I agree with you 100%

Sof god is omnipotent, omniscient, and ever present, why does the pope need a bullet proof set of wheels? Can't god see someone about to shoot the pope and then spread some invisible shield over the pope to protect him? Oh yeah, that can only happen in the comic books - a product of man's imagination. Why did the tent collapse and injure several participants? Can't god even protect people that are there to worship? Makes one wonder what "purpose" god has in allowing injuries to people who worship god.

"Organized religion will be the demise of mankind."

Totally agree.

The Pope doesn't represent Christ ... he represents the multi-billion dollar Catholic Church that to this day is still seeking to limit the financial damage caused by priests' sexual abuse of children. Sexual abuse of children.

This idea that the "mother church" is something that needs to be protected is just outrageous.

Young people: spread the word of Christ, sure. But you can't do that legitimately working through a corrupt institution like the Catholic Church.

The pope urges young people to spread the lies.

instead of avenging angel we have a blathering angel

Marlen: Organized religion will be the demise of mankind.

It already is.

The Pope urges that...they should not keep their faith private but participate fully in the life of their parishes and remain in communion with the church. "So do not keep Christ to yourselves! Share with others the joy of your faith,

The Church is losing its flock daily in droves. It's a sure sign that they are using all measures at their disposal - including children - to promote their unsavory product. They're no different from the tobacco industry. The Church has been exposed for what it is: a power hungry, greedy control mechanism whose time has passed.

"Church is losing its flock daily in droves"...

Interesting statement considering that over one million young Catholics just sacrificed a considerable amount of the their time, money, and effort to witness passionately to their faith in Christ and His Church. The rest of us who couldn't afford to go are sitting here at home cheering them on. Losing its flock? Far, far from it, dearie.

"The Church is losing its flock daily in droves..."

Interesting statement, especially considering how well over one million YOUNG Catholics just sacrificed a considerable amount of time, money, and effort to travel to Madrid and witness their passionate faith in Christ and His Church. The rest of us who couldn't afford to go supported them instead and are sitting here cheering them on from home. Losing its flock? Ahhh... Far, far, far from it, dearie.

What do you mean 'will be'?

I think you must of meant 'has been'.

Just imagine how the middle east might be today if you remove 3000 years of religion.

Organized religion will be the demise of mankind. - marlen101917

No!... Reason, logic, critical thinking, intelligence, skepticism, open minds, and free flow of information will eventually be the demise of organized religion!

Who need organized religion?....we have obama.

I'm not too worried that organized religion will destroy mankind. Religion has been around ever since civilization and mankind is still alive and kicking.

Well see Eric, there you guy making logic run afoul again. Organized religion seems to be the only thing that can hold ignorant bipedal hominids from running around cutting off their neighbor's heads. Guess for people like you, religion is the only salve, that or you running off a cliff slobbering about people you don't even know and who you think are responsible for everything bad in your world. Clearly, you're not capable of being responsible for anything in your life. Your parents must be so proud, if only they could remember your name.

Number34, you're so right. Religion has been around ever since original sin. Oh wait, sorry, that was the original sin, telling others you were better than them because you knew something they didn't.

The day God becomes real, is the day he doesn't need to speak through 'a human'. Apparently, God is capable of everything in the universe, except for that.

Hey Kids, bend over here it comes again.

The Pope does represent Christ on earth. With over a billion Catholics around the world, the faith still represents the Truth of Jesus Christ; always has, always will. The gates of hell will NEVER prevail. I am truly blessed to be a Catholic and I thank God for calling me back to the true faith!

Ah... no surprise. I figured the rude, crude, and never shrewd among those posting today just had to sound off.

1) The entire country of Spain is predominately a religious country. So, your attack on the Pope's presence there simply doesn't hold water.

2) You here who demean and insult the ideals of others are, of course, on a bobsled sliding backwards in "humankind." It is a one-way coast to deterioration of ideology.

3) The absence of any ideology in your lives is incredibly evident, via your insults, wrong statements you haven't bothered to research, and attacks on folks who realize that the places of worship of any faith, including mosques, temples, pagodas, and yes, the cathedrals of the Western world... these give "humankind" the ultimate survival skills, an understanding of good vs. evil.

3) When the legacy you leave... you who arrogantly abuse the faith of others ... when your example turns your descendants into primitive Neanderthal mentalities and behavior, I thank any powers that be that the those of us still attuned to decency vs depravity have the environment like the youngsters in Madrid to keep the slime off our shoes.

Totus: Interesting statement, especially considering how well over one million YOUNG Catholics just sacrificed a considerable amount of time, money, and effort to travel to Madrid and witness their passionate faith in Christ and His Church. ...Far from it, dearie.

You are being brainwashed and manipulated, along with these young people. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's not for me; and it's tragic in their case. "Christianity" has nothing to do with Christ. As Gandhi said, " I like your Christ, but do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ."

And it's not "dearie", it's Mort.

Angel, I suggest you read "The Dark Side of Christianity" by Linda Ellerbe. The Catholic Church is and always has been a money-making machine, whose main objective is control over and manipulation of people.

Hey poopie, spreading the faith in God, right? Or is it spreading faith in the rcc or faith in knowing that if you are a priest within the rcc and you did something wrong that you would be protected inside the vatican walls. Exactly who and what should these young people have faith in? The rcc message is confusing.

Sorry poopie, your message just doesn't carry much credibility anymore. Do the right thing for the people (the same flock you are supposed to lead and protect. Maybe after a while you may earn back some of the trust much of the entire World has given you for so long and which your institution has chosen not to honor.

It goes without saying that he is not talking to the thousands and thousands of young people who were raped by his bishops and priests

It is estimated that well over a MILLION children have been molested or raped by leaders in catholic churches. this past century alone.

Ugh, I can't even begin to unravel the puerility coming out of most of your all's mouths.

Only online could some of you suggest reading a book like Ellerbe's "Dark Side of Christianity" and keep a straight face.

Observer: Only online could some of you suggest reading a book like Ellerbe's "Dark Side of Christianity"

Wrong. I'd say it to your face.

The young come because they have genuine love of Christ and trust in the Pope. The young are idealists, full of energy, faith, purity, and they dream of an unimaginably beautiful spiritual journey in this life.

It is a cruel hoax. These dreamers will eventually awaken to reality and see the Church as it really is, comprised of corrupted popes and bishops - ugly, old men who have long-since discarded the idealistic dreams of their own youth, who now worship power and wealth. Weak and foolish leaders who no longer have faith, and no longer see the light because they are compromised by sin and have themselves become evil. So they cling to dogmatic nonsense and pretend it is truth.

Those who have ears let them hear. May the wise and strong remain true to their high ideals and become one with the living God; the weak and foolish shall join the corrupt Church.

benji: These dreamers will eventually awaken to reality and see the Church as it really is, comprised of corrupt popes and bishops - ugly, old men...

Some dreamers may awaken, but some may discover, unfortunately, that they have invested so much of their lives in the fairy tales and dogma that it's not worth the time or energy to leave.

