From the mouth of Pope L. Ron Benedict

[devilgrrl]

This from the AP wire:

"On Monday, Ratzinger, who was the powerful dean of the College of Cardinals, used his homily at the Mass dedicated to electing the next pope to warn the faithful about tendencies that he considered dangers to the faith: sects, ideologies like Marxism, liberalism, atheism, agnosticism and relativism — the ideology that there are no absolute truths."

Yeah, I'm so going to give this guy my support :sarcasm:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. His problem is

he wants to define "Truth", and that is something no person can ever define. All we can have are concepts and ideals, which are then shattered upon the rock of Truth, which is beyond our full comprehension.

That any person declare they have Truth is worrysome at the very least, and downright dangerous at the worst.

[Ron Green]

18. But I think he understands that part of his job description is "defining

Truth" (after all, he's the Pope), and that's a big problem indeed. What's brought into focus here is the very anachronism of the Church, and the danger of absolutism in a delicate and complex world.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

20. but that job description came from people,

not from God, Who Cannot be Defined. (Or as my husband says, "God cnnot be put in a box, because God IS the box-and everything else!")

[rkc3]

28. Your hubby probably gets pretty pissed when

bush tells us God is on our side.

I know that drives me up a wall.

[_TJ_]

2. He has half an idea what relativism and liberalism are

But it looks like his understanding of atheism, agnosticism and
marxism is a bit shaky :eyes:

[alcuno]

3. Wait till the fundies figure out that the "sects" are them.

Our new pope will likely manage to anger a lot of people - including Catholics. He apparently said something about not wanting Turkey in the EU because it's a Muslim country. Yikes!

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[devilgrrl]

5. boo hoo

and your pope is a apologist for pedophiles.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

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[devilgrrl]

9. The only person starting flames is you!

deal with it.

It's from the AP, find it yourself!

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

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[Bunny]

21. Actually, she joined DU before you did.

At least, that's what both of your profiles indicate. And it's against the rules to call someone a freeper, or suggest that they post there. You might want to watch that, hoss.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

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[sonicx]

25. And you suggested that they post there. Can't do that.

[Bunny]

26. Doesn't show it?

And you get to decide that? Hmm...interesting.

I believe you told her that if she wanted to post uneducated stuff she could do it a free republic. Okay, parse the words. You showed your intentions by suggesting it in the first place. See how this "showing" thing works?

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

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[Eric J in MN]

10. If he was speaking in German, and an American

translated for an American audience, then "liberalism" should mean in the American sense.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

11. So he's bashing conservatism AND Marxism?

He is known for being conservative. Your argument doesn't wash.

[Tweed]

15. Sorry, meant to type neo-conservatism

[RevCheesehead]

6. so, are you catholic?

[devilgrrl]

8. None of your damned business...

Why? Do you agree with his statements?

[RevCheesehead]

19. why are you so defensive at a small question?

The reason I ask is:

a) If you ARE Catholic, then you are called to support the Pope. Pray for him, disagree with him, but still support him as the leader of the Church.

b) If you're NOT Catholic, why do you give a damn about the Pope?

I'm just wondering why this issue is so important to you. Your OP led me to believe that you hate this man, and I thought my question to be relevant.

:hi:

[beam me up scottie]

30. When did she say she hated the man?

She posted "Yeah, I'm so going to give this guy my support" with the sarcasm smilie after it.

There are plenty of people who "give a damn about the pope" because he has the capacity to do great harm in the world. To NOT care about our fellow earthlings seems to be a little "un-christian" doesn't it?

[RevCheesehead]

31. gee, I thought the title of the post was self-evident.

"From the mouth of Pope L. Ron Benedict"

And did I use the word "hate"? Shame on me. :spank:

[beam me up scottie]

35. Sarcasm does not equal hate.

Criticism does not equal hate.
Disrespect does not equal hate.
Nor do they constitute "bashing".

[RevCheesehead]

42. Perhaps not,

but I suggest that sarcasm is interpreted, as well as delivered differently, depending on which side of the aisle you sit.

I also think that when someone posts one thread, they've made their point. But when someone posts multiple threads on the same topic, it smacks more of "obsession" than "commentary."

[beam me up scottie]

46. What side of the aisle am I on?

"Hating" and "bashing" christians does not occur with the frequency some posters want us to think. Criticizing a poster for a sarcastic comment is one thing, inferring that they "hate" the pope is quite another.
And with all the religious flame fests lately on DU, I believe that type of rhetoric just adds fuel.

And as far as obsessions go, I too have very strong opinions when it comes to the role and influence of the pope and the catholic church, many of them negative (as anyone who has read my posts can testify). Does that mean I also have an "obsession"?

[RevCheesehead]

47. why are you putting words in my mouth?

I think you are reading more into my posts than were intended. Step back and look at them objectively, before presuming that I am accusing anyone of hating or bashing.

