The Pilgrims

[bunyip]

Something that's a mystery to me is why religious leaders get such worship and adoration. What exactly have these people done to deserve being put up on a pedestal and regarded by so many as role models.

I can see many qualities in people who have been very successful in business without sacrificing their integrity, who obviously have a caring nature and have given millions or even billions of dollars to help those less fortunate than themselves, who have raised families and have been dedicated wives, husbands, fathers, mothers etc, who are involved in local charities and community service organisations, and so on.
But someone like the Pope....how many of these qualities does he possess? I'm sure he's a good bloke with some admirable qualities, but heck, are his qualities and his achievements so fantastic that he deserves the level of idolisation he enjoys?
Do Catholics ever stop and ask themselves these sorts of questions about their leader? Or do they just blindly embrace this adoration routine because it's the done thing in their religion.
I'd like to hear from some practising Catholics to get their views on this.

 

[chops_a_must]

However, I stick with my view that the general behaviour and standards of the young people involved in the rally are a big improvement on the behaviour and standards of certain unsavoury elements within our society.

That's because they are brain washed dimwits, not harmful to boundaries of thought, let alone other people.

I'm sure the Hitler Youth were pretty damn well behaved too!

 

[disarray]

most of the sheeple are brain washed dimwits, what is important is values and nature. christians follow a good set of values and (currently) maintain a pleasant nature, so i'm happy for them to be here and believe whatever they want.

i don't get why people are raging at pilgrims because the leadership is corrupt.

 

[agro]

Something that's a mystery to me is why religious leaders get such worship and adoration. What exactly have these people done to deserve being put up on a pedestal and regarded by so many as role models.

I can see many qualities in people who have been very successful in business without sacrificing their integrity, who obviously have a caring nature and have given millions or even billions of dollars to help those less fortunate than themselves, who have raised families and have been dedicated wives, husbands, fathers, mothers etc, who are involved in local charities and community service organisations, and so on.
But someone like the Pope....how many of these qualities does he possess? I'm sure he's a good bloke with some admirable qualities, but heck, are his qualities and his achievements so fantastic that he deserves the level of idolisation he enjoys?
Do Catholics ever stop and ask themselves these sorts of questions about their leader? Or do they just blindly embrace this adoration routine because it's the done thing in their religion.
I'd like to hear from some practising Catholics to get their views on this.

That's because they are brain washed dimwits, not harmful to boundaries of thought, let alone other people.

I'm sure the Hitler Youth were pretty damn well behaved too!

most of the sheeple are brain washed dimwits, what is important is values and nature. christians follow a good set of values and (currently) maintain a pleasant nature, so i'm happy for them to be here and believe whatever they want.

i don't get why people are raging at pilgrims because the leadership is corrupt.

i am a practicing catholic and could not imagine a less fulfilling life without god considering the amount I have achieved. I know that come the time of my death, my soul will rise to heaven and live in eternal happiness

Comments like the ones above do continue to test my belief, but i know never to succumb to them.

it never ceases to surprise me the number of non-believers that make it seem as though having a faith (and a soul once more) is stupidity ("we are brainwashed" ). To be quiet frank, without God (and a spirit) one is just lowering them self to the status of an animal (animals don't believe nor attend church).

And as far as worshiping the pope, well the first original pope I believe goes back to biblical times, so the tradition has carried over in history.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope


enough said for me - this is a controversial matter but go forth in peace

 

[chops_a_must]

it never ceases to surprise me the number of non-believers that make it seem as though having a faith (and a soul once more) is stupidity ("we are brainwashed" ). To be quiet frank, without God (and a spirit) one is just lowering them self to the status of an animal (animals don't believe nor attend church).

So if the lord is your shepherd, you aren't an animal? If you are in a flock, what are you?

But you know, if anyone has ever read Plato, and understood it, there is no need to pay attention to christianity - because that's what it is anyway. No need to learn a philosophy or a way of life whilst being confined by the say so of others.

 

[2020hindsight]

and Pell can stick to what he's good at for mine -
not sure what that is but ....

it sure aint the science of the spreading of HIV
or global warming / climate change

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/17/2306912.htm?section=justin


Well I've got a hell of a lot more time for the Pope than I have for Pell
And he's obviously much better informed

Cardinal Pell says in the past, pagans sacrificed (animals and even) humans in vain attempts to placate the gods but today they demand a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions

Pope makes special mention of environment during welcome
Posted 2 hours 42 minutes ago
Updated 1 hour 31 minutes ago

....He was greeted by troupes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dancers as well as a group from the Pacific nation of Tokelau.

The Catholic Archibishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, also made a short speech to welcome the Pontiff

Pope Benedict led the crowd in a short prayer and thanked Cardinal Pell as well Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson for their "warm welcome".

....
"I am deeply moved to stand on your land, knowing the suffering and injustices it has borne, but aware too of the healing and hope that are now at work," he said.

...
The Pope began his address with prayers and blessings, but his speech repeatedly referred to the need to care for our environment, acknowledging that climate change means there will be hard times ahead around the globe.

"God's creation is one and it is good. The concerns for non-violence, sustainable development, justice and peace, and care for our environment are of vital importance for humanity," Pope Benedict said.

"Perhaps reluctantly, we come to acknowledge that there are also scars which mark the surface of our earth - erosion, deforestation, the squandering of the world's mineral and ocean resources in order to fuel an insatiable consumption.