It has been said that there will be only one more pope. That could mean that the Church will come to an end, we can only hope.

The Pope does represent Christ on earth

That's nice. Getting paid huge sums of money to represent an unprovable, mythical creature. I wonder what representing the tooth fairy pays?

@SecondSight1:

While I do agree with you that rudeness of any sort is inappropriate, I must disagree with your assertion that those who do not believe in a god, demons or other mysticisms lack ideology. This assertion, in and of itself is rude, offensive and uninformed.

Secular Humanists have an ideology of principles that are very similar to those ideals expressed in faith-based ideologies. The difference is that we derive our beliefs from objective, critical reason and factual evidence, rather than faith or mysticism.

For more information go to: Council for Secular Humanism.org

Peace

the pope does NOT represent christ on earth . you cannot compare the two. did Christ live off of his followers, or did his followers live off Christ? does the pope live off of his followers? enough said Papacy began after all of the apostles died..someone had to be raised as inferoir to the rest. to me thats called separation. creating a higher and lower class. i thought everyone was treated equal in the True religion? No?well then u can stay with this ignorant Hypocrite, Pharisee if you will. you do not need a man to speak for Christ and God Himself. Speak to God on your own

you cannot compare the two

Correct. One is a living person (though he is a lowlife POS)

The other is a mythical cult creature.

Bernicht.

If science can't prove God to be real or not, who are you to say what is right and what is wrong? However, I do respect your rights of freedom of speech, no matter how dumb and uneducated your speech might be.

That's fine if you want to believe in 'god' for your own peace of mind. The problem is when you start trying to spread your nonsense around.

I'd point out to you, socialist, that the bible clearly states that man should not build houses of worship, because "heaven is god's throne, the earth is his footstool, and he does not dwell in the house of man'.

In fact, the bible also states quite clearly(amongst many other things christians have either forgotten or choose to ignore) that 'any time there are three or more of you gathered together, I am with you'.

True believers shouldn't need any kind of structure to worship 'god'. Such behavior runs contrary to 'his will'.

Once you realize the "business" aspects of religion you will better comprehend the purposes of the lavish "temples of worship". First of all, god hears the message so much better from a fancy temple that some double-wide trailer. For example, how many people think the food is as good in some dive versus some big fancy chain restaurant? Often times people put more quality in the product and less in the store but most people think the food is better if the "presentation" is fancier. The reason for the church promoting irresponsible breeding is because 10% of something (no matter how big/small the paycheck) is better than 100% of nothing (a non-existent paycheck).

I would greatly prefer all organized religion to be less concerned with spreading their faith and more concerned with exemplifying it. Pedophile priests, fear mongering reverends, hate espousing episcopalian's, mass murdering Muslims. All the religions claim to epitomize peace and love, and have lunatics willing to commit atrocities in their name.

Spanish Inquisition.

The Crusades.

Funny, I always thought the pope was supposed to be the ambassador of God. Guess God doesn't have time enough for earth and passed that off to his kid. Uh, if God decides who represents him on earth, than why do a bunch of people that couldn't even make pope, elect the pope? Couldn't God just do it? Uh, in the Catholic church, can God actually do anything? Or is it all just "i have a vision" type stuff.

Get educated rrobeson,you're a little confused!In fact you're extremely confused.

@stone

I never said I go to church, or attend a place of worship. I simply choose to worship him personally. Plus, God isn't nonsense. If science/everything else can't prove him or disprove him, who are you to say what is wrong and what is right?

@other people

Yes, yes, I know, organized religion is used as a scam for money, that's the whole point of my post.

"If science/everything else can't prove him or disprove him, who are you to say what is wrong and what is right?"

Good Socialist, I say there is an invisible elephant floating above your head about to take an invisible dump on you.

Prove me wrong......

@Andy

Same old comeback, same old backfire. I never said God was real or not. All I'm saying that if he can't be proven or disproven, why do people make such unsupported conclusions?

Here's why we haven't seen a major god from different religions.

Answer: Because they don't exist.

@Gary

And can you prove he doesn't exist? I mean, there has to be some kind of proof if you make such claims with that level of confidence.

Of course.

God doesn't exist because we haven't seen or measured god with our instruments.

Also, because there are many gods we don't know which one is true.

Therefore god doesn't exist because it's a nice story we as humans in different regions made up a while ago when we couldn't explain things such a thunder or lightning

So, back then, the Americas had no existence whatsoever becuase they weren't measured in the times of Columbus? If there's no proof of God's existence, then there is no proof of his non-existence.

lol. Here we go again, mixing science with faith.

This argument is getting old.

Is it invalid to you becuase it's old? Or invalid to you because you can't think of an answer to it?

Again, I'll ask, if science can't prove God to be real or not, who are you to say what is right and what is wrong?

This is the problem with religious people . They always use science to prove God.

I'll keep it short.

A scientific theory will eventually be proven true or false given enough time (so our technology can catch up).

God who is based solely on faith, cannot be proven using scientific methods because there is no proof in faith.

Makes sense? Or no?

It does. What doesn't is your unsupported claim of his non-existence.

And that's because you can't measure faith. That's the difference.

Look, what's important is that we have to coexist. But religion has not been very forgiving to different ideas in the past.

I also tell this to the Mormoms who knock at my door and try to convert me into their faith and try to make physics and science a mystery.

For that matter the catholics have their own country. Why don't you all go there and live and spare us.

Truly a great idea.

Hopefully not the same bigots paradise you inhabit.

ROFL....over 25% of Americans are Catholic, larger than any other denomination in this country!

how many are Mexican nationals?

Angel..so? You do know this is a democracy not a theocracy right? Your numbers don't mean you get to roll over anyone else. go 'spread your word' in your own home.

Pointing out the obvious here, but it's freedom 'of' religion, not freedom 'from' religion. If you don't want to see any religious icon anywhere, you're going be be spending a lot of time in your house. While I don't agree with many points in some religions, I'm not going to demand others change their choice and stop their celebrations just to fit my needs. Live and let live, you don't like it....suck it up or move yourself.

Why just pick on Catholics? All religons should and the people who practice them should keep their feeligns to themselves and not tell the rest of us U.S. citizens or the world for that matter how to live.

Shouldn't that be the same for Atheists then? Keep your feelings to yourselves and not foam at the mouth whenever someone prays for another who is in pain? I can't tell you how many times a person comes on and sends thoughts and well wishes to families or persons going through hard times (not to force their religion but to comfort as they know how), and someone who doesn't believe in God comes on and blasts the religious person without even acknowledging the pain of the other. How is that keeping their own feelings to themselves?

Better re-read that, it's freedom FROM an established religion.

If Atheism is a religion, where's my tax exempt status?

So you think Catholics have only one country where that religion predominates? (Spain)

My you do not even know modern geographic cultures do you. There are over 40 countries in the world where Catholicism predominates significantly.

