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July 22nd, 2013
04:09 PM ET
Explosive found near site pope plans to visitBy John L. Allen Jr., CNN, and CNN Staff Rio de Janeiro (CNN) - A small explosive device was found Sunday near a religious shrine in Brazil that Pope Francis is scheduled to visit later this week, Sao Paulo military police announced just few hours after the pope arrived on Monday. The homemade device was found July 21, during police training in Aparecida, the site of a massive shrine to the Virgin Mary, Brazilian police said. It was constructed out of a small, plastic cylinder and duct tape. A special tactical group detonated the explosive without causing any injuries, according to the police. The affected area was not part of the pope's route, Brazilian police said. Rather, it was being prepared for pilgrims to World Youth Day, a weeklong Catholic event expected to draw hundreds of thousands to Brazil. The pope is scheduled to travel to the national shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida on Wednesday. Neither Vatican nor Brazilian officials have said those plans will change. Vatican officials say Francis requested the trip to the Marian shrine, said to be the largest in the world, because of his personal devotion to the Virgin Mary. He is scheduled to preach and celebrate Mass at the shrine. The surprising disclosure about the explosive came just after Francis, making his first international trip since his March election, had delivered brief remarks to Brazilian dignitaries, including President Dilma Rousseff. As the pope was driven from the airport to downtown Rio, crowds mobbed his small silver car, reaching out to touch the first Latin American pontiff. Later, they lined the streets as the "Popemobile" wound through downtown. READ MORE: Pope Francis embarks on historic trip to Brazil Despite the rock-star greeting, Francis kept to his remarkably self-effacing persona upon his arrival in Rio de Janeiro. The pope said he wanted to “knock gently” on Brazil’s door during his first overseas journey, making sure it was OK to proceed. “I ask permission to come in and spend this week with you,” the pope said to his somewhat startled hosts. Francis arrived in Rio on Monday for the start of World Youth Day, which, despite its name, is actually a weeklong gathering of Catholic youth from around the world. It was launched by the late Pope John Paul II in the mid-1980s. In truth, it would be tough to find anyone in Brazil inclined to refuse Francis permission to enter. Those looking forward to the papal sojourn include hundreds of thousands of pumped-up young Catholic pilgrims; a Brazilian government eager for a good news cycle after a summer of discontent; agitated Brazilian protesters, hoping for a papal blessing for their demands; and even hordes of journalists with deadlines to meet. After touching down, Francis also offered an echo of his identity as the “pope of the poor.” “I have neither silver nor gold,” he said, “but I bring with me the most precious thing given to me: Jesus Christ!" The pope challenged young people to “create a world of brothers and sisters” and older generations to ensure that today’s youth have “the material and spiritual conditions for their full development,” including “safety and education” as well as “lasting values.” MORE: PHOTOS OF POPE FRANCIS IN BRAZIL Earlier Monday, aboard the papal plane en route to Rio, Francis worried aloud about a “throwaway culture” that neglects young people and the elderly. He said elderly persons can offer “the wisdom of life, the wisdom of the past, the wisdom of our country and our family.” Local organizers estimated that 700,000 youth from around the world have already arrived in Rio de Janeiro to greet Francis, and some projections peg the final total at about 2 million for a youth vigil with the pope on Saturday and his concluding open-air Mass on Sunday. Though public reaction suggests that Francis made a strong debut, the weeklong trip will have its challenges. Latin America has long been a Catholic stronghold, but in recent years, evangelical and Pentecostal Protestants have made deep inroads. A recent study found that a quarter-century ago, Brazil was 90% Catholic, but today it is 65%. There’s also a rising cohort of secular Latin Americans with no religious affiliation, especially among youths and city-dwellers. Moreover, of the 21 nations usually reckoned as part of Latin America, 14 of them are led by center-left governments that have sometimes crossed swords with the region’s Catholic leaders over issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage – including in the pope’s home nation of Argentina. Brazil has also recently been gripped by an anti-establishment mood, fueled by anger over spending on mega-events such as the 2014 soccer World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, while many ordinary people believe that services such as education, health care and transportation languish. There’s little indication that protesters want to embarrass the pope. Instead, they seem to be hoping to take advantage of his moral authority to bring attention to their cause. This week, one group that helped kindle the massive June demonstrations has plans for a rally under the banner “Pope, look how we’re treated!” The greater danger for Francis may be that all sides in the country’s tensions may want to spin his message their way, especially with one eye on presidential elections in Brazil scheduled for next year. If journalists aboard the papal plane today were hoping to draw Francis into a discussion of those challenges, they came away disappointed. Francis walked back to the press compartment shortly after takeoff and spoke for only five minutes, focusing on the risks of a “throwaway society” that neglects both its youth and its elderly. “I don’t give interviews,” the pope said by way of explanation. “Why, I don’t know, but I can’t … It’s a little difficult for me, but I’m grateful for your company,” he said. Yet part of Francis’ charm is that this skittishness didn’t come off as a snub, because the pope proceeded to spend the better part of the next hour standing in the front of the economy cabin of the papal plane to personally greet each of the roughly 70 journalists on board. Monday afternoon, Francis was scheduled to meet Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff at the Presidential Palace, and then the 76-year-old pontiff will rest on Tuesday before heading north to the famed Brazilian Marian shrine of Aparecida on Wednesday. CNN's Barbara Arvanitidis contributed to this report. John L. Allen Jr. is CNN’s senior Vatican analyst and a senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter. |
  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.  |
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Why waste your time trying to kill this old fart, they will just put another old fart in charge to suppress all the pedophile allegations. S.O.P.
