Oh Bite me, Pope

[n2doc]

Join Two Nobel Prize winners, Iran's former president, the author of "The Purpose Driven Life" and others in a dynamic conversation about faith and its impact on the world.
Papal Encyclical Attacks Atheism, Lauds Hope
By Philip Pullella
Reuters
Friday, November 30, 2007; 10:38 AM

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict, in an encyclical released on Friday, said atheism was responsible for some of the "greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice" in history.

The 75-page "Spe Salvi," which takes its Latin title from a quote by St Paul (in hope we were saved), is an appeal to a pessimistic world to find strength in Christian hope.

In the second encyclical of his papacy, Benedict urges Christians to put their hope for the future in God and not in technology, wealth or political ideologies.

Atheism could be regarded by some as a "type of moralism," particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries, to protest against the injustices of the world and world history, he said.
more:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/30/AR2007113000436.html?hpid=sec-religion

We all know what is responsible for more deaths, suffering and war than any other cause in Human history- Organized religion.

[Matariki]

1. Yeah. Like The Inquisition.

Those cruel atheists really put the thumbscrews to justice with that moment in history.

[Warpy]

17. But but but but the church was FORCED to employ the rack,

thumbscrews and the strappado in order to ferret us heretics out and force us to recant our heresies! That brutality wasn't their fault at all! It was our fault for existing!

Mother church is always merciful. Cruelty is the fault of the people she has been cruel to over the years. Get it?

(I did. That's why I left)

[Matariki]

34. I have a really old version of Encyclopedia Britannica

that says just that. According to my old Britannica, the Catholics *really* believed that a little terrestrial torture was better than eternal damnation - so they were actually doing a good deed.

Of course this totally ignores the politics and property confiscation that was the actual motive behind most of the Inquisition. But. Whatever.

[TahitiNut]

27. Nobody ever expects the Atheist Inquisition.

:silly:

[whoneedstickets]

47. Our chief weapon is surprise, and fear...

..our two...two weapons are surprise, fear.... and a fanatical devotion to science..

[donsu]

50. and truth - they will kill to keep truth out

nt

[A HERETIC I AM]

56. "I'll come in again" n/t

[shadowknows69]

51. Started the Crusades too didn't they? Oh, wait.

[BulletproofLandshark]

2. As opposed to all those completely blameless popes throughout history , I guess

Fuck you, Ratzinger.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. There were forward thinking candidates who could have been chosen, but no they had

to pick this troglodyte. :eyes:

[xchrom]

4. clueless in the vatican. -

can't stand that jerk.

[madeline_con]

5. a "type of moralism," What a load of shit.....

Does this guy have a clue about atheists being normal, moral people?

Has anyone explained the "Church's" complicity with Nazism and the spread of AIDS in Africa that was a diret result of the condemnation of condoms? That's just two. I could go back to the Inqusition. Real moral high ground there!

That old Nazi fool needs to stay inside and off the phone. I'm sick of hearing a bunch of shit from the Vatican every time he decides to dictate how other peoopkle should live. Shut up! :thumbsdown:

[xchrom]

8. let me add starvation and birth control in starving countries.

the last two popes have been disappointing indeed.

[madeline_con]

14. Yes! The opposite of Liberation Theology.

Whatever you would call it. Don't give them food, tell them how great heaven will be when they get there! :puke:

[truedelphi]

59. But quick, pass the bucket, make sure the peasant puts their dinero

Into the coffers before they leave this earthly world.

[Disturbed]

9. Rat zinger is an Asshole.

Would Jesus approve of this Palace of a Vatican with all of it's wealth, kissing the Poops ring & those silly hats?

[madeline_con]

15. Look what happened to the money changers! n/t

[Bright Eyes]

6. How about the Crusades? Or the pillaging of the New World?

Or burning witches at the stake? Were they all atheists, too?

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. Where in history did the atheists rise up & do any cruelty & justice violations??

Anymore or less than anybody else?

[Recursion]

22. USSR/PRC come to mind

Just sayin'...

[Eurobabe]

10. Go bless a beer already!

[TahitiNut]

28. Berliner Weisse?

Yum! Much better than whine.

[Eurobabe]

38. No I believe Ratz drinks a Muenchener Wies'n.

being from Bayern and all. :rofl:

HI TAHITI!!!

[NanceGreggs]

11. Excuse me, your Popitude, but ...

Atheism was responsible for some of the greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice in history?

Ah, yes, I remember it well. The atheists who tortured 'non-believers' during the Inquisition, the atheists who raped and pillaged in the name of the 'Crusades', the atheists who burned 'witches' and 'faggots', the atheists who persecuted non-Christians throughout history in the name of -- what was it again? Oh, yeah, in the name of Holy Mother the Church. Have I got that right?

And let's not forget the rape, torture and murder of innocent Iraqis directed and overseen by one self-proclaimed 'Christian' president - yes, that same president who has blatantly 'violated justice' via rendition, or confinement in Gitmo without charge or trial.

Damn those atheists, your Popeship! They have always been a scourge.

[laconicsax]

12. Nazi Pope strikes again!

eom.

[msongs]

13. never accept a blanket as a gift from a pope nt

[demigoddess]

16. atheism has never advocated death or torture over matters of dogma,

however, many religions have and catholicism has led the parade.

[eppur_se_muova]

18. How crude & uncouth! Try "Oh bite me, Your Holiness".

It sounds ever so much more civilized. :battingeyelashes:

[sarge43]

19. Right Your Holiness, all those atheists who wouldn't "suffer a witch to live".

It's estimated about a million women were burned alive.