So therefore, I suggest that you Google your research where they don't predominate, and move there yourselves. I think you might look into North Africa where Islam is the state religion of most countries there. :) I think you'd love it. I actually am very impressed by the Muslims I have met. Good people. Perhaps a tad strict, but their ideas should suit you.

You obviously do not subscribe to America's constitutional Bill of Rights where we have freedom of religion.

You are ill-educated. Denigrating any other faith is not freedom of speech, btw. Your ravings are 180-degrees opposite that First Amendment, as shown by Jefferson's and Madison's intent and related papers.

O, perhaps you do not know their credentials? Thomas Jefferson and James Madison had the major input (with Madison the final writer), with the other great leaders of the time. Check it out. You will find YOU are the ones violating others' freedom of speech and religion.

As far as I am concerned, your foolish comments illustrate your bigotry, spelled and defined as the Arrogance of Ignorance.

AP... you are unreal. Angel and others have just as much right to speak their piece as you do.

And they sure make more sense.

ronald, aren't you aware that you and your like started it? Angel is responding not initiating.. and that goes for others as well, with whom you do not agree.

Silence others but not yourselves? Wow. You guys introduced the topic here with, I might add, brain-dead attacks on "religion" per se... insulting any who had beliefs...

You are the ones violating the American Bill of Rights... not the people you attack. You haven't even noticed that those responding in defense are upbeat! Non-insulting. whew.

Wake up ... be any non-religion you want to be. But knock off berating folks who, frankly, have a lot more class and good manners than you.

AngelP

It's late --- Go to bed so you can make the 6 AM Mass.

are u the mediator secondsight1 ?

angel you and people like you are all walking dead people, you all just dont know it yet.

if i put scriptures on this thing for all to compare the word of God and this catholic religion, we will all see the hypocrisy that resides within this religion.the way you guys live, praise and worship goes contrary to the teachings of the bible and the direct way God says he wants to be worshipped

Open your EYES for once! if it is Gods will...

You guys should be comedians or something. Quit making assumptions. Sure, I personally believe in a God, yet I disagree and think throughly about some points in many religions, but science can't prove God to be wrong or right, so who are you to say what is right and what is wrong?

Just learn to suck it up. Millions of Americans won't change their minds or lifesytles to accomadate your wants. If you don't want to see any mentioning of religion, then kindly please move to North Korea, or lock yourself in your room.

Not taking any sides, but if you atheists think that being intolerant towards the intolerant religious people, sorry to burst your bubble or sink your ship, but intolerance won't cancel out intolerance. Simple math reference. Adding a negative with a negative won't turn it into a positive.

You read my mind. And God sent lightning bolts to tell the Pope to STFU.

post of the year! I'm still laughing 10 minutes later...

These guys are some of the biggest hypocrites out there. Some say it's only a small percentage of Priests doing this but it is the Hypocrite leaders in the Church protecting them that makes the Catholic Church an abomination.....

Lynseypug

The true mark of a moron: only able to express yourself through obscenity.

No, the church has been the obscenity.

imho... do you think you know what the word "obscenity" means? Since you are a (presumably) living and breathing person, not a programmed drone, I should like to point out something to you.

You, yourself, are not the only mental obscenity here in this thread. But you are one of the outstanding examples. Do you know what you illustrate? Schadenfreude.

You and others here who try, and try hard, and think you succeed in harming others with your inept words, are the embodiment of Schadenfreude.

You foolish people. You succeed in only harming yourselves. I pity you.

Well, IMHO, you have Two-Face's pity.

Isn't that special!!

:D

I see secondsight is back with his bigot stick to show everyone what a well educated and mature individual he is.

And look, he brought his favorite word along: schadenfreude! LOL

I went on Wikipedia and learned all about "schadenfreude" now I am cool too! Look at me mom! im sooooo smrt!

But what makes your bigotry and insults any better/justified than secondsights? Don't worry, hypocrisy is usually hard to find in yourself.

Socialist, stop trying to defend your 'alter-ego'.

Your not fooling anyone (except maybe yourself).

LOL...for real? Why am i not surprised. I've had the socialist-thing on ignore for a while. My guess is, that username is on ignore by so many people, he has to invent a new name to get attention. Like a little three-year-old tugging on you "oh please, look down at me! i need attention!! waa waa waa!!"

You mean you have such a sad life that the highlight of your day is a virtual verbal fight with your hated enemy: the Catholic Church.

bigpants, the Catholic Church is the enemy of humanity, at least until they stop raping children.

oh yeah, bigpants, a simple 2 second comment on MSNBC.com is totally his highlight of the day. Someone is a sensitive sally! lol way to be a B.

Yes...they keep saying 'keep an open mind', when what they really mean is 'keep an open a$$hole'.

Where is your evidence Mike? and I don't mean a Dan Brown book.

Okay bigpants here are a number of links to follow;

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/10/world/europe/10pope.html

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9EVMF301

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/04/in-1985-letter-pope-rejected-call-to-defrock-abusive-calif-priest/1

http://foxsprint-news.mobile.msn.com/en-us/article_us.aspx?aid=36325154&afid=1

This pope facilitated child abuse within the church by stopping the Bishop of Oakland CA from defrocking a pedophile priest

Isn't "defrocking" what got the priest into trouble in the first place?

Pushy proselytizing Christians is what is killing it Christianity.

"Is uniformity attainable? Millions of innocent men, women and children since the introduction of Christianity have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned, yet we have not advanced one inch toward uniformity." --Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Virginia Q.XVII, 1782.

bigpants...

I read this in about a dozen articles and I'm amazed you missed it!! After reading your other comments I think it's more of a too blind to see kind of thing.

Hey bigpants...please keep it in your pants.

Get real or get lost.

lol bigpants u fail

hey bigpants. you laugh at a dan brown book because it is fiction?

newsflash: the BuyBull is fiction.

Cheers!

Not the same Catholic Church as it was 500 years ago.

Yeah, sure, 500 years ago, the Catholic Church was a model of tolerance and all-around good behavior. (Where is that "rolleyes" smiley when I need it?)

Educate yourself - the Catholic Church has been a malign force throughout its entire history.

We're not haters. We're rational human beings. We don't believe in Santa Claus, we don't believe in leprechauns, we don't believe in Zeus, Thor, or any of the other thousands of gods that mankind has dreamed up to deal with things they don't understand, can't explain, or fear. Your god is just as imaginary.

Think about it rationally and logically. There is no other conclusion to which a sane person can come... all gods are equally imaginary. Your Jesus was either a myth altogether or he was just a regular man, same as any other. He offered absolutely no lasting empirical evidence of his supposed divinity. He didn't rise from the dead, and he doesn't answer your prayers. If any human being approached you today and told you he was GOD INCARNATE, you, as a rational human being, would demand proof. And I mean incontrovertible proof, not sideshow "faith healings" or the like. Something that would indisputably prove that he was the one true all-powerful god of the universe. Right? You would demand that, and rightly so.

So why do you give Jesus a free pass? Why do you make so many rationalizations for a religion that breaks down completely in the face of logic and reason?