On a side note.....
"massive shrine to the Virgin Mary"
Only obtuse people would believe she was a virgin. Could you imagine anyone trying that BS now.
Anyway...
BOW!!!
YIELD!!!!!
KNEEL!!!!!
AND GIVE ME YOUR MONEY, ERRRR, UMMM, I Mean DONATIONS!!!
Or if you're a follower of Mohammed the Pedophile.
BOW!!!
YIELD!!!
KNEEL!!!!
AND GIVE ME YOUR WOMAN CHILD!!!!!!
he can someone explain to me how we get videos of people tossing others off buildings, and barbeques with people gettting their head cut off, and now the US sends arm to the same murderous group?
werent they just settling down in a stalemate? i don't choose either side. f that.
let me clarify that. don't let either side have more guns.
Now John MCcain, there is the leader of giving guns to rebels. Is He wise?
McCain’s the man.
No, he truly isn't.
But, he’s against torture.
So was Gandhi and he was another idiot.
But, he’s also in favor of gun control.
I quite like the Second Amendment.
Well, he’s also a veteran and promotes the citizenship of illegal aliens.
Even though it's completely off point, I agree 100%.
Don't you have some Squished Kitty ™ guts to tell you which side your alleged god is on?
hey hot air, it isn't my fault.
and I should not even get involved. i ts just a little wierd seeing those videos. maybe it is propaganda.
Hot Air Ace, there was a demonic spirit that sang to me, inverted my body in the dream, and that cat ran underneath me with blood gushing out of it.
I woke up and looked for it, it was flat as a pancake on the highway.
this happened man. That's real.
The lord blessed me with experience , as to the power of the demonic realm.
I'll take that as a "No!" So much for The Squishy Cat ™ Truth Centre" franchises I was hoping to launch. . .
"Hot Air Ace, there was a demonic spirit that sang to me, inverted my body in the dream, and that cat ran underneath me with blood gushing out of it.
I woke up and looked for it, it was flat as a pancake on the highway.
this happened man. That's real."
>>
Yes...dead cats on the road is so rare. All I can say is WOW you need help
I also have major reservations about arming the rebels but the signs are that the stalemate is broken and the rebels are starting to lose.
Good. I'd take Assad over the rebels any day.
I really feel like guilt has a place, and that it might fall somewhere. on this issue. of arming people. thats a bloody choice.
I would rather a known enemy then an unknown.
We know Assad and know how to deal with him.
These insurgents are insane and we need to stay far away from them.
I have read that atheists have a slightly higher IQ than believers. It may be so, but the 2 groups' intelligence distributions overlap heavily in any case (not to mention that IQ is a weak metric). That means that it's silly to accuse someone of lacking intelligence just for being in one group or the other. Obviously, there have been brilliant Christians in history and there are today. Of course their brilliance doesn't confer intelligence to any other individual. If your arguments are poorly constructed, based on unsubstantiated assertions, and draw illogical conclusions, that reflects poorly on your intelligence. Do you think sweeping generalizations reflect well?
so in my case, since I am the one who experienced spiritual revelation, and you don't believe it's true, you are probably going ot fall right into your own judgment here.
really wish I could help more. meanwhile what are the chances I can become righteouss and not make a fool of my own self?
slim.
but the opportunity is a supernatural process and so , I would not want my sin quenched by the holy fires of judgment. when you know He is there, can you fear Him or are you insane?
'Revelation' isn't verifiable in any way, therefore it can't be considered as evidence.
Austin,
We are a combination of what we feel and what we think. Sometimes the feel part rules, sometimes the think part rules. I don't think that increases or decreases your innate intelligence. Just because you are comfortable with your feelings ruling in the case of belief, it doesn't have to lead you think that everyone else should do the same.
Hear, hear.
Agreed that the difference in IQ is small. However, the difference in analytic tendencies and in general education and knowledge is larger. However, I very much agree you cannot make assumptions at the individual level based on these general tendencies, and I think the people on either side who want to claim you can tend to be the folks who are desperate to use a group identi.ty to claim superiority where it is, in fact, lacking.
