many worship sports stars or money, and so money and sports would have to end for religion to end.
Do you mean "End organized religions"?
re·li·gion
/riˈlijən/
Noun
The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, esp. a personal God or gods.
This is the definition of religion. It is not simply a "form of worship".
"The word 'religion' simply means "form of worship"."
Nope, from the dictionary.
re·li·gion
noun
1.a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2.a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3.the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4.the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5.the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
OMG! A word can have more than one meaning!
I realy do wonder what you people think you are accomplishing by taking things out of context and acting like you are presenting a rational and valid arguement.
@assman: you know what I mean. It's just your duplicitous nature to equivocate on terms. You can thank religious fundamentalism for that. Normal people have no questions as to what my moniker means.
Actually, Africans are ready for foreigners to stop rayping Africa.
Currently, African citizens starve as Africa's vital natural resources are shipped to a particular country that "struggles" with a nationwide obesity epidemic.
No matter if the new pope is African...until fat people stop taking Africa's natural resources, Africans will remain skinny and dying from malnutrition.
"African citizens starve as Africa's vital natural resources are shipped to a particular country that "struggles" with a nationwide obesity epidemic."
How is gold, diamonds and oil a vital natural resource? They have to export those things to get money for them but it's the greed and power of a few in Africa making the people starve. It has nothing to do with what you are claiming.
Where did you go to school? Seriously you are one of the most uneducated posters on here.
Gee, a majority of African Americans want to see an African American Pope. What a great study. I'll bet if you poll Caucasion Americans you'll find the majority want a white American Pople. I'll bet if you poll Latinos you'll find the majority want a Latino Pope.....and of course, if you poll non-believers you'll find the majority don't give a crap.
Doesn't the bible say bad things about people with dark skin?
CNN like other ignoramuses doesn't seem to realize there have been three African popes. All from the maghreb. All dark skinned. Catholics are not specifically interested in the next popes geography, demographic background or even politics. They are interested in his ability to proclaim the Gospel and pastor the church.
Bill
These are the aferican popes. Notice that the most recent one is over fifteen hundred years ago.
Pope Victor I (189 to 199)
Pope Miltiades (310/311 to 314)
Pope Gelasius I (492 to 496)
All three were born in Africa, however the first was born when north Africa was still under the influence of Rome so he was most likely white. And in their portraits in St. Paul's basilica of all three of them are depicted as white, though ultimately their race is unknown. Though to imply that the Vatican has had three black popes is rather dishonest.
Hubert, you know Bill Deacon would never be dishonest. That's a sin!
And expand the church. Who better to shepherd than the desperatly poor?
Again, I point out that for Catholics, the issue isn't about race, it's about the faith. Americans seem to be obsessively focused on what is only important to Americans
header
Roman Catholic Church Sex Abuse Cases
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/r/roman_catholic_church_sex_abuse_cases/index.html
Not good
Even worse:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that for each year between 2000 and 2005, "female parents acting alone" were most likely to be perpetrators of child abuse.[38]
@bill
Can I see the source for that bullsh!t....er I mean claim?
Bill, this likely means it was "that time of the month" and you know you can't hold women responsible for their actions during this time. No matter how ya slice it, it all boils down to being your god's fault. He created man and woman, and he created evil. All his fault.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_abuse
same source:
"Psychologists conducted a study in the United States in 2010 which examined over 200 regular church attendees from eleven different denominations of Christianity, most of whom were educated, upper-middle class White Americans, found that extrinsic religious orientation was associated with a greater risk of physical child abuse. Those with a more extrinsic religious orientation who also adhered to greater social conformity were particularly more likely to share characteristics with physically abusive subjects. Subjects who adhered to Biblical literalism exhibited a higher potential of physical child abuse. Those who had a more intrinsic religious orientation were not found to be at a greater risk of child abuse, although they sometimes exhibited greater social conformity or a greater propensity for holding literal interpretations of the Bible. Approximately 85% of the study's subjects were parents.[62]"
@ER
Oh I see he was referring to abuse in general, that I believe. From Bill's comment I thought he was specifically referring to se.xual abuse.
I think it's important to the general discussion of child abuse to focus on the broad continuum that occurs in society. The incessant drumming on priestly abuse obscures the facts and prohibits any real and objective look at the issues surrounding child abuse. Other denominations, other organization and as this post reveals, even single mothers should be subject to the same level of scrutiny if we really want to protect kids. Of course, if we just want to keep bashing Catholics then job well done.
Bill, Yes child abuse is a scourge that should be eliminated. I think the focus on the RCC is the systemic abuse of thousands over decades by an organization which claims the moral higher ground and lectures all people on their morals. Not only do they systematically abuse children, they cover it up, and fund the legal ramifiications by taking money from funds intended for other use such as cemetary maintenance. Do you think the average parishioner would give at the collection plate if they knew if was to pay for repugnant and criminal activities?