Most people are terrified of death and have thus invented gods and religion and the promise of living forever as a mechanism for dealing with that fear. However, it simply isn't true. When you die, you simply die. Nobody gets "eternal (disembodied) life." You didn't exist before you were born, you will cease to exist when you die. It's uncomfortable, but that's reality.

The thing is, such thinking doesn't make us "haters." It's actually quite liberating. It helps you to cherish and savor this life because you know it's the only one you get. If you're just biding your time (or engaging in suicide bombing) because you're convinced that you get to live forever after your short time on this planet, then your delusion is costing you dearly.

Yeah, unbelievable, it's amazing how bigoted we are. How intolerant we are of a Pedophile Cult that has abused, molested and butt-raped tens of thousands of children and refuse to own responsibility for any of it, unless they are forced to be accountable by a court.

You have empty, hollow values. And yo Puredophile Cult is filthy, foul and evil.

very well stated, thinkforyourself !

You say we are haters but it is you, or I should say, the church that is promoting hate. What gives the church, and I should also add in all the churches, the right to tell someone how to live their life. I believe the message that was trying to be sent 2000 years ago was to give people the information to make a decision, not force them to be a part of a religion or church.

Doesn't this all sound familiar? Remember why the puritans left England? Because they were being forced to follow the Church of England's doctrine. Funny how history is repeating itself every few hundred years.

Atheists are haters? That's a laugh...we're probably some of the most logical and rational thinkers on the planet.

The Catholics are the TRUE haters....need I remind you:

Hitler was a Catholic.

The Catholic church killed Jews and anyone who dared to worship differently then their "god" during the Spanish Inquisition.

There is NO god, people. There is NO afterlife. Your "soul" is just a compilation of life experiences, emotions, and your likes and interests, and all of this is EMOTION. Emotion is purely PHYSICAL when you think of it, just like the rest of the body, and when you die, it shuts off like a light switch. You don't go anywhere, and it's nothing to fear. The sooner people start realizing this the better.

great post, isis!

god'll getcha for that, isis... (Of course, I keep daring the mythical sky daddy to send down a few lightnin' bolts and prove to me that the MYTH is "real" but for some reason, the challenge hasn't been answered...)

Unbelievable don't forget the "Realists"

I'm a former catholic who became disenchanted when the Bishops and Cardinals decided it was more important to keep criminal pedophile priests than to protect the children of their parishes....

It's happened world wide... USA (here alone the costs now total over 1 billion... ya that's a B as in Billion), So America, Ireland, Africa, Belgium so perhaps if you just opened your eyes you'd see that spreading the word of God isn't as important to the catholic church as dealing with the shortage of priests.

Everything including God's word is secondary to the Catholic Church's survival. Sadly the church has sacrificed many of our children on their alter of negligent behavior.

When the catholics in North Africa were just getting started, their priests turned in their flock to the Romans for prosecution, gathered bibles to be burned and then expected to keep their positions in the church. A little known sect in North Africa were all for kicking these traitorous bastards out of the church but instead, the Pope excommunicated the North African sect and reinstalled the pagan sympathizers into bishopric seats and priesthoods. The popes logic is that we must respect the position, not the person.

No. Hitler was a Catholic.

The gates of hell will never prevail! I hope you are led back to the Truth!

truth is that there is no mythical sky daddy and it's ALL just a means to separate you from your money. Always WAS, always WILL BE

Angel: please keep your nonsense in check. "the gates of hell" simply because someone rejects your church and finds his own way?

AP, I am quoting Scripture. The gates of hell will never prevail. However, unlike many Protestnat faiths, the Catholic Church does NOT teach that non-Catholics will go to hell. Jesus said that He will be with His Church until the end of time!

AP, I am quoting Scripture

Oh good, like there isn't enough of THAT going on already...

Is this the same book that the priests burned in North Africa? The same book that the pagan Constantine had compiled? Good source. lol

you can quote from your majikal dogmatic assertions, but you will still need $4 to get a latte from Starbucks. Belief is accepting the impossible without a shred of substantiation and saying "Well, that was nice."

Thank you sir, may I have another? Believers will go to their graves "believing" that this life was all a "dress rehearsal". Too bad there isn't ANYTHING coming along later.

It's simple, and it's in two parts.

First, they were, as were most of us, indoctrinated as children. These beliefs were set and crystallized long before we had had the cognitive ability to reason and rationalize fully. The delusion became ingrained. As a rebuttal of your idea that because doctors believe in a god, it lends validity to this belief, I would offer this up: Doctors smoke. Many of them. Forty years ago, doctors were even quoted in cigarette ads recommending smoking! But even today, with mountains of hard evidence chronicling the myriad dangers of nicotine and cigarette smoke, there are doctors who smoke. They started as kids, just like with religion, and cannot shake it... just like with religion.

Second, even learned, educated men and women fear death. The notion that when a human being dies, all those memories and experiences -- a whole lifetime of relationships and emotions -- simply blinks out of existence... well, it's very uncomfortable. Religion, specifically those that offer eternal life, or reincarnation (and that's almost all religions), offers a way to bypass that discomfort.

Doctors, even today, are wrong on a very regular basis (the smoking example being a glaring one). Most practicing doctors are not researchers or pure scientists. They're more along the lines of mechanics for the human body. And I don't say that to impugn their work. But a doctor is not supernatural, nor are they scientists in the strictest sense of the word. A pharmacist is not a molecular biologist or a bacteriologist. And a doctor is not a medical researcher. Doctors can only make do with the technology and the research results of their era.

And yes, there are some scientists who believe in a god, but they're in the extreme minority because the very application of the scientific method precludes the notion of a god. My point is, don't hitch your wagon to a delusional star because someone else does. Look at the evidence rationally and dispassionately. The evidence against a god existing is fairly overwhelming. The evidence of a god existing is nonexistent. The logical conclusion is that the greatest likelihood is indeed that there is no god.

Wow, Mark, you need to study your history. First of all, most Inquisitions were political in nature. The Vatican moved in to STOP them and developed Papal Courts in which VERY few people lost their lives. BTW, the Protestant Inquisitions killed many more than the Papal Inquisition. Did you know that Calvin ordered the burning of a 9 year old boy for disobeying his parents??? As far as Pope Pius XII not helping the Jews, of course he did. Read the JEWISH accounts of Pope Pius and not the ONE Catholic hater that spread those lies in the 1950's.

the way you protect the church angel. any particular reason?

"Inquisitions" were always based on interpretation of religious DOGMA (and aimed at those who failed to conform to some expectations in supplication to that dogma. The main targets of the Spanish Inquisition were muslims and jews. CONVERT, LEAVE or DIE. Great OPTIONS, eh?

I guess you didn't read where the Popes ordered the closing of political Inquisitions and established Papal Inquisitions? Yes, I will always defend the Church against lies. I am NOT saying that the Church is completely innocent of wrongdoing. I am saying that we need to have a clearer view of history, not one written with any bias. No response to my accusation of Protestant Inquisitions?? Unfortunately, that was how those times handled differences in faith and culture.