I have never met an intelligent atheist. Not one. They all act smug like they know it all. They pretend like something magically appeared from nothing. What happened before your Big Bang? A whole lot of nothing? And then all of the sudden poof magic?
Don't engage any of his points, it'll only feed his ego.
Some of us are interested in what really goes on and why, fred. Does an intelligent person attribute everything of importance to an unseen and unknowable God?
And who or what created your Creator?
Docking Vestibule...
Who or what created the Big Bang? Nothingness...? Creation is the culmination yet what is culmination's beginning(s)..?
You miss the whole point. In fact, both of them.
1. It’s hypocritical for theists to say that the big bang couldn’t happen because something can’t appear from nothing and yet not be able to explain where their creator came from; and
2. It’s theism that claims to have the answer to creation despite not being able to explain their creator’s own creation while science is OK with saying “ we don’t know”.
Imagine ancient man with no science or real understanding of the world. What do you think he did to try to explain all of the mysteries he encountered, including night, day and death? It’s obvious what he did, since it happened in every culture; he created myths and gods. It was his only option to deal with uncertainty and fear of the unknown that plagued him. With the level of science and understanding we possess today, it’s time to throw away this security blanket called religion/god and deal with reality. The world will be a better place for it.
James, I applaud your well reasoned response to Cowardly Lion, but you are wasting your time with him.
He lives in some really strange world of made up delusions which logic and reason can't penetrate.
James PDX wrote two prophetic analogies regarding theists...
1. "It’s hypocritical for theists to say that the big bang couldn’t happen because something can’t appear from nothing and yet not be able to explain where their creator came from;"
I'm a theist Johnny my lad and I do so believe in not one but immeasurable amounts of Big Bangs being spread out upon the grandness of spatial nothingness... Modern sciences are way too belligerent I not wanting to perceive multiple big bangs for fear of being ostracized from their friendly neighborhoods who stand firm in their covetous appraisals and shoddy theories that are outdated...
2. It’s theism that claims to have the answer to creation despite not being able to explain their creator’s own creation while science is OK with saying “ we don’t know”.
While I do so agree that many a theist have little faith in sciences' ergonomics of theorized mundaneness, both the atheist and the scientist are as fools in that neither parties can muster up and swing away ever missing the balls completely... I stand at a distance from theists who would rather emotionalize than intellectualize their religiously devotional mannerisms... I also sit upon those hardened scientists that cannot avail themselves with a view of multiple Big Bangs giving rises to multiple universes set distantly apart from each other...
So you see, I in being a fervent theist know well my issues around atheistic "abutments" and theistic emotionalisms... Both science and religion needs to find commonalities rather than continually beating up each others' meaning "felt" issues...
fred
I am an intelligent atheist. Now you know one.
We don't know what happened before the Big Bang, which is better than saying a magical creature said some words and everything came into being, something for which there is no evidence of.
We do not know is the only correct answer.
That's why is called "FAITH".
Faith: the ability to believe in something you know isn't likely to be true. For if it was likely, you wouldn't need faith.
Faith: pretending to know things you don't. Peter Boghossian
green grass
Faith is the ability to disregard logic and reason and leap to a completely unjustifiable conclusion.
Logic and reason must be abandoned, otherwise there would be no need for faith.
fred, you have shown us many times that you do not have the intellect to assess intelligence. You have admitted that you have no evidence for your god and that you are not good at science, but you continue to believe in Babble Trash and question science, without apparently reading and comprehending anything but The Babble. Don't you have an AA meeting to go to?
I have evidence. I have encounters with the prophetic spirit of God docu.mented for my own personal proof, which stands as proof of spriritual power and no less God.
You didn't believe in the first place, and without the H S you still cant seem to believe.
Yes, we all anxiously await the publication of The Squished Kitty Diaries. . .
thats a great ti.tle and i volunteer for any investigation because what I have is proof. i don't aproach it with enough dedication or sanctification and it's baffling to hear people including myself deny their redemption and choose evil and seperation. rejecting God.
in the mean time I hope to keep this hard labor going and stay focused on spiritual things, and that is a serious challenge. Hard labor uncomfortable every day. with no end in sight
That's not evidence.
Why don't you share that with your neighbors and family Autism, so they can all shun you are the whack job you are.
Have you applied to the James Randi Educational Foundation to take their $1,000,000 challenge? Sounds like they should just hand it over to you.
Why is it that since God went into hiding that he now only makes cameo appearances in one person's life at a time? Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, Joseph Smith, and now Austin the messiah. So what will you call your new version of the Jewish religion? The Austen Powers of Faith?
"He" is technology averse, camera shy? Non-existent, more likely.
you are hardly qualified to be the "Intelligence Judge"
"I don't know" is a tremendous amount more honest than invoking a god that can't be shown outside of the bible to exist.
Science has questions that may never be answered, theism has answers that may never be questioned.
Such a thought-provoking post. Well, bloody heck. I should choose jesus. Thanks for convincing me to open up the book of Genesis and read the two differing stories of truth.
