Pope Francis visit to US

[Confluence]

Tibs,

Attaching politics to faith, and then claiming any moral high ground is hypocritical regardless of which part of the political spectrum it comes from.

But that article was clearly crafted in exactly the same way: it attaches some sort of political assumptions to the religious view and is necessarily hypocritical and therefore garbage.

I expect the usual responses - be it bringing up abortion, defaming the source, crying hypocracy, attacking the Pope for speaking out on political issues - but await the day a single one of you will state that, yes, perhaps elements of far-right politics as personified by the Tea Party and the current GOP has strayed a bit from the basic tenets of Christianity and the teaching of Christ. That admission is clearly too painful to own up to. It's no skin off my back, just pointing out the obvious.

I think I did what you plead for

 

[Confluence]

For Tibs:

Dali Lama >>>>>> Pope Frank

 

[Tibs]

For Tibs: Dali Lama >>>>>> Pope Frank

I tend to agree, but not sure there's a reason to say one is a better man than the other. I think both are extraordinary spiritual leaders that are trying to make the world a better place for us all.

I think I did what you plead for

Plead? Plead? The only pleading I do is with my wife....

 

[oneforthebus]

yes, perhaps elements of far-right politics as personified by the Tea Party and the current GOP has strayed a bit from the basic tenets of Christianity and the teaching of Christ

As inaccurately portrayed and twisted by Democrats, yes. The reality of conservative beliefs are nothing like the way Democrats describe them.

And please, stop lumping everyone into the Tea Party...I've been a conservative for 30 years and never part of any Tea Party movement. Conservatism isn't about hating anyone to me....it's about wanting to preserve the individual liberties this country was founded on, that free market that made this the most robust economy in the world, the health care system that has produced the vast majority of the world's life-saving medical innovations, a country where we value the life of every individual and protect the most helpless and defenseless among us, while giving the strong the tools they need to prosper, and keeping government out of their way.

 

[Confluence]

I tend to agree, but not sure there's a reason to say one is a better man than the other. I think both are extraordinary spiritual leaders that are trying to make the world a better place for us all.

One administers an extra-governmental taxation system that generates idols and real estate assets that forces continued revenue generation, while the other is in exile and preaches compassion and not economic or political control.

 

[Troglodyte]

What is the Pope's stance of the science supporting evolution, and the age of the earth?

 

[oneforthebus]

What is the Pope's stance of the science supporting evolution, and the age of the earth?

Like Popes before him Francis accepts the science of evolution, Catholics do not believe in a literal interpretation of Genesis.

http://www.newsweek.com/pope-franci...ot-controversial-among-roman-catholics-281115

“When we read in Genesis the account of Creation, we risk imagining that God was a magician, with such a magic wand as to be able to do everything,” he said. “However, it was not like that. He created beings and left them to develop according to the internal laws that He gave each one, so that they would develop, and reach their fullness.”

 

[DBS1970]

How many times did Commie Pope invoke God or Jesus?

 

[SteelChip]

How many times did Commie Pope invoke God or Jesus?

On a personal level, eyewitnesses have noticed there's a natural friction between Pope Francis and President Obama. Neither likes the other's holier-than-thou attitude.

 

[DBS1970]

Commie Pope didn't mention God or Jesus very much in his speech to congress. He also doesn't seem to understand the difference between controlled legal immigration and illegal immigration. And as Burgundy has pointed out Commie Pope spends more time demanding that prosperous free market nations give money to "poor" third world dictatorships instead of telling the dictators running the third world **** holes to allow their citizens the freedom they need to improve their lives at home.

 

[TAS]

Although the Pope wants us to open our borders the thought occurred, since I've been there, that The Vatican has a darn big wall around it.

View attachment 1766

I wonder what they need that for?

 

[SteelChip]

I wonder what they need that for?

To protect their stash, what else.