Wow, hon, you need to go back and get your GED, and in the process, take some history courses... yikes!

That'd be a heck of a switch - the POPE getting on his knees ...

I don't think Angel read where the Pope/church benefitted from the confiscation of the jews' property during the inquisitions and that Papal approval was given to the inquisitors. Nice spin Angel but it won't wash.

no response to protestant inquisitions? Oh, like the one where Germans eradicated 8 million people or so a mere 66 to 70 years ago?

SEE, MOMMY - THEY WERE BAD, TOO, SO IT'S OK FOR ME TO BE BAD...

Oh, and the predominant religion in Bavaria was (still is I think) catholicism. How many "good catholic Germans" participated in the "final solution" exercise in the koncentrations Lagern in Dachau? As much as we blame der Fuehrer for starting this whole thing, it took "good upstanding people" to carry out the orders ("And I vas chust followink ORDERZ!". Of course, in the Germans' defense, they are highly regimented - IF one is in charge, tell them to do something and it gets DONE. kind of like a guard dog - SIC 'EM FANG!!)

"Personally I really dislike the practises of Christianity"

What is wrong with the Ten Commandments, and the Sermon On the Mount? They are the tenets of Christianity. If most folks would just try to practice them, what a better world it would be.

You can pull a silver lining out of any cloud. Of all the filth in that goddam BuyBull, surely you can pull a few gems out of it. No news there.

Doesn't mean, however, the you need to worship that mythical, evil horse-crap.

The Golden Rule teachings of the jesus-myth are wonderful. It's the superstitious and mythology/divine garbage that always gets us into trouble.

Why don't you get a life? If this "stuff" is as irrelevant as you say why are you wasting time posting your nonsensical views about it?

because brainwashed "believers" like you seem intent on increasing the herd.

LOL, brainwashed, huh? I have studied Church history in classes and have made it a point to learn the truth. Those classes did NOT whitewash the truth and I did cringe at times when I learned of some of the abuses that took place. However, I also know that the Protestant view of our history is distorted by hatred for the Truth. BTW, How many theology classes have you taken?

bigpants. Why don't you put on your Big Girl Pants and realize this forum is for people who choose to discuss any article on the Newsvine! I'm sittin in the living room, having my morning coffee, two of my kids are here, we're all messin around on the Net, we're laughing and having a nice, relaxed morning together. none are anywhere near a goddam church on sunday, where time gets TRULY wasted! and this --- this is how i spend some of my free time. i do have a life, little poopy-pants, and it's really quite wonderful!

too bad for you!

Most religious zealots don't know their own dogma, history of their own church or even when the bible was put together. Take a guess when the bible was finally finished. The truth will amaze you.

The Catholic Church made the Bible Canon around 400 AD, after St. Jerome finished translating it. With that said, all the books were read at Masses from the very beginning.

well, angel - it's like this... I'm an applied scientist and "theology" is a profound waste of time (since I don't accept ANY of the principles of MYTH or SUPERSTITION), so I can quite honestly say "none" - they don't interest me IN THE LEAST. Of course, there were the "humanistic social studies" classes in undergrad work, but they just skimmed over the history of religion in general. I do understand the "history" involved (how and why certain religions "exist") but that's only because I like to understand the opponents.

amazing how some institutions will actually grant advanced degrees -- on one book.

amazing how some institutions will actually grant advanced degrees -- on one book.

The most important book ever written for understanding the course of history.

CC: The BuyBull is a playbook for terrorism.

This "holy" book declares that it is both permissible and righteous for parents to brutally murder their own children for petty offenses. It grants permission for parents to sell their children into slavery. It grants believers permission to murder people who own idols (what, physical reminders of one's god is evil?). It commands a rape victim to marry the man who raped her. I could go on. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the moral depravity of the BuyBull.

It is, in fact, *impossible* to be a fully-observant Christian and a law-abiding citizen at the same time.

This "holy" book declares that it is both permissible and righteous for parents to brutally murder their own children for petty offenses.

You should read the Code of Hammurabi. You could get brutally murdered for something you didn't do under that!

It is, in fact, *impossible* to be a fully-observant Christian and a law-abiding citizen at the same time.

There's a few hundred million people who would laugh at you for saying that.

LOL, Leroy. What if you are wrong and spouting this nonsense?

AngelP:

Ooooh, Pascal's Wager. What a surprise!

Wow. Only a mindless cultist could find humor in the butt-rape of tens of thousands of children, done at the hands of his cult and its leadership. You must be proud!

How is not believing in the existence of something, HATING that thing? Do you HATE the easter bunny Paul? Surely you don't believe in Santat any more Paul. Why do you HATE Santa? And why do you christians always resort to these ridiculous arguments that make no sense? Oh yeah, you haven't got a leg to stand on in the claims that you make...

Get a brain or get lost Paul.

Jesus said......

Actually, an old, mythical cult book claims that a cult-creature named jesus said some things. Chill out, punkin! You do not have One Shred of evidence to prove your god or your mythical man-god actually exist.

Jesus was just a regular (non-white) guy, if he existed at all. And just as all religions rise, flourish, and fall, so too will Christianity. Has it lasted a long time so far? Sure. So did the Egyptians' beliefs in their particular gods. So people outside the bubble of the Christian myth, which is most of the humans on the planet, don't really put much stock into what someone says that someone else says that Jesus said 2,000 years and 15 translations ago. It's spectacularly irrelevant.

.

I'm pretty sure Jesus would take one look at the RCC and say "I told you guys I didn't like the Pharisees. What gives?"

Jesus said......

Actually, an old, mythical cult book claims that a cult-creature named jesus said some things. Chill out. You do not have One Shred of evidence to prove your god or your mythical man-god actually exist.

>> Don't like it.........Tough.

Yes that's exactly the "christian ethic" that we've come to expect from the Vatican.

And yes it can go away when people see the light, stop attending church, and stop tithing. The "church" will simply dry up and blow away.

Way to show us all how smart christians are by posting the same baseless pile of doggie poo twice.

he just stt-ttu-tt-tt-ered. that's all

Kinda makes you NOT want to go to heaven, doesn't it?

What with the high percentage of sex offenders and all.

Of course, god apparently raped a woman, too, and roofied her so she wouldn't remember, so I guess he'll have good company.

After reading some of these comments, how can atheists say they are NOT haters????

Who says their atheists? they just keep telling you facts about the flesh and blood men who run the catholic church.

Angel. Here's some info for you, to help you out.

1. Just because I express my views on your foul cult, doesn't mean I'm an atheist, but thanks for the compliment.

2. I have no problem at all admitting my hatred for the Foul Pedophile Catholic Cult, given the number of childrens lives they're ruined, and with many of them, their families lives have been ruined, in part or in whole. Call it whatever you like, but I will stand on any street corner and say how much I ahte that vile goddam cult for all the evil it conpires to do, for all the hurt it has doen to so many people. And I have NO PROBLEM with that.