What's the point of having a fallible god with limited power? A perfect and all-powerful being, by its very nature, could do anything it wants any way it wants. No mysterious plan, threats, or eternal damnation would be necessary. Whatever they wanted to accomplish would happen with just a thought. So why does your god need this long, drawn out plan of mystery fraught with so much death and suffering? Was he not perfect or powerful enough to avoid all of this mess?
A fallible, limited go is easier to defend. And it offers many of the psychological and social benefits of any god...an easily available shared morality, a sense of justice and a possible personal relationship to combat the loneliness that much of humanity lives with.
fred
"I have never met an intelligent atheist." says the man who believes a book that talks about unicorns, talking animals, and that the sun and moon suddenly stopped still. At least there is consistency in the comment.
What happened "before Big-Bang" ?
I saw on TV once Hubert Reeves (canadian astrophysicist), and I understand that, "right before Big-Bang" went out, the matter is in a state we do NOT know, and we do NOT know what kind of interactions (and laws) is that state.
But I, as an atheist, I am comfortable for NOT knowing the answer. I think the next generation may come with one.
It is like, let's transpose ourselves in the past (a couple of 1000 years) when we did NOT know the earth is not flat. I would say, I would have been comfortable not knowing the shape of the earth. But if you prefer "knowing" that it is "flat", because you are told so, then...
Tolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty appear to be psychological traits established fairly early in life. Some people just can't tolerate these conditions, much like some have low tolerance for stress, a low IQ or poor social skills. It really doesn't do any good yelling at people for a weakness they can't control.
science believes in the conservation of mass.
Everything that is here now was here before the Big Bang, even though it was in a different form.
It did not happen from nothing.
I think I will have apple pie today
Liberals, and more specifically atheists seem to be very threatened about the Christian ideology and the scope it encompasses among the many community. The irony of them posting hateful remarks on here simply highlights their true bigotry, something they claim to resent. Contrary to their ignorance and sciolism views, the Christian habits promote benevolent actions and behavior. Proclaiming to be an atheists and make blind remarks based off of illiteracy, does not make you more knowing than your peers. Understanding that our own ignorance is the inauguration of wisdom helps each of us remember that we are ignorant regarding most things.
Liberals are not necessarily atheist and atheists are not all liberal. Your comments put your ignorance out there for everyone to see.
They are certainly not necessarily socialist either, and atheists are highly unlikely to be illiterate. I'd stay away from calling others illiterate, too, if I were to use grammar so poor it stood out from the first sentence (and I'm not very particular about grammar, but that original post was unusually bad, and when calling others illiterate I think you open yourself for criticism).
Truly, Mark, some of us are only here to help. Christianity is not unique. Religions in general are a based on ignorance and/or deception on a massive scale. Religion and God-belief are among the great problems the human race faces and they must be addressed.
So wise one, please educate us, and more importantly the victims, about how the RCC's continued protection of criminal pedophiles is a benevolent action and behaviour.
What about atheists who aren't liberals? Are we excused from your baseless assertions?
You can replace Atheist with christian/muslim/theist in general in regards to every other belief system out there.
Thank you for your comment. When I read the very ugly, hateful postings, it saddens me that these folks have such a dim view of their fellow persons, but as I think (and pray) about it, these folks responding need our prayers the most. It must be difficult to go through life seeing the "cup half empty."
Dim view of their fellow persons? I have never told or impled to anybody that they will spend all eternity in horrific agony. How many Christians that frequent these blogs can say that?
You keep reverting back to promoting your views from a negative/melancholy spectrum. Yes, there are Christians that may come across as hateful/smug to you, but that is secular. We can find faults in all aspects of life and beings, just as there are priests that have committed sinful acts, we see this in teachers, politicians and parents, with religion being independent. I'm sorry you have a pessimistic view on a religion that is one of love, but I will pray for you my friend. God bless.
I'm not promoting anything. By the way, it's Christianity (indeed, all the Abrahamic religions) that has historically made its case through the most negative means possible. Up until 300 years ago, Christianity forced you to believe through torture in this life and the next. Today, they still threaten endless torture in the next life. Is that not the most negative promotion imaginable?
Mark, It is your ignorance that is showing.
@MS
Not all atheists are pessimists, just as not all Christians are optimists.
Continuing with the cup ana.logy – the atheist realized that he must refill that cup himself. No entreaty for a supernatural favour is going to do it for him (or turn the remaining half from water to wine).
Why would I feel threatended by a religion that believes I will be sent to hell and suffer eternal damnation and torture just because I don't believe in it? That's not threatening at all.
Mark, not to whiz on that imaginary parade.... But you might want to have a chat with your father, fred, about his statements above. How benevolent of him.
As someone with feet of clay, it amazes me how some have the courage to do what they do – God bless Pope Francis for his courageous act...
