New Pope

[Mo2013]

it would appear that some people just do not see the impact the church has on everyday life and the pope as leader of the church is a man of power and influence

Lioness you OP is childish and bigoted not to mention narrow minded, and shows the depths of your interlect in all it's glory

I find the terms 'childish' and 'bigoted' to be contentious, everyone is entitled to their opinion without name calling. Can we please keep the debate civil. It would appear that some people do not see that the election of a new Pope does not have any impact on millions of people's everyday lives. I do not accept that the Pope is a man of power and influence because I do not think he will change anything that has been dogma for hundreds of years. It is narrow minded not to accept that millions of people do not believe in any God or subscribe to any faith so these events have no relevance in their lives whatsoever.

[Dark Knight]

Lioness
if you do not have the interlect to realise what the head of the catholic church, with it's 1.1 billion members, is and does, then perhaps you should refrain from posting stupid, childish posts like this, till you have sufficient education to grasp the topic fully

just because you choose to ridicule , that which you so obviously cannot understand, it does not make you clever just very very ill informed and shows how insular and self absorbed you are.

frankly you should ask for this to be removed before you look even more foolish and ill mannered than you do now

[Mo2013]

I was referring to this comment Mo2013.

'I would like to think that the new Pope can bring change, but I very much doubt it. I think all religions should be outlawed.'

I repeat, that is my opinion and I have not assumed that everyone thinks the same as me. I firmly believe that religion is a cause of conflict in the world with different faiths all claiming that their 'God' is the one and only true God. They can't all be right, indeed if any of them are right in their assertions. Being an atheist, I don't think any of them are right.

[Mo2013]

Lioness
if you do not have the interlect to realise what the head of the catholic church, with it's 1.1 billion members, is and does, then perhaps you should refrain from posting stupid, childish posts like this, till you have sufficient education to grasp the topic fully

just because you choose to ridicule , that which you so obviously cannot understand, it does not make you clever just very very ill informed and shows how insular and self absorbed you are.

frankly you should ask for this to be removed before you look even more foolish and ill mannered than you do now

Frankly, if one is an atheist, then one views the Pope as a man, a mortal, from humble beginnings. Not one to be adored, obeyed, and worshipped. An atheist's judgement is not clouded by blind devout faith and servitude to someone who is just ordinary but has been given a status. The Pope means nothing to me, and has no relevance in my life. It has nothing to do with intellect. Questioning and seeking logical answers is not ridicule. Perhaps some people ought to stop posting if they cannot accept a differing view without resorting to insults.

[Serendipity]

Mo2013, I believe that the Pope is a very powerful and influential person.
Could we please give him a chance to makes changes where necessary.
I think you come across as dictatorial and narrow minded, maybe if you just sat down and took stock of yourself you might realise this.

[Mo2013]

Mo2013, I believe that the Pope is a very powerful and influential person.
Could we please give him a chance to makes changes where necessary.
I think you come across as dictatorial and narrow minded, maybe if you just sat down and took stock of yourself
you might realise this.

Serendipity, with respect, I think you could address your comments more accurately to others. It is unfortunate that you have resorted to personal insults because you cannot accept a differing view. Perhaps it is you who should sit down and take stock of yourself and your attitude towards those who do not share your beliefs.

[Serendipity]

I apologise to any member I might have offended with my comments.
I shall refrain from posting on this topic again as it is going nowhere.

[Dark Knight]

this topic has proved how shallow and self absorbed some people are and how tiny their life view is
as with other posters i am out, as there is no point trying to discuss this type of topic with closed minded fools, who could start a row in a phone box

bye

[qbman1]

I hear the patter of heavy feet - Plod is on the way !

[Mo2013]

Oh dear, none of you belong to a debating society then ?

Typical response of those who are so blind they cannot see any other views.

Still it's a good way to stop the thread. When you have no reasonable argument you effectively close the topic. Well done.