I think that people like you who support it, defend it, and send it money to feed the machine are just as complicit in the crimes as the doers are. You and your cult are truly vile. And rearrange the letters in vile -- you get evil. You're all THAT, too.

Bernwich, if you are a Christian, shame on you. If not, my statement stands. Your profanity may damn you if you don't repent!

Evil, hardly. There is evil in ALL institutions but the Catholic Church has taught the truth for almost 2,000 years. Yes, some evil men have been in positions of leadership but not one of them changed the Truth taught by the Church. I do support my parish and always will. I am truly blessed to be a Catholic!

BOHICA!

oh, angel - I profess to being "devoutly"" atheist. I don't buy into the concept of a supreme MYTH or any of the lesser MYTHS either (nice stories, but unfounded and without substantiation)

I particularly rail at the concept of "inerrant truth as stated in the "book" when that book has numerous statements which are unfounded and unsubstantiated (except in the deranged minds of the writers and editors) - and before you ask, the easiest "mistake" to discuss is the "world-wide flood" which covered all of the mountains. Now, I'm not going to go on about the 2 of every animal except for 7 of clean ones so the people could EAT - just the part about 3 things REQUIRED to produce a "true" story (remember the inerrant" part attributed to the book?) First where did all that water originate? Second, if that much water fell (enough to flood the surface of the earth to a depth of over 5 MILES because of the height of Everest) WHERE DID IT GO? Megamaid vacuumed it up with her vacuum cleaner? (reference to the Mel Brooks "Spaceballs" movie) THIRD (and most important) there is NO (categorically NONE, ZERO) evidence of such an event in the geological record. There are "local events" (draining of Lake Bonneville to form the Columbia Gorge, formation of the Dardanelles and the subsequent flooding of the Black sea FROM the Mediterranean, even the formation of the Salton Sea because of a failed dam in the Colorado irrigation system and a flow for 4 years IIRC) but NO GLOBAL EVENT. Ergo, the BOOK is INACCURATE (not a "lie", just that it managed to put global legs on local events) With ONE inaccuracy, that brings the content of the REST of the book of fables and pseudo-history into question (and the "believers" say "all or nothing", so it's "nothing" - not worth the paper upon which it is PRINTED - a fictional telling of some deluded people's ideas of WHY man "exists")

Yeah, thousands of people in a similar fervor attend Justin Bieber concerts, too. Just because it's well-attended doesn't make it right or good. :)

How sad for them. Just tells me that ignorance is more abundant than we thought.

Sorry Thinkforyourself, it's more than 'well-attended'. (Empirically I think 1.5 million is vastly superior to a 30,000 max concert.) It is thousands, and thousands, of peoples from all corners of the globe (the Spanish government, at the last minute, had to lift visa restrictions) - Cambodia, Jordan, Tanzania, China, Brazil, U.S., Palestine, and on, and on, and on. People from the most diverse cultures imaginable, and it is pathetic that bitter, self-loathing narrow minded people like you have to be reminded that the simple yet powerfull motivation that drives them together is embracing good will onto others.

I am neither bitter nor self-loathing. I'm just not delusional. If you believe in an invisible sky fairy despite absolutely no evidence to support that belief, yet plenty of evidence to invalidate it, you are, by definition, delusional. I would love to live in a world where rational people dominate. One day, that will happen, but I'll be long gone by then. No matter. Religion is losing its grip at a rapid pace, which is why the Pope is out there in his bulletproof popemobile trying to drum up a new generation of people to shovel money into the Vatican's coffers.

Contrary to your accusations of bitterness and self-loathing, I actually think community churches can be a wonderful thing (though not really the whole giant Catholic church corporation). A community of people, working together towards goodness and charity. Extolling the virtues of caring for others and helping those in need. It's a great, powerful thing, and something from which humans are always going to draw benefit and comfort. Just remove the superfluous imaginary god. We don't need that component. All gods are fictional and humans are capable of goodness without believing in invisible, nonexistent deities.

And to directly address your point, I'd say that you missed mine. It doesn't matter if 30,000 or 3,000,000 buy into it; that alone doesn't make it factual. Once upon a time, almost every human being on Earth thought their home planet was flat and was the center of the universe. That's way more than those who traveled to see this silly old man (who gets chauffeured around in a bulletproof glass box because as the posters say, "The bullets are real. Your god isn't"), but they were all still dead wrong.

Thinkforyourself. I have no problems whatsoever in agreeing with your argument that sans faith, empirically, it is delusional to believe in a higher being. And perhaps you will be surprised to know that there is sizeable number of Catholics like me, and other Christians and people of other faiths, who feel the same way - rationally. But that is what faith is all about. Some of us have it. Some don't. (And certainly this is no criticism on those who don't.) However, when you, and others, spew their zonked-out anti-Catholic diatribe there is no more room for dialogue. I can simply just remind the likes of you that we Catholics represent a sizeable chunk of humanity and to us, anti-Catholic ranters as yourselves are ... well ... gnats.

zonked-out-anti-catholic-diatribe. LOL!!

Call it what you will. The Catholic Cult and its followers are cowards. They refuse to own the crap they've done to children for centuries. And because of that, the abuse and rape is still happening. It's amazing that you have to wonder why people are so VOCAL about it. It's lowlifes, who act like you, that want the world to just shut-up about the foul Pedophile Catholic Cult, so they can get back to the business of diddling kids, getting away with it, and avoiding court. It's amazing they have to go to court at all -- given how much the Cult screeches about its values and how charitible it is....instead, they run these victims through the ringer and further vicitmize them even more, for simply having the courage to come forward. That foul, loathsome Pedophile Cult of yours should have been disbanded, and its property auctioned off YEARS AGO.

gnat ... gnat ... gnat!

Actually, Catholics are not cowards! Seeing all this anti-Catholic sentiment here, some are still defending the Truth. I would defend it to your face!

what you defend is a vulgar, evil Pedophile Cult. Nothing more.

And -- there is no truth in cult belief, only belief. You have no proof or evidence at all -- not one shred -- to support your cult's claims of superstition or divinity.

Cheers!

LOL, Bernitch. I KNOW how my life has been transformed since I came back to the faith. I am sorry that you have so much hatred in your heart.

Actually, Catholics are not cowards! Seeing all this anti-Catholic sentiment here, some are still defending the Truth. I would defend it to your face!

Angel, regrettably, the way you would ultimately defend your "Truth" (and yes, capitalizing the "t" made it so much more impressive and god-like) would be the equivalent of you sticking your fingers in your ears and saying "la la la la la la I'm not listening to you it doesn't matter what you say I know I'm right la la la la." It's not much of a debate strategy, but these are the sort of people who proudly display bumper stickers that proclaim, "God said it, I believe it, that settles it," so you can't really expect to engage in rational discourse with them.