Do you think the average parishioner is unaware of the scandal the church has suffered?
Do you think U.S. tax payers should withhold their tax payments until the seexual abuse of children is stopped and the cover ups revealed within the public school system?
Dill Beacon
The scandal the church has suffered?
Oh how terrible for the church that turned its back on the victims and the priests, who violated laws protecting their own.
The church hasn't suffered anything you idiot.
The victims of the churches crimes are the ones who have suffered.
Stop defending the criminal organization called the Catholic chrurch...it is one of the most evil, criminal and corrupt organizations that have ever existed.
The church suffered...that would be funny if it weren't so ridiculously sad.
Recruiting hispanics is a top priority
They need an ignorant flock of new little boys to bugger.
Think Brazilian and you are on the right track
Brazilian Pope would make sense, The Brazilians are very se.xual and they have a lot of ladyboys to keep the priests happy.
A Black Pope?
Redneck defectors would cost them money
I would be shocked
What's the number of people who want NO pope??? Send THAT survey out!
don't play around with words like "African Pope", could be white; shoot straight and ask if they were ready for the "Black Pope", and see the survey results.
clarity
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Roman Catholic Church Sex Abuse Cases
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/r/roman_catholic_church_sex_abuse_cases/index.html
Not good
A third world pope. Seems appropriate for a stone age religion.
Are a bunch of old white men in a room with a white smoke grenade ready for an African Pope? Sure, if he's a white guy from South Africa.
Lyrics the resonate for all-time:
"The Two Universal Sects
They all err—Moslems, Jews,
Christians, and Zoroastrians:
Humanity follows two world-wide sects:
One, man intelligent without religion,
The second, religious without intellect. "
Al-Ma'arri
, born AD 973 /, died AD 1058 / .
Al-Ma’arri was a blind Arab philosopher, poet and writer.[1][2] He was a controversial rationalist of his time, attacking the dogmas of religion and rejecting the claim that Islam possessed any monopoly on truth."
Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/resalat-al-ghufran#ixzz1lI6DuZmZ and http://www.humanistictexts.org/al_ma'arri.htm
Death's Debt is Paid in
Full
Death's debt is then and there
Paid down by dying men;
But it is a promise bare
That they shall rise again. "
Al-Ma'arri
Oops, make that "Lyrics that resonate for all-time."
Can you imagine the complete fury of old white folks having a black President and a black Pope? They will be beside themselves with rage. Bring it on!
Some believe that celibacy is appropriate for certain people, or for certain positions. It's ridiculous. Celibacy is unnatural and will continue to cause problems for the religious institutions that employ it.
Many of the people from these same institutions advocate against abortion, but don't understand the realistic benefit of the morning after pill or even basic contraception; their unrealistic wishful thinking is causing the death of many at the hands of disease. Realistically, many abortions could be avoided if a morning-after pill were not viewed as such an evil option. Many of these same people bring children into the world at a high pace, and then would prefer that the rest of society take over and educate their children in their particular brand of religion when they don't plan well.
In the U.S. recently we learned of the head of LCMS chastising a minister of that church for participating in a joint service for the victims of the Newtown school shooting.
One sect calls homosexuality an abomination while the next one in the same denomination is already performing gay marriage.
One sect, the Westboro Baptist Church believes Americans are being killed at war because America is too kind to "fags".
One sect believes that Jesus and Satan were brothers and that Christ will return to Jerusalem AND Jackson County, Missouri.
One sect believes women to be subservient, while another sect in the same denomination promotes equality between the sexes.
Conflicted right from the very beginning, Christianity continues to splinter and create divisions and more extremism as it goes.
=================================================
Has anything improved with Christianity since 200+ years ago?
Thomas Jefferson, POTUS #3 (from Notes on the State of Virginia):
Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth.
James Madison, POTUS #4, chief architect of the U.S. Constitution & the Bill of Rights (from A Memorial and Remonstrance delivered to the Virginia General Assembly in 1785):
During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has been its fruits? More or less in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry, and persecution.
John Adams, POTUS #2 (in a letter to Thomas Jefferson, 09/03/1816):
I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of mankind has preserved – the Cross. Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced! With the rational respect that is due to it, knavish priests have added prostitutions of it, that fill or might fill the blackest and bloodiest pages of human history.
Ben Franklin (from a letter to The London Packet, 3 June 1772):
If we look back into history for the character of present sects in Christianity, we shall find few that have not in their turns been persecutors, and complainers of persecution. The primitive Christians thought persecution extremely wrong in the Pagans, but practised it on one another. The first Protestants of the Church of England, blamed persecution in the Roman church, but practised it against the Puritans: these found it wrong in the Bishops, but fell into the same practice themselves both here and in New England.
Thomas Paine (from The Age of Reason):
All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.