Clay feet? You need to see a podiatrist.
Courageous act? Continuing to cover up for criminal pedophile priests and their protectors? Oh what a man!!
trollollolol
It's a known fact that 98% of all child m o I e s t o r s and people on s e x offender registry lists are christians. The other 2% identify with other religious beliefs.
And 76.4% of all people know that 90% of statistics are made up.
And that violent sack beatings are up a shocking 900%.
I beieve this with 110% of my brain. But the other 7% is skeptical.
Fun Fact: The blogger called Fun Facts just makes up nonsense he so ignorantly calls "facts".
No doubt planted by the disaffected and bitter Vatican Gay Lobby....
Reading the comments strengthens me to continue praying for our world and especially those that are struggling in their faith or unbelieving. As St. Paul told the Thessolonians ... pray unceasingly.
As Yahweh told Moses, feast on the blood of the Midianites.
I assume you must be a man if you're referecing St. Paul the misogynist.
Otherwise, take heed of 1 Timothy 2 and keep silent and accept that it was woman who sinned first, leading humankind to all perdition.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
lol
Seriously?
Praying is not wisdom. It is laziness. You poor child have been misguided in to believing the lies of christardation...your parents should be ashamed of themselves for not raising you to think for yourself.
If I was a perfect and all-powerful deity, I would create a plan with a whole lot less uncertainty, suffering, illness, death and eternal damnation. And a lot less worshipping, since a perfect being does not need to be worshipped.
"those who believe in the existence of gods are delusional and should immediately be prohibited from voting, serving on juries, holding any public office, purchasing or owning firearms, teaching public school, or having any contact with children under the age of 18."
"those who persist in professing beliefs in these idiotic, iron-age, tribal-minded, ignorant ideologies are the true force of darkness in this world."
"tolerance of religious idiocy has to be crushed into oblivion – for the good of humanity.".
His comments verbatim, and he received some approving replies.
Wrong thread.
Finally! One step at a time : )
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/16/us/mississippi-requires-public-schools-to-develop-policies-on-prayer.html?_r=0
No, this is terrible news. One step in the wrong direction.
And if he just goes away it won't make a dimes worth of difference to anyone. A totally irrelevant person.
It will never stick.
Haha Good Luck!
Amen! Power of prayer at work!
So when it fails because of separation of church and state then what will be your excuse for why prayer didn't work?
God was busy in Africa giving AIDS to babies.
"Amen! Power of prayer at work!"
Really, that's why there is a lawsuit filed against it because religious freedom is a fundamental human right that is guaranteed by the First Amendment’s Free Exercise and Establishment clauses. Plus the U S Supreme Court has already ruled against prayer over public loud speakers. There's no way it will stand.
This will never stick. It violates separation of church and state and the ACLU will be in there ensuring it goes exactly to the trash where it belongs. Christards who think they are right should look at how they violate the rights of others who don't share their absurd beliefs. Grow up and let the innocent minds figure this out for themselves.
"This will never stick. It violates separation of church and state and the ACLU will be in there ensuring it goes exactly to the trash where it belongs."
http://www.aclu-ms.org/news/2013/04/19/aclu-mississippi-supports-voluntary-student-led-prayer-schoo
fred, much like Babble Humpers say about reading things in context, you have to read the two articles in context. One says the ACLU supports the current rules while the other says they will oppose changes that are not const!tutional.
fred, Amen! Power of prayer at work!
MS: While you pray, we'll think for you. fred is as foolish as you are for believing on faith.
The key is voluntary student-led prayer.
And how do you think parents will react to the first Muslim, Hindu, Wiccan, Subgenius or Satanist prayer broadcast over the PA system or said at an as.sembly?
Or a good old Christian prayer like Psalm 109:8 – perhaps dedicated to the principal
"Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
Let his children be continually va.gabonds, and beg:
let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.
Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labor.
Let there be none to extend mercy unto him:
neither let there be any to favor his fatherless children.
Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out."
Amen.
This will come to a screeching halt as soon as a muslim or atheist picks up the microphone. . .
Who gives a Ratzenberger's azz? If this guy is supposed to be the divine conduit of the almighty then this little bomb should have no effect on him.
Then lets test it
Shove two sticks up his Pope chute and light the fuse
If he survives, he is a Witch. If he dies, he was divine and we give him a nice funeral.
Works for me, although I bet he would rather enjoy to have things shoved up his pope shoot.
Stop insulting the Pope, everyone.
Fvck the pope!
Why do you hate him so much?
Because he is complicit in innumerable crimes and needs to be held accountable.
I dont hate him. I pitty all people who have an irrational belief in the supernatural.
Probably because his corporation has gone to great lengths to cover up predatory behavior by its employees that go after children. And he does nothing about it.
Why do you support someone who knowingly protects pedophiles?
Do we know for a fact that he protected them, Truth? I know other people did but did he? If so, please provide a link.