[Mo2013]

this topic has proved how shallow and self absorbed some people are and how tiny their life view is
as with other posters i am out, as there is no point trying to discuss this type of topic with closed minded fools, who could start a row in a phone box

bye

Laughable. Row? What row? I thought we were having a discussion. The thing is you want people to agree with you but because they don't, you resort to name-calling i.e. 'closed minded fools'. You have demeaned yourself Mr D

[Silver_Shiney]

Mo, you and I have already "spoken" so you may not want to hear from me again.

You said above "It is not good enough to behave exactly how you like, knowing that you can pray for forgiveness and you will be forgiven on the understanding that God is your only judge."

God is not our only judge. He's our only judge in the heavenlies, but, in this country at least, we still have the remnants of a justice system that we have to answer to.

It most certainly is not good enough to behave exactly as you like, pray for forgiveness and then carry on being a prat. True repentance (I know it's an old-fashioned word, but it fits the bill) means acknowledging that you've done wrong, asking God to forgive you, AND TWO VERY IMPORTANT THINGS: 1) making every effort not to do whatever you did wrong again, and 2) accepting the earthly consequences of your acts. For example: if I was to murder someone, I have to confess that before God and seek His forgiveness, and accept that He has forgiven me, seek the forgiveness of the relatives of my victim and accept that I most probably will not get it, and accept that I am going to jail for a very long time and, if I get out, never to do it again.

To quote from a Randy Stonehill song (could be American with a name like that!) - "His grace was not intended as a place to wipe your feet". If you continue to do wrong, you will be held accountable.

You go on to say "Typical response of those who are so blind they cannot see any other views." I respectfully suggest that you have avoided any effort to understand my views, based on our previous discussion.

This world is so taken with airbrushing Christ out of the picture, and so blindly accepting Darwinism. If only people would look at the evidence with an open mind, they would see for themselves that the theory of evolution does not hold water. Creation is openly ridiculed. "Typical response of those who are so blind they cannot see any other views"!

I respect Benny 16 for acknowledging that he was not up to the job because of his health and stepping down from the role. That took courage, given the attitude of "it's a job for life".

What does the appointment of Frankie 1 mean to me? Absolutely nothing as a Christian. He is, like me, a mortal, a man who often makes mistakes and offends other people (perhaps not as often as me....), and will have to answer to his Creator for his actions.

There is much in Roman Catholicism that I find difficult to reconcile with the teaching of the Bible. Perhaps this new Pope will do something about it.

[Boris+]

I have long held the belief that a house divided against itself cannot prosper. If I have got that quotation wrong - apologies. Apologies also to whoever first came up with it - it is certainly not one of my own original thoughts.

However - one is certain ...... we all are temporary residents on planet earth, and as such it would be a grand day out indeed if there could be a painless bloodless 'levelling' or 'equalising' of the belief side of people's existance. Then perhaps nobody could call anyone else 'in a heap' for being gay or black or white or muslim or catholic or whatever.

Wouldn't it be lovely to have no labels or categories, just for everyone to be members of the residency of planet earth; and for people to quietly and peacefully be allowed to go about their lives living as they wish to do - taking full responsibility for the decisions that they make to form their lives?

So, if someone wants to be a gay person in a gay relationship - live and let live, let them get on with it. If someone wants to have an abortion - live and let live - let them get on with it. Maybe even be supportive.

No man is an island (another quote, forgotten who originated it), each and every one of us may well need and appreciate support at some point during our residency; and this support (I believe) should be freely given with no strings (such as religion etc) attached. I am not religious, but I will freely assist and support any deserving person I can.

Being gay or having/needing an abortion (for instance) should not be against any law; and the electing of a person to enforce this drudgery and misery onto thousands if not millions of people is in my book simply wrong.

So, instead of having these divides and labels, why can't everyone just simply do their best to ensure that as they tread along the path of life they themselves do their best to leave a good record behind them.


