“The work of God”?

You Don't think its huge coincidence that the place you were born determins what religion you are?

If you were born in Pakistan you would be a Muslim, and you wouldn't believe in any other. You just happen to be a Christian through pure luck
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My parents aren’t religious and I went to a state school, where religion was consigned to the odd hymn.

To say that religion wasn’t pushed on me in any way would be an understatement and I was an atheist.

Of you course you have a point but the “and?” Was to say, what difference does that make for the truth?
 
Well it kind of is just that way really. The Pope is seen as the face of God and the actual human link.. Thats why they have a thing called Papal Infallibility, because like god, the pope is infallible by definition.

Im not blaming them for all the bad in the world, i haven't said anything of the sort, so do not attribute those statements to myself. Im just pointing out the hypocrisy that surrounds the institution. Because weather you believe it or not, the actions of the pope and the instruction he gives are already stated infallible, so unquestionable by yourself, or any living human... so religion can teach you many good things, and in my honest opinion it was just a bunch of good ideas, and jesus prob was a cool free thinking dude who ruffled some feathers, do i think he was divine ? well no.

Religion has done many good things, i often did charity stuff whilst at a catholic school. but the historical evidence suggests that has always been at the cost of more sinister agendas and some of the worst atrocities in human history. How can you even deny that evidence if it is something you firmly believe in ? because you cant make the rules, and you cant choose which ones to pick up and ones you drop. its an all encompassing Dogma by very definition
Not to me he isn’t and nor is he to the 1 billion Protestants around the world and 220 million Eastern Orthodox Christians around the world.

I didn’t say you blamed them for all the bad in the world, I’m just saying criticism of the church for bad, needs to be balanced by the good.

I am glad you see the good done too, I agree that religion generally has a lot to answer for but the bad being done cannot be blamed on the Gospels, the Gospels is anti persecution, anti war, anti hatred, anti discrimination, anti sex crimes, anti murder, anti thieving, anti hypocrisy and many more.

Those committing atrocities as Christians aren’t following the word of the Lord.

That said, the most atheist societies in the 20th century killed many more than any religious atrocities. The USSR was the least Christian country in Europe and we all know how many were killed there, many for their faith.

Humans beings are flawed and it’s our fault, we often make the wrong choices.
 
Those I know who work for the church rely on their spouses to bring in enough bread for their lives to be comfortable.

Maybe it’s possible there’s a difference depending on which denomination, which church and which religion ?
Maybe pal but the ones I have encountered have a great lifestyle. Did I mention the work was easy too. On a personal level I could do it blindfolded. Let me tell you a quick honest tale about money grabbing ministers which I swear on my children is 100% correct.

I arranged a funeral for an elderly lady and paid of all the disbursements including paying of the minister on the day by envelope which I always did. Anyway after we supplied him with a few details concerning the deceased he spent his 30 minutes spouting out tripe about where she would be going and how she was now safe in the arms of jesus and sitting on a star and blah blah blah. He didn't know her from Adam as she was not a church goer. Next thing he's chasing me down the driveway pipping his horn like billy oh. Apparently the fees had risen the week before and he was a massive £6 down.

It's just a job ban and I have worked with them all in one way for some of my life. So yea I am qualified to comment on the goings on of men of the cloth. Some good ones and lots of bad ones but it's just a job like any other. Bless you my son.
 
Maybe pal but the ones I have encountered have a great lifestyle. Did I mention the work was easy too. On a personal level I could do it blindfolded. Let me tell you a quick honest tale about money grabbing ministers which I swear on my children is 100% correct.

I arranged a funeral for an elderly lady and paid of all the disbursements including paying of the minister on the day by envelope which I always did. Anyway after we supplied him with a few details concerning the deceased he spent his 30 minutes spouting out tripe about where she would be going and how she was now safe in the arms of jesus and sitting on a star and blah blah blah. He didn't know her from Adam as she was not a church goer. Next thing is he is chasing me down the driveway pipping his horn like billy oh. Apparently the fees had risen the week before and he was a massive £6 down.

It's just a job ban and I have worked with them all in one way for some of my life. So yea I am qualified to comment on the goings on of a men of the cloth. Some good ones and lots of bad ones but it's just a job like any other. Bless you my son.
It is definitely a job, you’re right and absolutely true, there’s good and bad, just as there’s good and bad across the whole of society.

Being a clergyman doesn’t make you automatically good, as the thousands of choir boys that were abused will tell you.

My only position is a lot aren’t on a gravy train and many are earning below average earnings, to do what they enjoy and they’re good people.

That’s it, my only point.
 
Well its perfectly relevant. its not the individual that allowed perpetrators to continue to do just that. It was an organised attempt by lets face it, the earthly face of god and religion. To cover up and still allow those people to hide from justice. So its very relevant unless you stand football clubs or the BBC in the same way as organised religion, i fail to see how you can ,make that comparison. Its a fact it happened and that it still happens all over the world. so in the case i was talking about, that was the whole crux of the issue

A collection of individuals covering up is still a human failure by people who are protecting their own interests. It's not relevant to the topic in hand. Unless you think God told them to do it which I believe is impossible as you know he doesn't exist.

So it's really just bad humans being bad and it happens in all walks of life. Just happens certain organisations attract them ironically those that should be protecting them. It's kind off a catch 22 really.
 
It is definitely a job, you’re right and absolutely true, there’s good and bad, just as there’s good and bad across the whole of society.