We can insult the pope or any other public figure we chose. We aren' catholics and we aren't afraid of going to hell!
Everyone’s viewpoint is welcome but why feel the need to insult someone.
CK
You seem to not understand us.
In our eyes, this guy is a Mafia Don, or a drug dealer.
He is in the business of crime and sells poisons to kids
If there were real justice, he would be dancing on the end of a rope for crimes against humanity and modernity.
I don’t think he had anything to do with anything with those crimes that has been a reflection on the church in the recent years. Correct me if I’m wrong.
I didn't insult anyone! I'm just saying, I'm free to if I chose.
My apologies, M.A.P. Fair enough.
@CK,
... when he stops insulting us by claiming to know when it's okay, or not okay, for me to use birth control.
Stay out of our bedrooms.
If your supposed God wants us to do, or not do, something then He can damn well tell us Himself.
I don’t think he’s purposely trying to insult someone when he’s expressing those views as oppose to some people on this board who is purposely trying to insult the Pope.
Prayers for all attending World Youth Day, especially our world's youth and for our Pope. May the Holy Spirit enlighten and strengthen them this week. May they take their enthusiasm back to their countries and continue their evangelizing! Amen! A big thank you to Brazil for hosting it this year, too!
Yeah, it's not like Brazil currently needs their money for anything better. It's not like they have an upcoming World Cup, Olympics and a population living in abject poverty.
Evangelizing is what makes Christianity unacceptable.
Frankly it is sickening, predatory, bad for society, and reprehensible behavior.
100% AGREE!
What does Evangelizing mean and why is it bad?
It has two phases
First, It means looking for emotionally immature or mentally insufficient people and then telling them a lie that all of Time Space and Dimension was created by a transgendered Palestinian dreamt up in the Bronze Age
Secondly, it means exploiting those individuals for money, perversions or political power.
That’s a bit harsh. I don’t think he’s rich. It’s not like he stays at the Four Seasons when he travels.
The Church has done some good such as with their charity work. It is rated as one of the best.
Was Jesus transgendered?
CK
He lives in the most expensive private residence in the world???
Hear, hear.
When World Youth Day was held in my city around a decade ago, the young Catholic Pilgrims seemed more interested in finding the red light district than the local Church.
Doc, I'm sure they just wanted to save a few of the girls. . .
Please, no more evangelizing. It's pretty much the same thing as saying "I'm right and you are wrong, and although I have no proof of this, I'm going to keep shoving my beliefs down your throat until you capitulate."
All evangelists, regardless of age, gender or location, attempting to get me to believe their unfounded Babble Crap will be greeted with an exuberant "go forth and multiply!"
People who despise God,Christianity, and anything Holy, remarkably, still find the time to post on an article about that which they do not believe in!? Talk about NOT having a fulfilling life!! For those who do not believe... you sure are fascinated by a God you say doesn't exist! Funny.
I am also fascinated by flexible figurines of Gumby and Pokey, and pre 1980 Pez Dispensers
Does that make me a horrible person?
So I collect things and I want to SMASH the Cult Of Christ and force all of his followers into reeducation camps.
Other than that I am just a regular guy
Was the re-education comment a joke?
They will be nice camps, with Bug Juice and Canteen on Tuesday, with flash light tag and mock inquisitions!
I'll assume yes. It's difficult to tell though as there is a frighteningly high number of people here who think state enforced atheism is a good idea.
I wouldn't support that, but I MIGHT require schooling outside the parochial arena.
While most American religious schools are reasonable, I have seem examples of some that do us a collective disservice.
Teach your children what you will AFTER school, but be REAL careful what you teach if you want to be accredited.
No Dave, I have not seen one atheist post there should be state enforced atheism.
We want a secular nation, not a religious theocracy like most xtians want.
We also want the churches to pay their fair share of taxes, which they don't currently do.
We also want our laws and our schools and our jobs and our medicine to be based on facts and logic and reason and not on made up stone age fairy tales.
And I want the religious fools who keep leaving religious literature on my portch to stop doing it, I am tired of having to scr ape it off my steps after it gets all gooie after it rains.
Secular schooling should be a necessity for a modern society, although I have no problem with private religious schools as long as they teach a nationally accepted curriculum.
niknak
I have seen many people commenting supporting the banning of religion and/or putting severe restrictions on religious people. The Anvil posted a comment of a similar ilk on the preceding comments page of this article.
I have been posting here for a long time, although I did take some time off, and I have not seen any comments like that.
Advil does post some tongue in cheek stuff, so maybe he was kidding.
Not one atheist I know would want that, as it would be just as tasteless as a religious theocracy.
Plus, it would make the fundies even more bat sheet crazy and make their paranoia even worse.
"those who believe in the existence of gods are delusional and should immediately be prohibited from voting, serving on juries, holding any public office, purchasing or owning firearms, teaching public school, or having any contact with children under the age of 18."