Bankers' best guesses about the Vatican's wealth put it at $10 billion to $15 billion. Of this wealth, Italian stock holdings alone run to $1.6 billion, 15% of the value of listed shares on the Italian market. The Vatican has big investments in banking, insurance, chemicals, steel, construction, real estate.

Makes me wonder why he's so dead set on trashing capitalism.

 

[Chuck]

Inspired by Pope Francis' stateside visit, here's a fun-filled activity for all the far right tea-partiers here. Feel free to check them off, one by one...

10 Ways Conservatives Don’t Act Anything Like Christians
http://www.forwardprogressives.com/10-ways-conservatives-dont-act-anything-like-christians/

There’s not a day that goes by where I don’t see some conservative going on and on about how the Republican party is the party of “good Christian values” and everyone else (specifically liberals) is waging some kind of war on religion. It’s just ludicrous. The fact is most liberals couldn’t care less what religion anyone follows. The problem is when some people, specifically conservatives, try to force that religion on others. But here’s the thing, most of these conservatives aren’t really Christians. Going to church doesn’t make someone a Christian. Heck, following the Bible doesn’t even really make someone a Christian. Christianity is based on a belief in Jesus Christ and one’s attempt to live their life based on the values for which he lived.

And I don’t see much of any of that within conservative ideology. So I decided to make a list of 10 ways I don’t believe conservatives act anything like Christians.

1) Homosexuality: It’s amazing how many conservatives seem to base their devotion to their faith on how strong their opposition is to homosexuality. But here’s a fun fact: Jesus Christ never once spoke out against homosexuality.

2) Helping the poor: I’m not quite sure how you call yourself a “Christian” while supporting a political party that vilifies poor people as lazy moochers seeking a handout.

3) They love greed: Isn’t the entire premise of trickle-down economics and unregulated capitalism based on greed? They seem to have no problem chastising a poor family on welfare but they consider anyone “un-American” who dares to call a wealthy person a greedy *******. And for the record, Jesus Christ did speak out against greed. In fact, he warned against it.

4) They’re full of hate: Have you ever been to a tea party rally? I have. I’ve never seen such vile hatred in my life. Just look at the way these people talk about President Obama. There’s a difference between opposing someone’s policies and just perpetuating blinding hate toward another human being. I’ve often joked that they hate President Obama to such an extent that if he cured cancer they’d say he was waging a war on oncologists.

5) Racism: Am I saying all conservatives are racist? Of course not. But I don’t think there’s a coincidence that practically every state that’s currently “strongly Republican” also fought with the Confederacy, opposed desegregation and stood against the Civil Rights Act. And I can’t imagine Jesus Christ endorsing racism.

6) Pro-life hypocrisy: These people will defend the “rights” of a fetus until they’re blue in the face. Yet how many millions of children (you know, what fetuses turn into), and poor people in general, now have less to eat thanks to the Republican insistence on cutting funding for welfare programs - just before the holidays no less. And I’m not sure how you’re “pro-life” while bragging about how many people your state executes every year.

7) Their obsession with guns: You know how “off” mentally you need to be to really believe Jesus Christ would support semi-automatic rifles? But many of these people honestly believe that Jesus Christ would be standing right there next to them with a loaded AR-15 strapped to his back. It’s asinine.

8) They’re intolerant: Conservatives like to perpetuate this idea that it’s actually liberals who are intolerant of other people. You know when liberals get intolerant? When we’re dealing with intolerant people. Look, I don’t care if you oppose homosexuality, abortion or other religions – that’s your choice. But don’t try to restrict the rights of others, or force your views on others, then whine because people eventually get tired of putting up with your crap. Real Christianity preaches acceptance and tolerance of others. That we’re all humans. That we should treat each other with respect and kindness. You know the whole “love thy neighbor” thing.

9) They’re paranoid and afraid: As Christians, aren’t these people supposed to have faith? Didn’t Jesus preach positivity and hope? Then what the hell are so many of them afraid of? These people live in a perpetual state of fear and paranoia. They fear brown people, other religions, the government, liberals, homosexuals – pretty much anything that’s not a heterosexual, white conservative Christian. I’m not quite sure how someone can say they have “faith in God,” while being paranoid and afraid of damn near everything.