[TZ]

20. I guess the death of 6 million Jews

at the hands of Nazis and the Catholic conspirators is not significant Furhrer Ratzinger?

[Recursion]

21. They don't make Popes like they used to...

No sir, they don't...

[karlrschneider]

23. fuck a bunch of popes.

Assholes all.

[Greyskye]

24. I thought it was 'Pope'

Not 'Poop'

[we can do it]

25. poop on the pope

hate and guilt is his religion.

[tabasco]

26. Shut up ya' nazi prick! n/t

[NMMNG]

29. How many abortion clinics and gay bars have been blown up in the name of atheism?

How many people have been put to death in horrible ways because atheist scriptures say they're "unholy"?
How many wars have been started in the name of atheism?

I thought so.

Eff off Pope Ratzo.

[Truthiness Inspector]

33. Good point, BUT

how many abortion clinics versus every single day jihad events?

Who's the most violent...you have to fall back on isolated events long ago to attempt to make your point, when these Islamic nutcases murder every day.

[NMMNG]

35. They aren't atheists

:shrug:

[Warren DeMontague]

39. to make what point? What point do you seem to think she was trying to make?

Please, spell it out.

What the fuck do "Jihad events" have to do with atheism?

Please. I'd like to know.

[ima_sinnic]

41. no, the "christian" whackos are out in force in the military, foaming at

the mouth at the thought of armageddon, murdering Middle Easterners and blowing up shit over there, and they have the full, complicit backing of their fundie whackjob friends and relatives over here. Not to mention that their "commander in chief" is a certifiable looney-tune "born again" hypocritical piece of dogshit "doing the lord's work" with his crusades.

[Afje]

30. Didn't know

didn't know that the French and the Russian Revolutions were fought in the name of atheism.

[spanone]

31. ...as the irony zoomed over his head.....

ah, those fun crusades....

[Captain Angry]

32. Two things.

1: He clearly understands the mechanism that if you repeat something frequently enough that people will begin to believe it.

2: I can never hear or read the word Pope again without thinking of Homer Simpson's quote: "I've got more trophies than Wayne Gretzky and the Pope combined!"

[Elspeth]

36. Maybe he was talking about Stalin

who received his training from the Catholic Church, actually.

[sarge43]

43. Actually, Stalin was raised in the Russian Orthodox faith

Attended a seminary for awhile. Hitler on the other hand was raised Catholic.

[Elspeth]

45. Oops! Got them mixed up.

But would you consider both atheists?

[sarge43]

52. Interesting and complex question

If by atheist you mean they rejected traditional Christian faith, most certainly. On the other one, if a true atheist is someone who holds there is nothing beyond physical reality, I'd say no in Hitler's case. I'd say he believed in the power of the Will which motivated and directed the ubermenschen, himself the perfect example. Stalin probably was a true atheist. He apparently believed only in himself; even rejecting the Party beliefs once he had total control of it.

FWIW

[Hekate]

37. Riiiiight. Millions of "witches" were tortured & burned by cassock-wearing atheists...

...in Europe over several centuries.

Not to mention those Crusaders who went out slaughtering Muslims and Jews in the name of Nobody in Particular.

Thank you, Pope Ratzinger, for setting us all straight. :eyes:

Edited to add: The Soviets and Chinese Communists were/are officially atheist. And extremely cruel and oppressive. Nonetheless, this is one pope who needs to get out more.

Hekate

[Raejeanowl]

60. When I Think of Cassocks and Vestments

I think of buggered altar boys.

[Warren DeMontague]

40. This from a guy who directed the Church to hinder law enforcement & help pedophiles escape justice.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1469055,00.html

Meanwhile, he's got the nerve to criticize consenting adults for their sex lives and rail against contraception on a planet bursting at the seams with too many people.

Whatever, dude.

[trusty elf]

42. I think it's time for my "organized religion" anagrams again.

IDOLIZE GROIN ANGER

GOD IRE IN GRAIL ZONE

DIRE AGONIZING ROLE

REIGNING LIAR OOZED

NAZI GOON GIRDLE IRE

I DIG INANE ZORRO LEG

DOZING GENIE OR LIAR

I, DROLE NAZI GOERING

REAL GIN DIRGE IN ZOO

[mitchum]

44. Fuck off Joey

[pleah]

46. Pope rewrites history!

Right out of the fascist handbook.

[NotGivingUp]

48. Gee...i think he's got things just slightly backward!

Let's make that statement a truism by putting the word 'christianity' or 'religion' in place of 'atheism'.

Love your OP...sure got my attention!

[Toasterlad]

49. Best. Thread-Title. Ever.

[porphyrian]

53. I bet his bite smells like Dentugrip. -n/t

[Arugula Latte]

54. Coming from the head of the Torture & Pedophilia Church, that's rich.

:eyes:

[Kazak]

55. Yeah, that's some bullshit right there...

:shrug:

[Raejeanowl]

57. God Bless Old Rat-Bag

Following a fine and ancient tradition of delusion.

[RestoreGore]

58. Malleus Maleficarum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malleus_Maleficarum

Oh, and of course, let's not forget the Crusades, the Inquisition, and all the wars fought "for God." And yes, the mysogynistic and hateful lies made up by the hierarcy regarding Mary Magdalene and every action they ever employed to show what they really stand for.

[Beelzebud]

61. He says this as child raping priests live, in sanctuary, at the vatican.

The oldest criminal enterprise in the history of the world: The Catholic Church.

You don't think they mined all that Vatican gold themselves do you?