"those who persist in professing beliefs in these idiotic, iron-age, tribal-minded, ignorant ideologies are the true force of darkness in this world."
"tolerance of religious idiocy has to be crushed into oblivion – for the good of humanity.".
His comments verbatim, and he received some approving replies.
I'm on here almost every day and have been for a couple of years. I recall reading maybe one or two comments that might be construed as advocating enforced atheism, but most simply point out the evil done in the name of god and how most modern atheistic countries are doing quite well.
I have seen far more comments from religious types declaring that the bible should be the only law of this country, while at the same time advocating all sorts of violent fates for atheist Americans.
tallulah13
There's a massive difference between atheistic countries and state atheism. If anybody points to a theocracy as an excuse to enforce atheism, they are guilty of hypocrisy as it's the same thing in reverse.
@Dave we came to the conclusion that I am NOT for such a regime! I hope you werent thinkin of me.
M.A.P.
Nope. although if we didn't have our little tete-a-tete I'd have assumed you were in favor of state atheism as you did say that you 'stand with' The Anvil.
So far, any attempt at "state enforced atheism" has wound up being a cult of personality retaining all the worst trappings of religion.
Yes, I know. It was my first post on here and I wasn't being 100% serious. I am now! Of course people can believe whatever they want, and I dont want to ban everything! I just want equality for atheism and freedom FROM religion.
Doc Vestibule
Exactly.
M.A.P.
Hear, hear.
And like I said before, secularism needs to be actual secularism and not Christianity-Lite or Diet Islam. I don't believe the US is fully secular yet when you still force the president to swear on a bible.
M.A.P.
The President can affirm his oath if he wishes without a Bible.
MAP
The president is not forced to swear in on a bible. Just most do due to their beliefs and the pressure from the religious const!tuants. Some presidents did not swear in on a biible.
I am aware of that, Dave, but your distinction here is not relevant to the context of my comment.
Misotheism and atheism are two completely different things.
Yes, fascinated by the church which has brainwashed my family members and abused countless people. Fascinated by a worldwide cult ripping families apart and starting wars. You Christians also seem increadibly fascinated by that Devil who you despise so much. You talk just as much about the devil as you do about your amazing god.
I think you have an awfully negative viewpoint on religion.
I go to Church and I don’t do anything illegal, my family has a good relation with one another, and I rarely speak of the devil.
No. His viewpoint is correct. Perhaps those rose-tinted glasses you're wearing have altered your perception of reality.
There is also the tendency of anti-religionists to view religion through poop-tinted glasses.
"There is also the tendency of anti-religionists to view religion through poop-tinted glasses."
Yes folks this is the typical mentally of Christians, which explains why they believe in fairy tales.
Dark Itch,
Why is my perception of reality distorted?
Richard
In what sense am I a Christian?
To be fair, the poop-tinted glasses are provided by theists wearing rose-tinted glasses and are blissfully unaware of the fact they're handing out the poop-tinted ones. Even still, belief looks the same with or without poop-tint through the eyes of someone that managed to get away from it.
Dark Itch
Well, I never had it, but using blanket statements about religion and stating that religion is an inherently bad force is ridiculous.
I doubt any eyeglass manufacturer would actually produce “poop-tinted” glasses.
CK
I dunno, people do like to look at most things negatively anyway.
Using blanket statements about blanket statements while making a blanket statements is awfully contradictory. And stupid. And I quote from you, Dave:
"There is also the tendency of anti-religionists to view religion through poop-tinted glasses." That has the feel of a warm, soothing blanket. Does it not?
You may kindly place both feet in your own mouth.
Would you look at that? ANOTHER blanket statement from our middle-of-the-road, indecisive scholar, Dave:
"I dunno, people do like to look at most things negatively anyway."
Dark Itch
It's a useful hypocrisy.
Useful only when it comes to you, right? But it's incorrect for anyone else do do it. How typical.
golf clap
Keep striving for mediocrity. You're doing so well.
Facetiousness not your strong suit, is it?
It's obvious that pandering is yours. So let's just call this what it is. End of discussion. Peace out, princess.
Indeed.
CK, because you're inside the bubble. Take a step outside of it and you'll get an idea of what reality is. Want to see just how "supporting" and "loving" the people of your congregation are? Tell them you're considering atheism. That will be a cold dose of reality. You'll see what they're really like. As someone that spent decades in the bubble, I can say with absolute certainty that your reality is severely distorted.
I do indeed engage in debates with atheists and I have questioned my beliefs before.
I can’t imagine anyone in my church getting POed at me if I said I was considering atheism. I doubt they’d be all up in arms.
Do it. Just test them one time. You'll be amazed at all of the wonderful, heart-felt reactions you get. And mostly your close friends and familiy treating you like you have AIDS with open sores oozing all over the place. Ahhhhhh, the "fellowship," all without the fellowship.