"Some of you come from island nations whose very existence is threatened by rising water levels, others from nations suffering the effects of devastating drought....

Now to get him to see the light about condoms

 

[juw177]

People having different beliefs is all good, just don't ram it down my throat. I am not talking about the pilgrims as I havent been approached any preachers. I am talking about the government, TV, newspapers selling this event to us as the best thing to happen to Sydney since APEC.

 

[2020hindsight]

People having different beliefs is all good, just don't ram it down my throat. I am not talking about the pilgrims as I havent been approached any preachers. I am talking about the government, TV, newspapers selling this event to us as the best thing to happen to Sydney since APEC.

gonna cost us a fortune juw -
to say nothing of Randwick being closed this weekend. ....
just as long as we ALL don't have to queue up to kiss the Pope's ring.

 

[disarray]

why get all worked up about it? i've hardly seen it advertised, most of the cost is probably just pope management, and i've hardly noticed a thing despite living next door to the main event.

+ pic

 

[chops_a_must]

Thanks for that Disarray.

Never knew Darwin and Cape York were so full of Jews!

 

[Sprinter79]

i am a practicing catholic and could not imagine a less fulfilling life without god considering the amount I have achieved. I know that come the time of my death, my soul will rise to heaven and live in eternal happiness

Comments like the ones above do continue to test my belief, but i know never to succumb to them.

it never ceases to surprise me the number of non-believers that make it seem as though having a faith (and a soul once more) is stupidity ("we are brainwashed" ). To be quiet frank, without God (and a spirit) one is just lowering them self to the status of an animal (animals don't believe nor attend church).

And as far as worshiping the pope, well the first original pope I believe goes back to biblical times, so the tradition has carried over in history.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope


enough said for me - this is a controversial matter but go forth in peace

Having faith in something based on logic and rationale isn't stupid, but having blind faith is. I've never seen a god, but I have seen plenty of examples of Darwin's theories at work.

And, how do we know that animals don't believe or attend church? Aren't humans animals anyway?

 

[Julia]

Something that's a mystery to me is why religious leaders get such worship and adoration. What exactly have these people done to deserve being put up on a pedestal and regarded by so many as role models.

This puzzles me also. Listening to ABC's 'PM" this evening, various devotees gave their thrilled accounts of having caught a glimpse of the Pope. As far as I can tell, he's a bloke - a politician essentially - who has climbed the Catholic ladder of success and for now holds the CEO's position.

There seems to have been a widespread expectation that His Holiness (I think that's the correct term, but then isn't the Dalai Lama also addressed thus?) would deliver an apology for the sexual abuse delivered by the good Catholic fathers. So far, zilch.

Agro: thanks for expressing your view. Pretty brave thing to do amongst the current scorn most of us are expressing.
I don't have any criticism of anyone for their religious/spiritual beliefs.
I think this thread is not on about that, but rather the base hypocrisy of the church hierarchy, and the blind following of its disciples.
Big difference between personal spiritual belief and religion, imo.

 

[2020hindsight]

A question that didn't get asked of the ABC's Q-AND-A Panel ... (hell that's a good show )

"If sex is so fundamental to creation and life why does the catholic church encourage the billings method? do people having heterosexual sex without the intention of producing a child also become "empty vessels for sex"? "

 

[disarray]

Thanks for that Disarray.

Never knew Darwin and Cape York were so full of Jews!

its traditional / tribal. clean your monitor

 

[Sean K]

Does anyone else giggle when they see 'The Pope Mobile' rolling about?

Or, just cringe with a 'what the fvck?' look on their face?

 

[chops_a_must]

its traditional / tribal. clean your monitor

Yeah, everything looks pearly white on here.

By the way:

 

[agro]

Having faith in something based on logic and rationale isn't stupid, but having blind faith is. I've never seen a god, but I have seen plenty of examples of Darwin's theories at work.

And, how do we know that animals don't believe or attend church? Aren't humans animals anyway?

you can read all the theories you like but nothing can disprove god's existence

so yes it may be a blind faith i am living, but that's not to say there isn't a god..

one will only find out the day of their death i guess... personally i rather leave the face of this planet knowing and believing in god than being shortsighted to any existence.

at the end of the day we will all be judged equally.

 

[Sean K]

you can read all the theories you like but nothing can disprove god's existence

so yes it may be a blind faith i am living, but that's not to say there isn't a god..

one will only find out the day of their death i guess... personally i rather leave the face of this planet knowing and believing in god than being shortsighted to any existence.

at the end of the day we will all be judged equally.

1. Nothing can prove it, otherwise we would all believe.
2. Living blindly is not living.
3. No, when you die, you are dead.
4. No, you will not be judged, we are judged in this life.

Good luck, in the afterlife, up on that cloud.

 

[Ageo]

What amazes me is that so many people out their worry about everyone else's beliefs/problems etc...

Who gives a crap if the guy next door worships the grass? if it works for him then sensational!

As long as there is no trouble then there shouldnt be a problem. People having a good time and celebrating something should be a good thing right?

 

[Sean K]

What amazes me is that so many people out their worry about everyone else's beliefs/problems etc...

Who gives a crap if the guy next door worships the grass? if it works for him then sensational!

As long as there is no trouble then there shouldnt be a problem. People having a good time and celebrating something should be a good thing right?

Yes, I agree Ageo.

If only organised religion didn't brainwash people from an early age, and the rest......then I'd agree with you.