That sort of bumper-sticker mentality is the only defense religious people can ultimately have, which puts Christians in a very sad place indeed. There is, quite simply, not one scrap of empirical evidence to suggest that your god is genuine and real. There is a LOT of evidence to invalidate it though, using the very bible you cling to as the test. Continuing to stubbornly believe something that is provably false and for which there is a mountain of invalidating evidence is the dictionary definition of "delusional."

God is imaginary. He doesn't answer prayers, he doesn't send angels, he doesn't micromanage the human race. He's fictional. And you are delusional for believing in this or any other god. It doesn't make you superior. It's not a badge of goodness or honor to have "faith" in an invisible, imaginary deity, and I marvel that it's still propped up as such in this country (by some). It just means you were indoctrinated, probably as a youngster, and absorbed the dominant faith of your culture. You cling to it and invent rationalizations for all its myriad contradictions, impossibilities, and inconsistencies because you fear death and lack the courage to accept the inevitability of your own mortality, which actually is the definition of "cowardly" -- something you claim Catholics are not.

Ah yes, the old "you can't prove there's not a god" argument.

Here in the real world, that's not how things work. We believe in what is provable, not in what's merely not unprovable. I can't conclusively prove that there aren't fifteen invisible, undetectable aliens floating near the ceiling in my kitchen. But I can't see, hear, or smell them. There's no evidence whatsoever of their existence. Therefore, I conclude there are no such aliens in my kitchen.

What if I told you there were little sparkly pink leprechauns living in rainforests here and there? And what if I based my whole life on that belief? You'd say, "Hmm, okay, have you ever seen one?" I'd answer, no, of course not, but would insist that I know they exist! "Can you prove it?" you would continue. "Is there any evidence?" And I'd say, "No, but you can't prove they DON'T exist, therefore they surely must!"

Do you see how ridiculous I would sound in that scenario?

Congratulations -- that's exactly how you sound when you use that sad, sad argument.

P.S. You sound really angry, Gloria. I'm not sure what you've gotten out of your religion, though you claimed to have gotten a lot, but it doesn't seem to be a sense of peace, serenity, or kindness.

Yes, let's support a pedophile organization that wants multitudes of potential victims to go and spread the word to join this pedophile organization.

Get a brain or get lost.

As ridiculous as it may sound to me, you have every right to believe in your sparkly pink leprechauns living in the rainforest or 15 invisible aliens floating near the ceiling in your kitchen. If you honestly believe in them, who are any of us to tell you that you can't?

The "old, you can't prove there is no God" argument is only as old as the "you can't prove there is a God" argument. Spirituality is deeply personal, and for anyone to make blanket statements that what people believe in is wrong requires the proof you need to provide to show them they are wrong.

To me, God exists, to you he may or may not, that's your right to have and I respect that, so do not think to deny me my right to believe and celebrate how I see fit. It doesn't harm you or anyone else so if you don't want to be viewed as a hypocrite, you shouldn't demand others believe in what you do, while you act exactly like those you claim to be better then.

And YOU who can't Think for himself.PROVE THERE IS NO GOD.

Can't prove a negative.

Other wise Shut the Hell Up.

You first.

gloria says above:

everybody should keep their opinions to themselves, with out being a Know it All, Who Really Knows Nothing.

But, she never takes her own advice. And that is why she is here - to offer up her highly venerated and sacrosanct opinions.

IHMO you get a brain or get lost.

I have one. And I'm not going anywhere.

You said it's the old argument prove there is no God.

Actually, YOU said that. Can you not remember from minute to minute what you yourself posted?

@gloria fabiaschi - illiterate troll is illiterate.

Aw so now Stop the Hypocrit has got to resort to the old she's a Troll routine!That ones getting old.What's the matter are you running out of hot air and ammunition?

If I'm illiterate then you can't read straight.Maybe you can't read at all.

Poor gloria, still can't take her own advice. To understand gloria, one must interpret her words as comedy. She is, after all, an enlightened being.

No Grumpy you're a comedy, and I'm more enlightened than you'll ever be.At least I don't live in hole like you do.

gloria, can't you be more creative than that? You are just playing a child's game: you're stupid, no, you're stupid.

and dogmatic, too eh? intensely dogmatic. usually somebody doesn't get quite that upset unless they KNOW that the allegations are "true" and are DENYING that "truth"

eh, gloria?

canary, take a look at gloria's comments all over the web. Dogmatic isn't the word, I think. Mostly just simple hatefulness directed at anybody and everybody. Probably some desperate attempt to make herself feel a little better about herself. It won't work, of course.

Grumpy you're full of Crap!Let them take a look some your dumb ass posts!Talk about hate, you win the grand prize.Why you can never be wrong!If you are wrong good bad or indifferent, you have to have your way, jumping up and down like a Chimpanzee!

Oh and my apologies to the Chimps, didn't mean to insult primates.Grumps is a step below!

Canary in the coal mind you wouldn't know the truth even if it smacked you in the face.Gee you even get to use big words like dogmatic!

I'm convinced that "gloria" is either male or male wannabee. The responses fit male patterns

I'll tell you this (even if I can't tell you much) "truth" is relative. I'm sorry if you are relatively uneducated and can only comprehend what has been presented to you as having religious implications (or not, as the case may be). "Truth" is an analysis of facts and a resultant value determination. Sometimes, the analysis is flawed and what is accepted by the person as "truth" is a misinterpretation and is even sometimes utterly opposite to the what a different analysis of the same "facts" by someone else would find. Such is what happens when there are no hard and fast rules about what is and what isn't open for interpretation.

I'm not sorry that my vocabulary exceeds yours - it's the nature of what I do and I couldn't work with a limited vocabulary...

The widely circulated “Greater Internet Dickwad Theory” cartoon by Mike Krahulik puts it this way: Normal person plus anonymity plus audience equals total dickwad.

To me, God exists, to you he may or may not, that's your right to have and I respect that, so do not think to deny me my right to believe and celebrate how I see fit. It doesn't harm you or anyone else so if you don't want to be viewed as a hypocrite, you shouldn't demand others believe in what you do, while you act exactly like those you claim to be better then.

You are entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts. God can't exist for one person, but not for another. Either there is a god, or there is not. Now I don't claim to know 100% whether there is or not -- I'm not an atheist. But I am a realist and an agnostic, and all the evidence strongly suggests that there is no god, certainly not the god of the bible. On the other side of the equation, there is literally not one bit of actual, empirical evidence of the existence of a god. "The wonder of nature and creation" is not evidence. "The miracle of birth" is not evidence. These are just inferences and observations. There is no causality. Logical people require actual evidence. Delusional people continue to believe strongly in fairy tales despite voluminous invalidating evidence.

The fact that you choose to believe it doesn't directly harm me, no. But the shared delusion of millions? The fact that people running for office in this country have to pander to "believers"? You bet it does. It inhibits progress, it clouds (or completely precludes) rational thinking, it inspires grown men to hijack aircraft and fly them into buildings... so yes, whatever comfort or personal enjoyment you get from religion DOES ultimately come at a cost to humanity.