10) They base their faith on church attendance: I love these “Christians” who seem to think church attendance makes them a better Christian. I used to work as a server across the highway from two of the biggest mega churches in my city. Can you guess which was the least desired, and worst, shift of the week to work? Sunday morning. The “church crowd.” That was the shift where people were the least patient, rudest, cheapest and complained the most. In my 8+ years in the service industry I lost count of how many times I had notes left on the table that said things like: I gave your tip to Jesus. I tip Jesus 10%, why do you deserve more? Full pamphlets telling me why I’m going to hell. That I should have been at church instead of working.

This is the thing about church – it’s worthless if you walk out of it acting like a prick. You can go to church 7 days a week, but your actions outside of church are what matter most. And that’s where most of these “church attendance” conservative Christians fail miserably. They essentially go to church because they’re told they’re supposed to, and to try to justify to themselves that they’re “good people.” I’ve met plenty of terrible human beings who went to church multiple times every single week. If you walk out of church full of hate and judgement, whatever they’re preaching inside that building sure as hell isn’t Christianity.

This article is full of strawmen easily burned to the ground.

I'm astonished that you and others are stupid enough to believe it.

 

[deljzc]

Again, why does this bother anyone?

Who cares? The Pope isn't making american policy. Let him believe what he believes. Let catholics believe what they believe.

I just don't understand the logic of all you Fox News guys that want government to stay our of our lives yet you are so quick to condemn and critique others. Everything that happens now, you guys start a thread and criticize. It's not even opinions anymore. Most is just bad jokes and .gifs and .jpg garbage that aren't funny.

 

[oneforthebus]

I just don't understand the logic of all you Fox News guys that want government to stay our of our lives yet you are so quick to condemn and critique others.

Is there any logic in this statement at all? I don't see it.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Is there any logic in this statement at all? I don't see it.

Liberals use the words "Fox News" as a pejorative. Of course it's funny to us because we don't see it that way.
In this case del still isn't making any sense though. Libs are becoming unhinged as it looks increasingly likely that their only winnable candidate is imploding. Just kick back with some popcorn and watch.

 

[SteelChip]

Liberals use the words "Fox News" as a pejorative. Of course it's funny to us because we don't see it that way.
In this case del still isn't making any sense though. Libs are becoming unhinged as it looks increasingly likely that their only winnable candidate is imploding. Just kick back with some popcorn and watch.

FOX is now a four letter word over on the left and I have noticed that most people who espouse that mantra down thisa way haven't ever watched the first program other than sports on that channel.

 

[IndySteel]

The first debate is the only thing on Fox News that I've watched since the last election results. Those guys, along with CNN, PMSNBC etc... can all blow it out their ***. I haven't even listened to Limbaugh since the terrorist was elected. I just lost interest. I am curious to hear what he thinks about Trump though. Maybe I'll listen today.

 

[Rod Farva]

To protect their stash, what else.



Bankers' best guesses about the Vatican's wealth put it at $10 billion to $15 billion. Of this wealth, Italian stock holdings alone run to $1.6 billion, 15% of the value of listed shares on the Italian market. The Vatican has big investments in banking, insurance, chemicals, steel, construction, real estate.

Makes me wonder why he's so dead set on trashing capitalism.

He, following the usual Marxist progressive thought process, only wants to end capitalism and wealth for some.......they figure to be exempt.

Again, why does this bother anyone?

Who cares? The Pope isn't making american policy. Let him believe what he believes. Let catholics believe what they believe.

I just don't understand the logic of all you Fox News guys that want government to stay our of our lives yet you are so quick to condemn and critique others. Everything that happens now, you guys start a thread and criticize. It's not even opinions anymore. Most is just bad jokes and .gifs and .jpg garbage that aren't funny.

Yeah.....what's up with people posting stuff in discussion forums? It's outta control.