Being a clergyman doesn’t make you automatically good, as the thousands of choir boys that were abused will tell you.

My only position is a lot aren’t on a gravy train and many are earning below average earnings, to do what they enjoy and they’re good people.

That’s it, my only point.
I don't believe them to be on below average earnings when you factor in all the extras like housing allowances, stipends, bonuses and other benefits. It's a nice life and the work is sweet. And for the sake of argument lets not mention the collection plate : / I have to go now .. Take care pal. Adios
 
I don't believe them to be on below average earnings when you factor in all the extras like housing allowances, stipends, bonuses and other benefits. It's a nice life and the work is sweet. And for the sake of argument lets not mention the collection plate : / I have to go now .. Take care pal. Adios
Goodbye Bob, nice to converse with you as always.
 
Not to me he isn’t and nor is he to the 1 billion Protestants around the world and 220 million Eastern Orthodox Christians around the world.

I didn’t say you blamed them for all the bad in the world, I’m just saying criticism of the church for bad, needs to be balanced by the good.

I am glad you see the good done too, I agree that religion generally has a lot to answer for but the bad being done cannot be blamed on the Gospels, the Gospels is anti persecution, anti war, anti hatred, anti discrimination, anti sex crimes, anti murder, anti thieving, anti hypocrisy and many more.

Those committing atrocities as Christians aren’t following the word of the Lord.

That said, the most atheist societies in the 20th century killed many more than any religious atrocities. The USSR was the least Christian country in Europe and we all know how many were killed there, many for their faith.

Humans beings are flawed and it’s our fault, we often make the wrong choices.

Im not really sure there was that many atheist societies if im honest , i cant think of any that spring to mind other than Russia, and they only practiced state based Atheism, it was never illegal.. even so they would have to go a long way to beating the Crusades and the Inquisition alone. Russia cant be really be used as an example as they have had some genuine lunatics in charge based on the way voting is so corrupt in those countries. You cant put all that on atheism when the country is ruled by a dictatorship. Especially the one most remember in Stalin. That guy was just a dick. But he had corrupt power so was untouchable.

Humans are flawed, in every walk of life. We do make the choices, but at what point is the old get out still used ? in effect you can be Joseph Stalin himself, killed million's, But if he gave the old death bed confession, he allowed in to heaven. That is complete and utter bollox really
 
Im not really sure there was that many atheist societies if im honest , i cant think of any that spring to mind other than Russia, and they only practiced state based Atheism, it was never illegal.. even so they would have to go a long way to beating the Crusades and the Inquisition alone. Russia cant be really be used as an example as they have had some genuine lunatics in charge based on the way voting is so corrupt in those countries. You cant put all that on atheism when the country is ruled by a dictatorship. Especially the one most remember in Stalin. That guy was just a dick. But he had corrupt power so was untouchable.

Humans are flawed, in every walk of life. We do make the choices, but at what point is the old get out still used ? in effect you can be Joseph Stalin himself, killed million's, But if he gave the old death bed confession, he allowed in to heaven. That is complete and utter bollox really
It really can be used, this wasn’t just a society that just happened to not be religious, they implemented atheism as an actual policy and it was major part of societal change.

It also was illegal and many Christians were persecuted.

This is from the Wikipedia page:
From 1932 to 1937 Joseph Stalindeclared the 'five-year plans of atheism' and the LMG was charged with completely eliminating all religiousexpression in the country. Many of these same methods and terror tactics were also imposed against others that the regime considered to be its ideological enemies.
If we’re accounting the number killed during the rule of the USSR was a minimum of 15m, directly from the government, although historians believe it could be much much higher, the Spanish Inquisition was between 3,000 and 5,000 executed and the Crusades is relatively unknown due to the obvious, but it’s likely not anywhere near 15m, maybe 10% of that based on Google sources and counting only civilians it’s like 1% of the USSR’s persecution of their own people.

Now, does that mean atheism should get the blame for the USSR? No.

It also doesn’t mean Christianity should get the blame for an individual Pope ordering wars a thousand years ago.

You’ve also got state atheism in Mao’s China:
The People's Republic of China, proclaimed in 1949 under the leadership of Mao Zedong, established a policy of state atheism. Initially, the new government did not suppress religious practice, but, like its dynastic ancestors, viewed popular religious movements, especially in the countryside, as possibly seditious.

And you’ve got Pol Pot too:
The Khmer Rouge actively persecuted Buddhists during their reign from 1975 to 1979. ... 25,000 Buddhist monks were massacred by the regime, which was officially an atheist state. The persecution was undertaken because Pol Pot believed that Buddhism was "a decadent affectation".
Millions killed in both of these too, all within the same century.

Again, this isn’t to attack atheism generally speaking and atheists, as no one on this forum is being led to these things purely from not believing in God, I should know as a former atheist, I didn’t want to kill anyone.

I am merely pointing out that atheism has lead some societies to atrocities, as religious belief has.

So let’s judge each other on our actions as individuals and in more specific groups today, rather than throwing the crusades at modern day Anglicans as a stick to beat their beliefs with.
 
My parents aren’t religious and I went to a state school, where religion was consigned to the odd hymn.

To say that religion wasn’t pushed on me in any way would be an understatement and I was an atheist.

Of you course you have a point but the “and?” Was to say, what difference does that make for the truth?
Because that 'truth' you believe in would change depending on where you live.
 

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