Em

[Silver_Shiney]

I have long held the belief that a house divided against itself cannot prosper. If I have got that quotation wrong - apologies. Apologies also to whoever first came up with it - it is certainly not one of my own original thoughts.

You're going to love this, Em... You're actually quoting Jesus: Luke 11:17 But knowing their thoughts, He said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. And a house divided against a house falls.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

[Mo2013]

It would be good to be residents of planet earth with no labels or categories but it will never happen. It is easy to say live and let live, to be able to have abortions and leave a good record of oneself - but if you have a faith and that faith prohibits gay relationships/marriages, and condemns adultery and murder, and abortion, then one should abide by the tenets of that faith. And any leader of that faith will promote those tenets. It doesn't matter who it is.

[Mo2013]

Silver Shiney, I have not avoided any effort to understand your views, based on our previous discussion, I have just not agreed with you. As I previously alluded to, those who cannot accept that I will not change my view to match theirs need to understand that we have to agree to differ. It really is quite simple, without any need for name-calling.

[Boris+]

Hi Mo,

Bless your little socks - I think that what I was saying was it would be wonderful if all the residents of the planet could let go of religions and their demands etc.

Meanwhile, I wish you a merry spring time bunny and pretty spring time chick!

Em

[Boris+]

Hi Alan,

So allegedly a fictional character or characters said it - I knew it wasn't my own original thoughts, but I hadn't realised that I had albeit unwittingly remembered that which I was forced to listen to and remember when I was young!

Oh well - whatever - but whilst I can remember (it seems) what I read etc (under duress I can assure you) so many years ago, and try to be a good person - I just don't believe that these fictional characters existed.

Someone extremely clever did a load of writing, that can't be argued against - it's there in black and white; but for me that's all it is.

Meanwhile, the only bit of printing which you should be concentrating on now is your e-tickets and luggage labels! Have a great cruise.

Em

[Manoverboard]

I hear the patter of heavy feet - Plod is on the way !

[Mo2013]

Hi Mo,

Bless your little socks - I think that what I was saying was it would be wonderful if all the residents of the planet could let go of religions and their demands etc.

Meanwhile, I wish you a merry spring time bunny and pretty spring time chick!

Em

Er yes, quite ! People won't let go of their faith, they can't.

Regarding the statement that the Pope is powerful and influential, that hasn't stopped the priests from corruption, in-fighting and child abuse. In my opinion religion is borne out of fear, a concept that might have held good years ago, but not in the 21st century.

[Mo2013]

I hear the patter of heavy feet - Plod is on the way !

Is this supposed to be funny? It's not. If you want a decent forum where people can feel they can post, you don't need smart comments like the one above - in my opinion.

[Boris+]

I have faith - there it is, I admit it. I believe in me; I have faith in me. Simples.

Bless my little socks too ( and Mo).

Em

[Manoverboard]

I hear the patter of heavy feet - Plod is on the way !

Is this supposed to be funny? It's not. If you want a decent forum where people can feel they can post, you don't need smart comments like the one above - in my opinion.

Mo2013 ...

If the Moderators have any concerns with such posts they will edit them, all opinion is of course welcome but is not always acted upon.

Regards MobiMod

[qbman1]

I hear the patter of heavy feet - Plod is on the way !

Is this supposed to be funny? It's not. If you want a decent forum where people can feel they can post, you don't need smart comments like the one above - in my opinion.

Fortunately, we don't all share the same opinions. Nothing wrong with a silly remark to lighten what was becoming little more than a ridiculous point-scoring slanging match "in my opinion"

[Dancing Queen]

Em - I am bound to say YES!!

I used to be an atheist, but many years ago came to realise I was wrong.

Perhaps the eve of a fortnight's holiday is the wrong time for me to engage in this debate! It might also go "off-topic". Anyone wishing to discuss further with me is welcome to PM me. I've bought a data package for my mobile so should be able to check back while we're in port (I am not going ashore to seek out wifi spots).

Have a great cruise Mr and Mrs SS