Here's what I wrote:
"Your OP led me to believe that you hate this man, and I thought my question to be relevant."

I have since taken back the word "hate."
I don't see where I have used the word "bash".

I will admit to having seen the other locked post, which was, without a doubt, a hateful remark. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3504742&mesg_id=3504742
Perhaps that clouded my judgment. Again, my apologies, if you think I was out of line.

[beam me up scottie]

50. Pardon me, I didn't see the other post.

And I'm glad I didn't. I guess that explains your questions to the poster-I thought it was uncharacteristic of you to phrase your post the way you did. You're usually very diplomatic.

And no, you did not mention bashing, I'm sorry I tagged you with that but I was also referring to other posts I've seen where that term kept popping up.

My radar is overloaded today unfortunately-I am a real smart ass myself but I generally try not to insult anyone or hurt their feelings.
I apologize for jumping on your post.
:spank:
bad me

[RevCheesehead]

51. it's OK, Scottie

I think everyone's nerves are on edge - for obvious reasons.

I'm not a big fan of Pope Bennie - but only time will tell if our fears are unfounded or not. All I know is that there are a lot of very upset Catholics, who are having a hard time reconciling what just happened with their faith.

It just helps me if I know where people are coming from in their passion; that's all that I intended to ask.

Peace? :)

[beam me up scottie]

52. Most definitely peace!

We can at least start practicing it here first. IMHO.
:toast:

[Zenlitened]

34. "If you're NOT Catholic, why do you give a damn about the Pope?"

You can't be serious? :shrug:

[soupkitchen]

12. Sounds a little like Naphta from Mann's The Magic Mountain

Naphta is a theology professor in the Magic Mountain; son of a Jewish ritual butcher he had converted to Catholicism with the hope of becoming a Jesuit priest. However, he developed tuberculosis, hence his presence on the Magic Mountain, a TB sanatorium, and never advanced beyond becoming a Brother.
Anyway, all Naphta believes in is terrorism, that the only thing that can save the soul from eternal damnation is the terror of God. Liberalism, he hates because, "liberalism is the enemy of terrorism." (Remember this was written in 1922)
Anyway Thomas Mann knew the German soul, and unfortunately this new Pope sounds like an ideological throw back to me.

[Inland]

13. And you are off the mailing list just like that.

Big deal.

[Bunny]

27. She's already losing sleep over it, I'm sure.

[Inland]

32. As much as I am, over their falling out.

two people, different beliefs, neither should give a shit about the other's, and yet here the thread is. What a goddamn bore.

[Bunny]

33. And here you are, posting in it.

Are you sure it's really a bore?

[Inland]

36. Needed your posting to confirm it a grade-A bore. Thanks. nt

[Bunny]

37. Glad you're satisfied.

Won't be seeing you in any more of these threads, then?

[Inland]

39. "These threads"? What, the boring ones? Or the dumb ones? Or both?

Feel free to take yourself off the mailing list if my posting bothers you. Works for the Pope, and it works for me.

[Bunny]

40. So, you can't stay away, then?

They really aren't such a "bore" after all, are they?

I don't have any particular need to be on any "mailing list", whatever that is. So, do whatever it takes to keep yourself, and the Pope, from exposure to me.

[Inland]

48. Put me on ignore, but you have to tell Pope to stop breathing your air

all by yourself.

[ComerPerro]

14. He prefers an ideology of "The truth is what we tell you"

[dave29]

17. Werner Heisenberg rolled over in his fiery grave

;)

[sonicx]

22. Here's the link...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050419.w4pope0419/BNStory/specialPope/

he also said...

“Having a clear faith, based on the creed of the church, is often labelled today as a fundamentalism,” he said, speaking in Italian. “Whereas relativism, which is letting oneself be tossed and ‘swept along by every wind of teaching,' looks like the only attitude acceptable to today's standards.

[beam me up scottie]

38. Why do they always sneak away

when someone posts the truth?

Ooooooooooooooooooh, I hate that!
:spank:

[Eloriel]

41. Oh, I think (know) there are absolute truths

But I also think the Catholic Church is hardly in a position to KNOW let alone proclaim what they are. (One of the many little things the Church and I parted ways over, oh so many years ago -- like when I was in 7th grade.) In fact, for the most part I don't think the Church or its men have a clue.

[tabasco]

43. Is he going to retract Galileo's pardon ?

This dude sounds EXTREME !

[Bunny]

44. HAHA!

That's a good one! :)

[The_Casual_Observer]

45. "the ideology that there are no absolute truths"

Well ratty, it's that ideology that keeps us from blowing up the world, you asshole.

[immoderate]

49. No one can ever quibble --

With a man who is infallabibble. -- Tom Leherer

--IMM

[tallahasseedem]

53. There are no absolute truths...

except for the fact that * is an idiot.