Were you in a small tight knit community? I live in a large metropolitan. I think the people in my area, including the people in my church, would be apathetic of me becoming atheist.
One cannot despise that which does not exist. One down, Kitty Carlisle.
Ah
Then I can't despise honest and rational Christians?
There is no such thing as a rational christian.
I will break it down yet again sheshie, we could care less about your fairy tale. Waste all the time you want following it.
What we care about is you believers trying to force your fairy tale on us, the non believing.
If you would stop trying to inject your magic man into our government, into our courts, into our medicine, into our schools we would not come here and push back.
You are free to howl at the moon all you want, just stop forcing us to howl with you.
By the way, did you know that sheshie is how you pronounce xixi in Portuguese, which means to uri nate?
Funny that this is an article about Brasil and you have the name, unless you planned that to which I say bravo.
But I doubt it.
If you want to talk about an unfulfilling life, let's talk about people who spend theirs trying to force their beliefs down the throats of others and telling them if they don't convert to your beliefs they will be horrifically tortured for all of eternity. YIKES!
Sheshie
People who despise Santa, remarkably, still find the time to post on an article about that which they do not believe in!? Talk about NOT having a fulfilling life!! For those who do not believe... you sure are fascinated by Santa you say doesn't exist! Funny.
>
I agree, that is funny
I have never posted/blogged before but seeing how we are all treating each other is so disheartening. We are all human no matter what God you believe in. Instead of pointing fingers shouldn't we bond together? Nothing in life is perfect, everything and everyone has their own demons to deal with but that doesn't mean that we have to blame and point fingers at each other. Try to do something helpful for the world instead of creating this negative energy and hate online, please
We are.
We are trying to force the collapse of a corrupt and immoral church
Why don't you join us. It is one of the most efficient ways to change the collective destiny of the human race for the better.
It is time to leave the absurd in the past, and refute the concept that one man is preferred more by a God, or is in any way capable of speaking on behalf of said God.
It can be awfully hard to work together in peace and unity with people who are convinced that anyone who believes different than them are inherently evil and bound for an eternity of torture.
Especially when some of them seem to revel in schadenfreude at the thought of it.
Since he responded to Vic, and resolved a posting problem for him just yesterday, you obviously have reading comprehension issues. btw, nice new screen name, faith.
What could Brazilian Catholics possibly have against the Vatican?
Perhaps the priest from the Archdiocese of Penedo that was caught on video abusing an altar boy?
Or Fr. Felix Barbosa Carreiro who was arrested in a seedy hotel room with 4 young boys?
Or Fr. Tarcísio Tadeu Spricigo who molested no fewer than a half dozen children in 5 parishes and who kept a checklist of criteria for choosing victims? The RCC kept moving him around, but the police eventually got their hands on said checklist.
Or perhaps the glaring hypocrisy of the Catholic Church last year in the case of the 9 year old girl impregnated by her step father where they excommunicated her mother and the doctor, but not the ra/pist.
Or maybe the local tree huggers are upset that the Church deforested a significant region 334 centuries old trees without seeking government approval in preparation for the Pope's visit?
Or the $40,000,000 the RCC is demanding of the Brazillian to pay for the visit?
So you want to begrudge the Emissary Of Christ a few sacrificial lambs?
Who are you to try an stop a tried and true tradition of degenerate Pope's exploiting the innocent?
Jesus loved the little children, and the Pope plans to as well.
I understand the Pope has requested a special Holy Oil be mixed for this trip.
It is non staining, guava flavored and heats up when you cough on it.
And some holy water spiked with Spanish Fly.
Dr. Vestibule...
Just how many of the masses will see such issues and respond amorously...? Many RCC enthusiasts seem to have logs within both of their eyeing monetary capitalisms disengaging shadowed hierarchies... The guiding principles of larcenous papacies will have to end someday before the tidal waves of tyrannical forces envelopes all culturally dissatisfied social wigglers... While I find fascinations around warring factions of godly and the godless, my beany weeny is too teeny to make much of a splash... Eat shhiiitt and bark incessantly at moonpies in the blackness of spatial rifts is my early options...
Your incoherent diatribes are becoming more hostile by the day.
Sired Darkie Itchiness...
"Hostilitarianism" is but my strong suit of which I wear the tie of moralizing poop that cleanses the ways while the oozing palladiums of white collar fundamentalists throws rabid tomatoes at my panting legs...
Don't poke the Lion, he might be dangerous (Or cowardly.)
My unholiest vespers will personify those inglorious bastions while negating those glory seekers... Grace falls downwardly while uphill meanderings seem too treacherous for those least educated... My challenges run amuck and stand unwashed wherever the shambles are found insidiously cleaved... To duck or not to be the duck is a roasting of broiling materialization
"Don't poke the Lion, he might be dangerous (Or cowardly.)"
No, Lion is just a insecure and immature person trying to feel better about themselves by posting their nonsense.