I'm certainly not insisting or demanding that other believe as I believe. But I would ask that they look at things rationally. It's hard to disengage one's "religious mind," since most of us have been indoctrinated with this nonsense since we were children. But it is possible. I was once a devout Christian, but over the course of time, I have come to my senses and left all that make-believe nonsense behind me, much like I did with Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.

I invite you (or anyone) to go to godisimaginary-dot-com and read. It's a very well-presented, logical approach to things. It doesn't ATTACK religious people, it simply presents things rationally and factually. See what you think.

Cheers. :)

canary in the hole,Uneducated? Bwaahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Now that's hysterical!Any Jackass, who bashes people because they believe in a God is Stupid and Closed Minded, very Stupid and very Close minded !You have no thought process.You're like a recording, repeating the same Bull Sh it over and over and over again.You have no intellect to really handle this subject and be objective towards ones beliefs.You have one track mind that can barely function.

In other words LOUD MOUTH, you're not able to carry on a conversation without seeing both sides of the Coin,or it's subject.I brand that sir as acting ignorant, in the disguise of being a know it all who exactly knows NOTHING.Again HOT AIR AND BULL CRAP!

You Grumpy mentioning a Dickwad?Look in the Mirror and see who reflects back!

Mirror+Grumpy= use your imagination

Sally is a wise, magnificent and glorious goddess, full of love and compassion.

Flying Spaghetti Monster doesn't CARE about money or crime or taxes....

Actually, look at the statistics. Kids are not walking away in record numbers. The largest percentage of kids today are NOT anti-religion and many follow the tradition of their parents.

Actually, younger people are twice as likely to be non-religious than older people.

http://oregonfaithreport.com/2010/02/younger-generations-trending-less-religious/

That's true. The flying spaghetti monster isn't a pedophile and spreads the message of hope and change.

just curious -- which of the cult gods do you think exists, and you believe is taking notes every time you talk to him....

Amen, Debbie.

Bernitch, I have seen many, many answered prayers and even a few miracles. God hears our prayers and I am sooo grateful to Him for His goodness!

No, you haven't. You've seen coincidences. No unambiguous prayer ever gets answered. Read that sentence carefully. It's provable, demonstrable, and factual. Period, end of conversation.

Whatever illusions you wish to believe are fine Angel. just keep the kids away from your pedophiles and organized crime rackets.

"God answers prayers"

And conversely, when He doesn't (murders, fatal car wrecks, cancer, the 2,977 innocents killed in the September 11 attacks, etc.), then it becomes "God's will" and "they must have fallen short in His eyes".

Facile, thy name is organized religion.

gloria - we'll grant you the hot air concession. As to "blow it out", though, flatulence is rarely exhibited in print. Some seem to TRY to become one of the exceptions, eh? ...

canary in the coal hole,Shut Up eh?If there's any flatulence floating around it's yours!

your attempts at retorts are stunningly inadequate, in general, gloria.

You might try confessing your inadequacies to your priest next time you are in the box and see if a few supplications might be of some assistance...

Hey canary in a hole,I guess islander59 told you!Where to go that is!

Bravo islander59!

Lawl, that's why islander is deleted and you're banned, right?

Wrong!

Personally, I think Child Protective Services should get involved when parents take small children into a Catholic church.

Personally, I think Child Protective Services should get involved when parents take small children into a Catholic church.

On that day, the US will become a fascist country worth no more than the Khmer Rouge.

right, CC... LOL! hittin the brown water again?

If we lose the first amendment like BM is proposing, our country will be worthless.

CC: So the first amendment says it's okay for Catholic priests to rape little boys?

No, it says I have the right to my religious practices. You and your totalitarian comrades do not have a right to dictate them to me. If you wish to arrest pedophiles, I'll gladly support you, but I will not support a war on religious freedom.

I won't support religious freedom of gathering victims for pedophiles.

IMHO: Agreed! The RCC should be treated as an organized crime syndicate, not as a 501(c) tax-exempt religious charity.

And all of you belong in a Whack Farm.Better still why don't the bunch of BLOW HOLES drag your asses out of this country to North Korea, or maybe China they're just waiting for a bunch Whack Jobs like all of you. You people are pathetic!Boy is the Ignorance is alive and well with this bunch!

You tell these Blow holes Commisar Cain.They're all full of Crap!

IMHO: Agreed! The RCC should be treated as an organized crime syndicate, not as a 501(c) tax-exempt religious charity.

Do you have the Constitution printed on your toilet paper?

Good One Commisar Cane!

citizen cain seems to forget that it would be entirely possible for churches to pay taxes (particularly PROPERTY taxes) the same as any other "corporation" (and churches are almost invariably incorporated in order to shield themselves and their property from legal actions)

I'm in favor of making the church pay their fair share the same the rest of us "peons"

I'm in favor of making the church pay their fair share the same the rest of us "peons"

That would be against the first amendment. Unless you favor repealing tax exemptions for non-profits as a whole, which would make it legal but a bad idea.

The first amendment doesn't grant the Church tax-exempt status.

I posted here because your Pedophile Catholic Cult is full of evil and full of Hypocrites who rape, abuse and molest children. And I'm not just talking about the DOERS, I'm also talking about the vast conspiracy all across, and up & down, every dimension of that foul goddam cult which protected and continues to protect the DOERS and enabled them to continue raping and abusing more and more victims. And despite the amount of media coverage, they are STILL doing it! This article happens to be about the pope influencing children, and I think we've seen more than enough of THAT foul, disgusting behavior!

Well said Bernitch. Let's stop child abuse. Let's stop the Pope's marketing.

They also get pretty fidgety when you ask them "Where the hell was your all-loving, all-powerful, all-knowing God during the HOLOCAUST?!"

hey - that ONE mattered -- the other 8 million or so were of no consequence

So then how come all these christian cults worship Jesus?

We Christians hold that Jesus is God. There's no contradiction here.

They also get pretty fidgety when you ask them "Where the hell was your all-loving, all-powerful, all-knowing God during the HOLOCAUST?!"

I am more curious as to why all of humanity watched it happen and did nothing.

all of humanity watched it? really??

ah -- another BuyBull-thump rewrite of history... very nice.

all of humanity watched it? really??

Yes. Hitler spelled out in Mein Kampf that he wanted the Jews and his other enemies dead, and that he would kill them all if he was in charge. Everyone just didn't care enough to stop him.

Also why do Chrisitans say their Ten Commandments? The ten commandments were never given to Christians but to the Hebrews aka Jewish people. So they stole that too?

It's not like the Christians ever follow the Ten Commandments. They lie, steal, and murder all the time. They certainly don't respect their parents (or else the Tea Party folk wouldn't be trying to starve out the elderly). Most Christians I've encountered have worked weekends at various times of their lives. And they certianly say the Lord's name in vain ("Goddamnit! My stocks went down!" or "I told you to get me a goddamned beer!" slap. slap. punch. kick.)